Life in Lewisham, London's new Borough of Culture

2019 saw the launch of the Mayor's London Borough of Culture initiative, intended to bring Londoners together and put culture at the heart of communities through a year-long programme of events. From busking in shop windows to human libraries and digital music festivals, in 2019 and 2020 events held in Waltham Forest and Brent helped to unite local people.

Now a new borough has been crowned as Lewisham tells its story of residents past and present, highlighting character and diversity through music, dance, debate and public art.

With the spotlight cast, we look at how the property market is performing in this corner of the capital.

A south-east London borough, Lewisham has one of the highest numbers of parks and green spaces in the capital and even has a section of the River Thames flowing beside it to the north. But Lewisham offers much more than the great outdoors; here you will find historic buildings and lively street markets, good schools and fast train links into central London. New-build flats with amenities form part of the local housing scene, so too do Georgian and Victorian terraces as well as larger semi or detached family houses.

With a strong lifestyle offering matched with a variety of property types for all stages of the ladder, it's no surprise that average house prices in Lewisham have risen by 6.2 per cent over the past five years, exceeding the 5.3 per cent experienced by London as a whole. Yet, the borough still offers better value than elsewhere in the capital. In Lewisham average house prices are £529,609 compared to £672,185 across London, with flats, terraced houses and detached homes some 26 per cent, 15 per cent and 19 per cent lower respectively.

For those seeking a more tranquil way of life, there's a village feel in many of Lewisham's neighbourhoods; attractive tree-lined streets in conservation areas and weekend food stalls can be found in places like Brockley and neighbouring Telegraph Hill. But the bustle of city living is also just as attainable and those studying at Goldsmiths as well as young professionals often opt to settle in Deptford or New Cross where a thriving night and arts scene is part of the fabric. And of course, there's Lewisham itself where modern apartments, a large shopping centre, DLR, rail and bus connections make this zone 2 spot a popular place to be.

In Forest Hill, you'll find the Horniman Museum and Gardens - a well-known and much-loved destination for families to learn about the natural habitat or simply somewhere to spend several hours taking in its extensive collections. Being on the overground line also makes this area sought after among those working in Canary Wharf thanks to a journey time of around 15 minutes.

Meanwhile with its period properties and smart villas, Blackheath could easily be mistaken for a country town rather than a location just 6.5 miles from central London. The heath itself hosts everything from festivals to fireworks as well as football teams on weekend mornings - while a selection of clothing boutiques, homeware stores, restaurants and independent cafes take pride of place in the village centre. It's this well-rounded offering that sees Blackheath as Lewisham's highest value residential area with average house prices of £647,144.

And for those looking for more space and better value, heading further south to one of the 1920s or 1930s houses in Grove Park will give access to green space, a range of well-regarded primary and secondary schools, a good commute and average house prices of £435,811, some 33 per cent less than in pricier Blackheath.

With value for money, a wide range of property types and prices, and now a cultural crown, there's much to discover about the appeal of life in Lewisham.

Further information

Contact Frances Clacy or Ben Butler

View all property currently available in the borough of Lewisham

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