London property guide: Wandsworth

If you’re looking for an iconic location for your next home in London, you’ll find it hard to beat Battersea Power Station.

An artist's impression of an apartment living room at the Battersea Power Station (PA)

The borough of Wandsworth runs along a scenic stretch of the south bank of the Thames dominated by the famous white chimneys. These are due to be demolished and rebuilt for safety reasons as part of the development turning the historic building into homes, office space and a new park.

There is also long-awaited redevelopment going on at the historic Ram Brewery site in Wandsworth town centre, part of a multimillion pound programme to transform the area that will improve road access while also providing hundreds of new homes and shops as well as a brewery museum.

The area has a wealth of green spaces, a hangover from the time when it was a series of smaller villages. Among the most popular is Battersea Park, home to a spectacular annual free fireworks display as well as a long riverside promenade, the Pump House Gallery exhibition space and a children's zoo.

Wandsworth Common is further away from the river, at the top of East Hill, next to an area known as the ‘Toast Rack’ that has many expensive townhouses. The roughly triangular Clapham Common is also well used and a popular home for young professionals. Its 88 hectares feature plenty of parkland and mature trees, ponds and a Grade II listed bandstand.

Tooting Bec Common not only has tennis courts, football fields and plenty of open space but in Tooting Bec Lido boasts the biggest open air pool in the UK.

Further towards the west is Putney, starting point for the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, which offers opportunities for river trips in both directions from Putney Pier to Kew Gardens or Westminster. Those who enjoy the outdoors will also like the London Wetlands Centre at Barnes.

Wandsworth’s main eateries are grouped around St Johns Hill, and Northcote Road/Battersea Rise, both close to Clapham Junction station. The borough also has two historic and awardwinning pubs dating back to the 18th century, The Old Sergeant on Garratt Lane and The Ship Inn on Jews Road by Wandsworth Bridge,

For those who enjoy football but want something more local than the international stars of the Premier League clubs, Tooting & Mitcham United Football Club play at Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Rd. Theatrelovers may prefer to head for the Putney Arts Theatre, Ravenna Road, a community theatre which puts on shows and courses for adults and children on all aspects of theatre throughout year, or Battersea Arts Centre on Lavender Hill.