Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in Rotherhithe, South East London

Tunnelling in to Rotherhithe.

Living in 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 neighbours, Canary Wharf, Shad Thames and Wapping, and the arrival of the Jubilee Line some years ago opened the area to buyers drawn to the relaxed residential feel of the area and the great transport links.

The housing stock is predominantly 1980s flats and small houses, many arranged in cul-de-sacs and closes around Surrey Quays Road.

The unpopular architecture has led the area to be dubbed the Milton Keynes of London, but properties are spacious, and their unfashionable style has kept prices down.

Sandwiched between Rotherhithe Road and Salter Road on the northern tip of the peninsula, Lavender Pond is surrounded by quiet closes of private houses and also features a nature reserve.

This is the only remnant of what was once Lavender Dock, the largest of the Surrey Docks. Perhaps more than any other part of Rotherhithe, this location has much more of the air of a country village than a capital city.

The more expensive properties are the new, purpose-built flats by the river in the Surrey Quays peninsular, with wonderful views of Canary Wharf and Tower Bridge. There are also apartments being created out of old industrial buildings on the dockside.

Surrey Quays shopping centre proves all the amenities of a high street, including a 24-hour supermarket and a cinema.

Transport

Rotherhithe (East London Line) and Canada Water (Jubilee/East London Lines) are both in zone two.

There is a railway station in nearby Bermondsey, providing services to London Bridge.

For more detailed information on travelling around London visit www.tfl.gov.uk.

History and culture

Rotherhithe was the first place where docks serving London were constructed. Commercial development of Rotherhithe was intrinsically linked to its docks - Greenland Dock and then the Surrey Docks were the centre of London’s timber trade.

The docks closed in 1970, following which the area underwent major redevelopment through the London Docklands Development Corporation.

The old village around St Mary’s church survived the closure of the docks, and in 1968 was designated as the Rotherhithe Conservation Area.

The Thames Tunnel, linking Rotherhithe to Wapping, was the first ever underwater tunnel.

Today the tunnel is used by London Underground and the Brunel Museum, located near the tube station over the tunnel. A separate road tunnel still in use today, known simply as the Rotherhithe Tunnel, was opened in 1908.

The area is renowned for its green spaces. Southwark Park, dating back to 1869, has a play area, lake, rose garden, art gallery, bandstand, a sports complex and facilities for bowls and tennis.

Across Jamaica Road from Southwark Park is Kingstairs Gardens with access to the Thames Path. Further into the peninsula, Stave Hill is an ecological park, managed by the Trust for Urban Ecology.

For further information visit www.southwark.gov.uk or www.brunel-museum.org.uk.