Wimbledon: why locals love this urban village in South West London

As you walk, cycle or jog across Wimbledon Common, it’s easy to mistake your location for a country village. The vast expanse of green space, complete with its historic windmill, is a big draw for local families who are lucky enough to have it as their playground.

The supremely desirable area at the top of the hill is known as Wimbledon Village. Sam Sproston, Head of South West London Prime at Knight Frank, knows the area well. He explains, “It’s a quintessentially English vibe. You’re in London, but there's a sense of being in the country.”

Your close proximity to central London can be hard to believe in Wimbledon Village. Horses walk down the street daily. There’s even a special button at road crossings that’s at horse height so riders can stop the traffic. There are stables in the village and local families enjoy the opportunity to ride across the common.

A typical Sunday in Wimbledon Village will probably involve sporting activities and coffee to start, followed by a great Sunday lunch with friends at home or in one of the many fantastic pubs or restaurants nearby. The weekly farmers’ market is the place to pick up artisan bread, farm fresh fruit and veg, and high quality butcher’s meat on a Sunday, along with your essential juice or coffee, of course.

Wimbledon’s really family friendly with plenty of opportunities for sports – you can even go ice skating on the pond in winter. The common is the ideal place for long walks, bike rides or even a game of golf.

The obvious sport in Wimbledon is tennis with the All England Lawn Tennis Club having its home on Church Road. For two weeks of the year, the Wimbledon tennis tournament brings celebrities and a world focus to SW19. But tennis is a year round sport for the club’s local members.

“It’s the outstanding, world class schools that are often the draw for families,” explains Sproston. The idea of sending kids to King’s College holds huge appeal for many. In addition, there’s Rokeby School, Putney High School and Wimbledon High School.

When it comes to looking for properties, Wimbledon offers a clear choice. “Clients are often surprised that Wimbledon’s formed of two parts – one an urban centre and another a country village on the top of a hill,” says Sproston. Wimbledon itself has flats and houses, old and modern. In Wimbledon Village, you have a lot of detached, gated houses offering good space and parking. There’s a high proportion of houses of a similar build in the village. People tend to go there as they know what they want and what they’re going to get.

Take this six bedroom detached house in a private, gated development on Bathgate Road with a guide price of £5,250,000. Tucked away on a cul-de-sac, this home exudes feelings of privacy and seclusion, yet Wimbledon Village is within walking distance. It lends itself to entertaining, with spacious reception rooms and a great garden with patios and a barbecue area.

Also in Wimbledon Village, this beautifully renovated period home is particularly spacious. With five bedrooms, four bathrooms and almost 4,000 sq ft of living space, it makes a desirable family home in this sought after location and has a guide price of £4,500,000.

Houses flanking the common on Parkside, South Side and West Side Common are very much in demand. You’ll also find very old, cute and welcoming pubs dotted around that area.

Adjacent to the common, this impressive six to seven bedroom, detached family home in a gated development is on the market for £5,500,000. Modern in style, it provides the plot size, garden and parking that buyers tend to seek in this area.

Wimbledon may have a country village feel, but transport links into the city are a breeze. London Waterloo is a mere 17 minute train journey away. There’s also the London Underground (District line) and Tramlink.

The urban village that is Wimbledon has much to offer. Here are some favourite ways to spend time in SW19.

Foodie hotspots

Light on the Common, and its sister restaurant The Light House, are perfect places for a delicious dinner. The Ivy Cafe is an ever popular, welcome addition to the area. The longstanding Maison St Cassien is a great place for all day grazing from its Mediterranean and Lebanese menu.

And to drink

Grab a coffee at Demitasse or Prezzemolo & Vitale in the village. After work, there are some wonderful, traditional pubs to choose from. The Dog and Fox on the high street is a great place to meet friends for a drink or the legendary Sunday roast. On the south west side of the common, both The Rose and Crown and The Hand in Hand are cute and characterful pubs that are definitely worth visiting.

Mix of shops

You’ll find familiar brand names around Wimbledon. In fact, Matches founded its first fashion boutique here and remains a popular presence in the village. Elys has been serving customers in Wimbledon since 1876 and is still the destination for present buying. For local, independent stores, Wimbledon Books and un-common are absolute must-visits.

Arts and entertainment

Housed in a beautiful Grade II listed Edwardian building, the New Wimbledon Theatre hosts big West End productions as well as the legendary, annual panto. Local history can be explored in Wimbledon Museum, and more specific stories in the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.

Area expert Sam summarises local life perfectly, saying, “Wimbledon Common’s a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. In fact, living here almost feels like you're in the countryside. There's even somewhere to keep your horses. There's no shortage of places to eat and drink, and boutique, independent shops on your doorstep. And of course, if you're heading into town, it's incredibly well connected.”

Sam’s role is to help people discover prime areas of South West London. Whether you’re set on Wimbledon Village, or weighing up areas like Wimbledon, Richmond or Barnes, he can help you to find your ideal location.

Explore properties for sale in Wimbledon or contact local south west prime property agent, Sam Sproston