Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe may be most famous for its congested tunnel but many young buyers are warming to its riverside

charms.
It is still much cheaper than its waterside neighbors. The housing stock is predominately 1980s flats, many ar- ranged in cul-de-sacs (死胡同 )and closes around Surrey Quays Road.
The unpopular architecture has led to the area being called the Milton Keynes of London but properties are spa- cious and unfashionable style has kept prices down.
Paul Mitchell, of estate agents Alex Neil, says, "There is precious little period property, but you will get far more for your money here than a Victorian house with lots of original features down the road in Bermondsey. "
Surry Quays shopping center provides all the amenities of a high street but the area is lacking in fun. However, Southwark Council is in talks to develop the "night time economy" which could well lead to an increase in bars and restaurants to cater for the growing number of young professional residents
"It is possible to get a good three-bedroom house in Rotherhithe for 280, 000, " says Sumine Jordaan-Rob- inson, of agents Burwood Marsh , "About eight minutes; walk from the Jubilee line which will have you in Bond street in 15 minutes. There are not that many areas in London where that is possible. "

 

Barnes
Barnes sits just across the river from Hammersmith in southwest London, but it could not be more different

from the noise and bustle of the opposite bank.
It has been called one of the last true London "villages" with happy residents keeping its old school charms qui- et from nosey outsiders and potential developers.
Being by the river and predominately residential gives Barnes an attractively lazy vibe. It has a traditional vil- lage green complete with idyllic duck pond and quaint pub. The high street is about as far from the Pound Shop and Primark ambience of its neighbors as is possible.
But buying into Barnes is not cheap. "Family houses are snapped up incredibly quickly, " claims Chris Car- ney, sales negotiator at Boileaus estate agents. "It is very hard to get properties of this size, with outside space so close to London, which is why they are expensive. "
Large detached Victorian houses on the two main roads, Castlenau and Lonsdale, normally have between five and seven bedrooms, gardens of 120 ft and off street parking. These sell for anything between ~ 2 million and ~ 5 mil- lion.
By the village green there are rows of immaculate terraced house on a number of streets that run off Church and Station roads, and four bedroom houses of this kind sell for around £ 1 million.