This month FTB goes on the hunt with Marissa Polydorou who is looking for a one-bedroom apartment in south east London.
Profile
Names: Marissa Polydorou
Occupation: Teacher
Maximum budget: £550,000
Requirements: A one-bedroom home in south east London with good transport links to central Lewisham for work. Outside space, local parks, local amenities, and a strong community are a high priority.
What she wanted…
After a break-up and a couple of years living back at mum and dad’s, I finally feel I’m in the position to buy my own place. In fact, I am so ready! I know south east London well; I was born here and only moved away for university – and then I came back. I love it! I am flexible though – I work as a teacher in Lewisham and I’d rather not live super close to the school. So areas such as Deptford, Greenwich or Catford would be perfect. I’d like a simple journey to work via public transport and I’d also like a place with a balcony and shared gardens, as well as shops, cafes and a GP surgery within easy reach. I don’t drive, so having things like that close by is important to me. My grandmother left me some money a few years ago and I promised I’d use it to get my foot on the property ladder. I’ll be using that and my hard-earned savings plus a small contribution from my parents, so with that my budget is around £550,000.”
What we found…
THE EASTENDER
Leaside Lock, Bow, east London
FROM £131,250*
Just east of the City, London’s E3 is ideally placed, with fantastic links into central London and a host of trendy locales on the doorstep. South London lies within easy reach thanks to the DLR: from Bow Church station, it runs directly to Lewisham. This stylish two-bedroom apartment by Guinness Homes sits on the banks of the River Lea, with communal courtyard gardens, co-working space, and leisure facilities. The apartment features well-sized living spaces with a separate utility room and private outdoor space.
leasidelock.com
*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £525,000
What she thought…
I do love east London! A few of my friends have moved over to the Bow and Hackney areas, and we’ve had many a night out in Shoreditch because the train links are so brilliant! This is a lovely looking development – I especially love that it’s by the canal as it means there are endless walks and cycle rides right on the doorstep. Limehouse Cut and Three Mill island are both close by – there’d be no end of adventure to be found here. The journey to work would be just one direct train, too, so it’s certainly an attractive proposition.”
THE LEAFY LOCALE
Excalibur
Catford, south London
FROM £79,750*
Set in a leafy, residential area in blossoming Catford, these new one and two-bedroom homes enjoy an envied location. There are green spaces and shops within a 10-minute walk, while Catford town centre and a choice of four stations are around 20 minutes on foot. Residents have a fantastic area to explore, including popular Ladywell Fields and Hither Green. The apartments are contemporary and stylish, with open-plan living spaces that lead to private balconies, separate utility room and built-in wardrobe. Parking and cycle storage is also available.
lqhomes.com
*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £319,000
What she thought…
It’s so pretty around this way – with lots of tree-lined roads and parks – and it’s nice that this development is set slightly away from the town centre, as it means you will really be able to escape city life. It’s still a really well-connected spot, though, with so many public transport options in the area to choose from. I grew up living fairly close to Catford and have seen it evolve – it has some really nice bars and restaurants now. I also have loads of friends very close by, so living around here would be plenty of fun.
THE NEW COMMUNITY
Square Roots, Lewisham, south east London
FROM £102,500*
This superbly located collection of one to three-bedroom apartments sits within the popular Riverside Quarter development. The 131 new properties lie within easy reach of everyday amenities, including high street shops, supermarkets, cafes, stations, good schools, and health and fitness facilities. The development features landscaped gardens, a communal roof terrace, play areas, and retail space. Inside, the apartments are flooded with natural light via floor-to-ceiling windows, with private balconies accessible from the bright, open-plan living spaces.
squareroots.co.uk
*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £410,000
What she thought…
It’s exciting for a local like me to see that Lewisham is getting so popular and seeing so much growth. It’s a great location for getting around to some of my favourite areas such as New Cross and Peckham, and Lewisham station is a short walk away, so it’s so easy to get into town and home easily from nights out. I really like the style of the apartments – with the dark kitchens and large tiles in the bathroom. There are stunning views from the balconies, and the shared outside areas provide a great chance to enjoy the outdoors.”
First choice! THE RIVERSIDE WONDER
Western Plaza and The Galleria at Greenwich Millennium Village, Greenwich, south east London
FROM £465,000 (Western Plaza)
FROM £550,000 (The Galleria)
The latest phase of this landmark development is situated alongside the four-acre ecology park – one of the highlights of Greenwich Millennium Village. The contemporary one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, plus three-bedroom maisonettes, will be completed in spring 2026. Also available are two-bedroom apartments at The Galleria, offering fantastic views over the park.
The next step
“I am so impressed with this development and have started the application process as well as arranging a mortgage in principle. My friends and family are really excited for me and I can’t wait to explore the area that will hopefully be my new home!”
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