Living in Battersea
Dominated by one of London’s great landmarks, Battersea Power Station, Battersea is a family-friendly area that has seen huge benefits from redevelopment in recent years. For anyone considering living in Battersea, find out more in this area guide.
History of the area
Battersea was once home to market gardens and farmland, but that was all swept away by the Industrial Revolution. The population leapt from 6,000 in 1840 to 168,000 in 1910. An Ordnance Survey map from this time showed nothing but factories, mills, chemical works, silk manufacturers, breweries, foundries, oil and grease works lining the riverside. The area had such a foul reputation that when a major railway station was opened in Battersea in 1863, it was named Clapham Junction, to appeal to middle and upper class travellers and associate it with the unspoilt village of Clapham about a mile and a half to the south.
The construction of Battersea Power Station sealed the industrial deal for the area. At its peak it provided a fifth of London’s electricity, but after it closed in the early 1980s the area became ripe for regeneration. Like so much of Thameside London, especially south of the river, Battersea is an area transformed, with riverside apartments replacing the factories. The art deco, Grade II* listed power station itself, so long derelict, was finally redeveloped into a shopping, entertainment and leisure complex.
The property market
House prices in Battersea are higher than the London average, and the market has seen a real spike since the Northern Line extension and the redevelopment in and around the power station, which is still ongoing.
New build homes
There are no shortage of new build developments in Battersea. 4,000 new homes will be built by the end of the decade in the riverside quarter around the power station, alongside more affordable homes in the Winstanley and York Road estates.
First time buyers
Budget-conscious first time buyers will still find opportunities in Battersea to get on the property ladder, with plenty of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments available, with prices starting from around £300,000.
Renting in the area
Rents are higher than the London average in SW11, and competition for tenancies can be fierce. But some new properties are available for social rent, and the regeneration of the Winstanley and York Road estates have seen nearly a thousand new homes made available at affordable rents.
Schools and education
Battersea has a number of well regarded schools, including Harris Academy on Battersea Park Road, a secondary rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Primary schools with ‘good’ Ofsted ratings include Falconbrook Primary on Wye Street and Christ Church CofE Primary on Batten Street. Families are drawn to the area for the quality of the schools available, both state and private.
Transport links
Few places south of the river are as well served for rail connections as Battersea. Clapham Junction, the busiest rail interchange in the UK, is in the heart of Battersea. There are overground trains to Waterloo and Victoria from Clapham Junction every few minutes. The Northern Line extension saw London’s newest tube stations, Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, open in the area in 2021. Commuters can now take the underground from Battersea and get to Charing Cross in nine minutes.
Lifestyle and leisure
Battersea Park, the Clapham Grand, Battersea Arts Centre, the Royal Academy of Dance – there is so much to savour about living in Battersea.
Places to eat and drink
Northcote Road is the place to go for independent cafés and restaurants. The Four Thieves pub in Lavender Gardens hosts top comedy acts, as well as VR gaming and karaoke nights. Flour to the People on Battersea Park Road is a hip bakery specialising in sourdough bread, takeaway pizza and hearty artisan breakfasts. Also on Battersea Park Road is The Latchmere, a classic welcoming London pub with a fantastic garden and fringe theatre space. There are also over 50 eating outlets at the power station complex itself!
Battersea Power Station
Finally opening to the public in 2022, the restoration and redevelopment of the power station site and its surrounding area has made Battersea a tourist destination, with the Northern Line extension enabling direct travel to the power station from central London for the first time. Retaining the heritage and iconic features of the industrial building, it is one of London’s most unique shopping, entertainment and leisure venues. The Control Room B cocktail bar is surrounded by the room’s original dials and controls, while visitors can take Lift 109 from Turbine Hall A to the top of the north-west chimney, for stunning views of the Thames and the London skyline.
London’s Art Capital
Battersea has a rich heritage in the art world, so it was a natural home for the Royal College of Art’s new campus, which also opened on Battersea Bridge Road in 2022. Bargain hunters flock to Battersea Park every Spring and Autumn for the Affordable Art Fair, while art lovers can immerse themselves in a unique array of galleries across the district, from the art’otel in the power station to the Pump House Gallery in the park.
Felicity J Lord can help you buy, sell or rent in Battersea
If you like what you hear about living in Battersea, we can help you buy, sell or rent in the Battersea area. Get in touch with the friendly team at our Battersea branch and they will be happy to help.
