Where to live next in London: Dulwich
Discover this desirable area of south east London, known for its excellent schools, easy commute and close-knit community
The presence of three of London’s top-performing independent schools has turned this pretty and peaceful corner of Zone Two south east London into a serious property hotspot, with buyers looking to move here often hoping for a place at James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS), Alleyn’s School or Dulwich College.
Georgia Jakstys, Associate Partner at Knight Frank’s Dulwich office, points out that Dulwich also has a range of excellent local state schools all rated “outstanding” too. “The schools in Dulwich aren’t just good, they’re exceptional,” she says.
If people come for the schools, they stay for the lifestyle – the average resident lives in the area for 19 years. What they enjoy, says Jakstys, is the plentiful green space, the half-hour commute to the City, the Victorian houses (better value than more famous London villages, like Hampstead or Wimbledon) and the vibe. “It’s a close-knit community and it feels very safe.”
Buyers should expect to pay circa £1m to £1.5m for a three-to-four-bedroom house and up to £2m for a four-to-five-bedroom property. At the top end, large (4,000 to 5,000 sq ft) detached houses can sell for around £5m.
Demand currently outstrips supply. Jakstys recently put a four-bedroom home on Trossachs Road, East Dulwich, on sale for £1.7m. The property received six offers and sold rapidly for almost £130,000 above its guide price.
“Buyers need to keep their ears to the ground and move fast in this market,” Jakstys advises. “Almost half the homes sold by Knight Frank in the area are gone before they can be listed online.”
Georgia’s local gems
“On Saturdays North Cross Road is closed to traffic for the weekly market, filled with stalls featuring vintage treasures, bric-a-brac, organic foods and crafts.
“Redemption Roasters in Dulwich Village is the place to power up with a specialty coffee and one of their hard-to-resist, freshly baked pastries.
“Then Lordship Lane is an absolute must for foodies. Start with picking up delicious cheeses at Mons Cheesemongers, fruit at Bora & Sons, and join the queue for quality meat from William Rose butchers.”
