Wandsworth Area Guide (Based on Actual 2023 Data)

What’s it like to live in Wandsworth?

Wandsworth is a popular place to live. Its mix of amenities, transport links and schools make it a generally sought after borough. This is often reflected in property prices, which are typically above London’s average, making the borough one of London’s most expensive.

Wandsworth has a range of amenities available for its residents, including shopping centres, restaurants, cafes, and bars. The Southside Shopping Centre in Wandsworth is a popular destination for shopping and entertainment, with a range of high-street stores, a cinema, and a variety of restaurants and cafes. There are also several smaller shopping areas throughout the borough, such as Northcote Road in Battersea, which has a range of independent shops and eateries. The newly redeveloped Battersea Power Station, one of London’s iconic landmarks, offers shopping, dining and entertainment, and has become a popular attraction in the borough.

Wandsworth is also home to a number of parks and green spaces, including Wandsworth Common, Battersea Park, Tooting Bec Common and Putney Heath. London’s biggest green space, Richmond Park, is nearby to the west of the borough.

The Northern line and the District line both serve the borough, and like most of south London, National Rail services connect many of Wandsworth’s towns to the rest of London. Clapham Junction (which is actually situated in Wandsworth) serves as one of London’s larger hub rail stations, with trains into central London, as well as to destinations in the south of England.

There are numerous highly-regarded schools in Wandsworth; some of the most popular schools include Belleville Primary School, Honeywell Junior School, and Burntwood School.

This guide provides an overview of important statistics about the borough and how it compares to other boroughs in London.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Wandsworth?

Properties in Wandsworth on average cost £602,690.00, ranking the borough as the 26 most affordable borough in London, according to data from HM Land Registry. 

Wandsworth is known for being an expensive area to buy property, although there are some neighbourhoods that are more affordable than others. Battersea is a sought-after area in Wandsworth with high-end developments and luxurious properties, while Clapham is popular for its Victorian and Edwardian houses, and Wandsworth Common is a leafy neighbourhood with some of the most desirable properties in the borough. These areas command higher-than-average prices, with many properties selling for several million pounds.

In contrast, areas such as Tooting and Earlsfield can be more affordable options, though there is generally high demand for properties throughout the borough.

How much does it cost to rent in Wandsworth?

According to data from the ONS:

• A studio costs on average £1,186 per month to rent which ranks 23 as the most affordable borough in London
• A one bedroom property costs on average £1,640 per month to rent which ranks 24 as the most affordable borough in London
• A two bedroom property costs on average £2,050 per month to rent which ranks 24 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £2,604 per month to rent which ranks 26 as the most affordable borough in London
• A four or more bedroom property costs on average £3,726 per month to rent which ranks 26 as the most affordable borough in London

How many people live in Wandsworth?

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Housing, it has 151000 in total, ranking 3 of London boroughs by number of dwellings.

According to data from the ONS:

• 18.0% of households are owned outright
• 36.8% of households are being bought with a mortgage
• 11.1% of households are rented from the local authority of housing association
• 11.1% of households are privately rented

Is Wandsworth a good place to live?

Although determining whether an area is a good place to live is subjective, we can use data on personal wellbeing collected by the ONS through the Annual Population Survey as an indicator to compare boroughs:

• Wandsworth ranks 13 of 32 boroughs in terms of life satisfaction (i.e. ‘how satisfied are you with your life?’)
• Wandsworth ranks 23 of 32 boroughs in terms of ‘worthwhile’ (i.e. ‘to what extent do you feel things you do in your life are worthwhile?’)
• Wandsworth ranks 17 of 32 boroughs in terms of happiness (i.e. ‘how happy did you feel yesterday?’)
• Wandsworth ranks 19 of 32 boroughs in terms of anxiousness (i.e. ‘how anxious did you feel yesterday?’)

What schools are there in Wandsworth and are they good?

In total Wandsworth has 116 schools, which are broken down into:

• 61 state primary schools
• 11 state secondary schools
• 31 independent schools

There are a wide range of schools in the borough of Wandsworth, including primary schools, secondary schools, independent schools, and special educational needs schools.

Many of the primary schools in Wandsworth are well-regarded, such as Belleville Primary School, Beatrix Potter Primary School, and Allfarthing Primary School. There are also a number of secondary schools in the borough, including both state-funded and independent schools. This includes Graveney School, Ashcroft Technology Academy and Southfields Academy, which are state-funded, and Emanuel School, Putney High School and Ibstock Place School, which are independent.

For students with special educational needs, Rainbow School and the Linden Lodge School are two SEN schools in Wandsworth.

For a breakdown of all schools in the area and their latest ratings, search Ofsted’s reports.

Is Wandsworth polluted?

According to data from the GLA and TFL Air Quality:

• Wandsworth ranks 23 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest NO2 concentration
• Wandsworth ranks 22 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM2 concentration
• Wandsworth ranks 21 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM10 concentration

What is the employment rate in Wandsworth?

The employment rate in Wandsworth is 89.2% which ranks 1 of 32 boroughs in terms of highest employment rate.

Employment rate is important to know for those considering moving to the area, as it can provide an indication of the job market and economic opportunities available in the borough.

Is Wandsworth a wealthy area?

The average income in Wandsworth is £79,700 according to data from HMRC. This ranks 6 of London’s boroughs (ranked by highest average income). 

Wandsworth has a reputation for being one of the more expensive areas to live in London, with property prices and rents that are well above the city average. The borough is home to several affluent areas, such as Battersea, Clapham, and Putney, which are known for their stylish properties, picturesque streets, and abundance of green spaces.

Is Wandsworth a religious area?

Like the rest of London, Wandsworth has a mix of cultures and religions. According to the ONS:

• 53.6% of the resident population identifies as Christian
• 6.3% of the resident population identifies as Muslim
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Hindu
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Sikh
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Jewish
• 4.6% of the resident population do not identify as religious

How large is Wandsworth?

Wandsworth is 34.3 km2, making it the 22th largest borough in London.

Its population is estimated as 343,147 according to data from the GLA, ranking it 8 as the most populous borough.

Its population per km2 is 10,015, ranking it 11 as the most populous per km2 borough.

Is Wandsworth safe?

According to data from the Metropolitan Police Service, in the last two years there were:

• 19,281 total reported crimes and 56.19 total crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Wandsworth as 11 of boroughs with the least total number of crimes
• 1,364 total reported burglaries and 3.97 total burglaries per 1k of the population, ranking Wandsworth as 23 of boroughs with the least number of burglaries
• 1,150 total reported cases of criminal damage and 3.35 total cases of criminal damage per 1k of the population, ranking Wandsworth as 5 of boroughs with the least number of cases of criminal damage
• 445 total reported drug related crimes and 1.30 total drug related crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Wandsworth as 5 of boroughs with the least number of drug related crimes
• 722 total reported robberies and 2.10 total robberies per 1k of the population, ranking Wandsworth as 12 of boroughs with the least number of robberies
• 523 total reported sexual offences and 1.52 total sexual offences per 1k of the population, ranking Wandsworth as 21 of boroughs with the least number of sexual offences
• 8,488 total reported thefts and 24.74 total thefts per 1k of the population, ranking Wandsworth as 8 of boroughs with the least number of thefts
• 6,243 total reported violent crimes and 18.19 total violent crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Wandsworth as 16 of boroughs with the least number of violent crimes

What public transport options does Wandsworth have?

Wandsworth has a variety of public transport options via the London Underground, Overground, National Rail services and bus routes.

There are several tube stations located in Wandsworth: Battersea Power Station (Northern line), Clapham South (Northern line), Balham, Tooting Bec (Northern line) and Tooting Broadway (Northern line), plus East Putney (District line) and Soutfields (District line).

Clapham Junction acts as a hub station in south London, with Overground services and National Rail trains that connect to areas such as London Waterloo, plus areas in the south of England, including Gatwick Airport. There are also National Rail trains serving stations such as Battersea Park, Queenstown Road, Wandsworth Town, Putney, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Common and Balham.

Finally, Wandsworth is served by a large number of bus services, including several major routes such as the 44, which runs from Tooting to Victoria, and the 77, which runs from Waterloo to Tooting. Other notable bus routes include the 170, 220, 319, 337, and 493, among others.

What places are in Wandsworth?

There are several distinct areas in the borough of Wandsworth, each with their own unique characteristics and attractions. This includes:

• Battersea – A redeveloped area that is home to many shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions, including the famous Battersea Power Station.
• Balham – A popular residential area that is known for its local shops and cafes.
• Earlsfield – A quiet residential neighbourhood that is particularly popular among families and young professionals.
• Tooting – A bustling and diverse area that is known for its food scene, including many authentic South Asian restaurants.
• Wandsworth – The borough’s administrative centre, Wandsworth is home to many shops and restaurants, as well as some of the borough’s most impressive historic architecture.
• Putney – Located on the banks of the River Thames, Putney is a popular destination for boaters and rowers, and is also home to many pubs and restaurants.
• Southfields – A peaceful residential area that is particularly popular among families, Southfields is known for its local schools and parks.
• Roehampton – Home to the University of Roehampton, this area is a popular destination for students and is also known for its green spaces and historic architecture.

What is Wandsworth famous for?

Wandsworth is a well-known and much visited borough with a rich history and many notable landmarks and attractions, such as:

1. Battersea Power Station: An iconic building that has been a fixture of the Wandsworth skyline since the 1930s and has recently been redeveloped into a mixed-use complex.
2. Clapham Common: A large green space on the edge of the borough, Clapham Common is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the outdoors.
3. The Wandle Trail: A 14-mile walking and cycling trail following the course of the River Wandle, passing through Wandsworth and other boroughs.
4. Young’s Brewery: An historic brewery located in Wandsworth since 1831, famous for its ales and is open for tours and tastings.
5. The Bedford: A popular live music venue in Balham that has hosted many famous acts over the years, including Ed Sheeran and KT Tunstall.
6. Tooting Bec Lido: An outdoor swimming pool that is one of the largest in Europe and is open to the public during the summer months.
7. The Southside Shopping Centre: A large shopping complex in Wandsworth Town that is home to over 90 stores and restaurants.
8. The Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: An animal shelter, founded in 1860, that has been located in Wandsworth since the 1870s and is one of the UK’s best-known charities.
9. The Royal Victoria Patriotic Building: A striking Victorian-era building in Wandsworth Common that has served many different purposes over the years, including as a hospital during World War I and as a film studio in the 1920s.
10. The Putney Debates: In 1647, a series of debates between the New Model Army and Parliament took place in St. Mary’s Church in Putney, paving the way for greater political and social reform in England.

What boroughs are next to Wandsworth?

Wandsworth is bordered by several other boroughs:

• The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is to the north
• The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is to the north
• The London Borough of Westminster is to the north
• The London Borough of Lambeth is to the east
• The London Borough of Merton is to the south
• The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is to the west