_Bermondsey Rising: 10 reasons why Bermondsey is officially the best area to live in London in 2018
Claiming the coveted Sunday Times accolade for 'best place to live in London' in 2018 is Bermondsey, a young, hip and vibrant area just south of river in the shadow of London Bridge.
Once home to Southwark's many factory and dock workers in the early part of the 20th Century, the area has gone from faded industry to foodie mecca with exciting new homes carved from disused industrial warehouses and factories attracting a rich tapestry of the capital's trend conscious.
With mass regeneration and investment rewriting the area's profile, it's an exciting time to live in Bermondsey; we look at the area's biggest draws and put forward ten reasons why you should make the move to SE1.
Best place to live 2018
The Sunday Times named Bermondsey 'the best place to live in London in 2018'. The newspaper said its choice 'reflects the rise of an area that epitomises the modern urban good life'.
Location and transport
Bermondsey is extremely well connected. It is served by the Jubilee line (zone 2) at Bermondsey tube station, the newly revamped London Bridge station (zone 1 Jubilee and Northern lines), the River Thames Clipper Service from London Bridge City Pier and South Bermondsey (zone 2) is on the rail network, just a few minutes’ from London Bridge.
Above: Buzzing Bermondsey pulls in the crowds
Culture
The area's main artery Bermondsey Street is lined with popular bars, cafes, restaurants and shops and borders with Tanner Street park. It’s also home to the White Cube Gallery and the Fashion and Textile Museum. Just off Bermondsey Street is Kino, an independent cinema showing arthouse films.
With the arrival of Sir Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr’s London Theatre Company at One Tower Bridge next year, Bermondsey is set to become a major centre for performance arts.
There is also the children’s Unicorn Theatre on Tooley Street and the Union Theatre on Union Street, as well as the many cultural attractions at the South Bank and the Tate Modern.
Within London Square Bermondsey there will also be commercial and creative spaces and a brand new space for the charity Tannery Arts.
Foodies beat a path to Bermondsey Street, the railway arches around Maltby Street, Druid Street and Spa Terminus in Dockley Road
Regeneration
Bermondsey covers a large area. It stretches from Southwark Park to the east, Borough High Street to the west, Old Kent Road to the south and the Thames to the north.
As a result, Bermondsey remains a place of great contrasts. This is likely to continue with the regeneration of the Old Kent Road area, as Southwark Council and Transport for London consider plans that could finally elevate Old Kent Road from its traditional position as 'the cheapest square on the Monopoly board'.
Schools and universities
Two primary schools have joined the list of local schools rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overy in Redcross Way, the latter with close links with Southwark Cathedral and Charles Dickens in Toulmin Street. The others are Boutcher and St Joseph’s RC, both moments from London Square Bermondsey, and Riverside in Janeway Street.
The following comprehensive schools are also judged “outstanding”: St Saviour’s and St Olave’s CofE (girls, ages 11 to 18) in New Kent Road, St Michael’s Catholic College (co-ed, ages 11 to 18) in Llewellyn Street, and Harris Academy Bermondsey (girls, ages 11 to 18) in Southwark Park Road.
Within 30 minutes’ walk of London Square Bermondsey are nine renowned universities, two of which (South Bank University and Kings College) are within just 18 minutes’ walk.
Open space
Bermondsey’s riverside walks take in many of south London’s major landmarks, such as Southwark Cathedral, the Globe Theatre and the Oxo Tower. Bermondsey meets Surrey Quays at Southwark Park, where two modern art galleries - The Gallery and Dilston Grove are located. London Square Bermondsey also boasts eight courtyards and garden squares once completed.
Residents
The area primarily attracts investors and professionals, especially City workers who enjoy being able to walk or cycle to work. Canary Wharf is just two stops away on the Jubilee line.
There is also an influx of parents buying properties for themselves and for children starting work or university, making Bermondsey a really diverse community to be a part of.
Above: City Hall
Hidden London
Shad Thames has long-established riverside warehouse conversions, east of London Bridge. Pioneered by Sir Terence Conran in the early eighties, the neighbourhood is characterised by its cobbled streets straddled by imposing iron bridges linking the warehouses.
Equally popular are the warehouse conversions close to Bermondsey Street, arranged around quaint mews or yards, such as The Jam Factory in the former Hartley’s plant, Tanners Yard and The Glass House.
Period architecture, modern details
The new London Square Bermondsey scheme embraces the area’s rich history. Its loft-style living features historic façades alongside modern amenities and high-end specification
The Tannery by London Square
Above: The Tannery - a collection of 1,2 and 3 bedroom apartments in the heart of SE1
London Square is one of the city’s top developers with big credentials in creating desirable new places to live that respect the heritage of an area.
London Square’s experience of meticulously restoring historic homes has been lauded and it is these skills that they are bringing to Bermondsey.
The unique Bermondsey blend of old and new, art and commerce, street smart and exclusive has made it one of the most fascinating London neighbourhoods. It’s also the perfect setting for The Tannery: 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, maisonettes, flexible workspace and art studios in a collection of heritage and contemporary buildings. It’s the new heart and soul of SE1.
The perfect weekend in Bermondsey...
Bermondsey is a great place to spend a leisurely long weekend, starting early on a Friday morning with a visit to the antiques market in Bermondsey Square.
Saturday
Saturday brings the foodie delights of Borough Market. Walking back towards Bermondsey Street, you can pop into the fab and quirky gift shop Bermondsey 167 or nip to the amazing Peter Layton glass blowing gallery and workshop.
Once you have worked up an appetite, head onto Casse-Croûte for French bistro fare or Tanner & Co for burgers. The Garrison and The Woolpack are two popular gastropubs.
Around the corner in Tooley Street, Magdalen serves modern British food. In and around Shad Thames and Butler’s Wharf, there is a top brasserie Le Pont de la Tour and Blueprint Café, or Del’Aziz in Bermondsey Square serves food with a Middle Eastern twist.
For traditionalists, there is M.Manze eel, pie and mash shop, dating back to 1902.
Sunday
Lazy Sundays are spent walking around the neighbourhood galleries and other cultural delights, such as Southwark Cathedral and the weird and the wonderful along the Southbank. Follow this by a trip to Maltby Street Market, known for its artisanal coffee, Taiwanese waffles, and homemade pesto.
Thinking about moving to Bermondsey? Search from hundreds of Bermondsey homes for sale and to rent or find out more about The Tannery - an exciting new development in the heart of SE1.