South London might conjure up images of Brixton, Clapham, and Tooting, all of which have prime access to Tube stations.
While it’s nice to be able to hop straight on the underground and zip along to where you need to be, by refusing to broaden your transport horizons, you could be sleeping on some pretty major property discounts.
Sometimes, having a train station is enough. West Norwood, nestled in leafy SE27, has just that, and more.
Walking along the high street, you’ll find plenty of independent shops, green space, a cinema, and a strong foodie scene, as well as property prices that are £40,000 cheaper than the going rate for the rest of London.
Plus, if you’re feeling particularly picky about your morning commute, then West Norwood train station has Southern Rail connections that’ll whisk you to Victoria in 22 minutes. It’s only five stops, after all.
Here’s everything you need to know about life in this South London hub…
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Housing in West Norwood
While we aren’t claiming West Norwood is completely immune from the state of London’s house prices, the going rate here is slightly lower.
According to figures from Rightmove, over the last year, the average property across London has sold for £671,643.
Meanwhile, approximately five miles from the city centre, figures in West Norwood are more like £631,497.
It’s still considerably above the UK average (currently £291,000), but if you’re looking to stay in the capital and want to stretch your money a bit further, it’s approximately £40,000 cheaper.
On the renting side of things, earlier this year, a study from SpareRoom found the average room in the area now costs £932 per month.
Things to do in West Norwood
All you need to do is take a look at a map of South London to understand the sheer amount of greenery on offer. West Norwood is no different.
The cemetery is a peaceful local spot, with park benches and a circular route to follow.
Further down the road, closer towards Salter’s Hill, there’s also Norwood Park, which has impressive views down into the city centre.
Further afield, there’s a huge mass of green space at Dulwich Park (around 30 hectares), as well as a boating lake with pedallos for hire. Every Saturday, there’s a Parkrun, as well as one in South Norwood.
If you’re a film fan, then West Norwood Picturehouse is home to all the latest flicks. It also doubles up as a library, with an adult book club and study spaces for students and hybrid workers alike.
SE27 is also well-served on the food front. The Electric Café is famous for serving up a decent full English at the weekend, while Elliott Flava specialises in dishes like jerk chicken and curry goat.
Board game café Badger Badger is right along the high street, and, as well as an impressive back catalogue of niche picks, also cooks up Japanese salad boxes, bao buns, and kimchi bhajis.
And, the cherry on top, the first Sunday of each month, West Norwood Feast appears at St Luke’s Church Gardens. It’s a food market run solely by volunteers, and it’s packed with local vendors and live music.
Just across the road, inside the West Norwood Picturehouse, there’s also an artisan market with picks from local creatives. Expect wall prints, ceramics, and vintage fabrics galore.
Elsewhere, the beauty of West Norwood is its proximity to other majorly gorgeous neighbourhoods in South London, like Crystal Palace.
If you’re up for a walk (prepare for the hills, just FYI), then it’s about 33 minutes away on foot, while the 432 bus to Anerley Hill takes 16 minutes.
The Crystal Palace Triangle is home to plenty of independent shops. Domali is a relaxed all-day café; the Sparrowhawk is a recently renovated pub with a gutsy, European-influenced menu; Mediterranea is a welcoming Sardinian restaurant; and Edo does great sushi.
Shops include vintage furniture emporia and much-loved bookshop The Bookseller Crow. For edible treats, there’s a Saturday food market, and deli Good Taste specialises in cheese and charcuterie. The neighbourhood even has its own festival, which this year runs from June 26 to 29.
There’s also Penge, which is home to coffee shops like Brown & Green Life and Carnival Coffee Roasters. After all, it’s technically iced latte weather.
Chatsworth Bakehouse famously serves up focaccia, cheesecake, buns, and pizza, and it was even hailed by TikToker @kristabelplummer as having the ‘best sandwiches in London.’
Thirsty for a pint? Grab yourself a tipple at local watering holes, The Alexandra, Southey Brewing, and the Goldsmiths Arms. First round’s on us.
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