Herne Hill: House prices and lifestyle in London village where Carrie and Boris Johnson are looking to buy

Residents of Herne Hill in south-east London are set to get some famous new neighbours, with Boris and Carrie Johnson rumored to be moving into a large family home on the edge of Dulwich Village.

The former prime minister and his wife put their Camberwell home up for sale for £1.6 million earlier this month, and removal vans have recently been spotted outside Downing Street.

The couple are believed to have bought a five-bedroom house on a sought-after street where properties often sell for more than £3million, according to the records. and.

While leafy and affluent Herne Hill, with its great schools, lively restaurants, stylish boutiques and half-hour commute to Westminster, will no doubt appeal to the Johnsons, it remains to be seen whether the left-wing borough, with an overwhelmingly anti-Brexit majority, will welcome them. with open arms.

Here’s everything you need to know about London’s latest hotspot to hit the headlines:

Where is Herne Hill?

Herne Hill straddles the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, five miles south of central London. It borders Brixton to the west, Dulwich to the east, Camberwell to the north and Tulse Hill to the south.

It has its own Zone 2 station with fast direct links to Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International and Victoria, as well as St Albans City in Hertfordshire. The nearest tube station is Brixton on the Victoria line and there are plenty of useful buses running into central London.

Famous for

Herne Hill is home to the hills Brockwell Parkin which the Georgian sits Brockwell Hallbuilt in 1831 and bought by London County Council in 1891 for public use and Brockwell Lidoa 50-meter outdoor swimming pool built in 1937 and surrounded by an art deco building that houses a well-equipped gym.

Brockwell Park hosts the annual event Lambeth Country Show and more recently has been the site of several folk music festivals including Mighty Hoopla and Field Day.

In a smaller park off Burbage Road, you’ll find Herne Hill Velodromewhich hosted the track cycling events of the 1948 Summer Olympics. Sir Bradley Wiggins began his racing career here at the age of 12, and there is currently a campaign to secure his future.

You may have also heard of Half Moon, the Grade II listed Victorian pub in the heart of Herne Hill, which flooded in 2013 when a nearby water main burst, causing around £4m of damage to 36 properties. It reopened in 2017 following a fervent campaign by the local community to save their beloved shelter.

Famous past and present residents of Herne Hill, apart from our former Prime Minister, include food critic Jay Rayner, broadcaster Huw Edwards and actors Olivia Colman, Mark Rylance and James Nesbitt.

What is the appeal of Herne Hill?

This Labor stronghold has much to recommend it, with its community spirit, access to green space and lively Sunday farmers’ market proving a particular draw for young families.

It boasts a number of independent shops scattered along Half Moon Lane, Railton Road near the station and Dulwich, Norwood and Milkwood Roads. Favorites include the family-run butcher shop and deli Dugard & Daughterscharming Herne Hill Booksthe always busy one Blackbird Bakery and Apple Tree Children’s Cafe with its popular soft play area.

Gourmets can head to Olley’s famous fish and chip shop opposite the park, or try Florence, The Prince Regent or commercialism – all the good gastropubs. Taste modern European dishes at the most popular of Llewelyninsert into flavored fries at Lombok Thai or go plant-based to all-vegan Peach goat.

“Instead of chains like Starbucks, you’ll find lots of small cafes in Herne Hill,” says Douglas Bernard, manager at Winkworth’s local branch. “It has a relaxed, green feel while still being urban, so it’s ideal for families and people with dogs; you can go for a walk in Brockwell Park before meeting friends for coffee.

“The piggies are great and you’re ten minutes from Brixton at the end of the Victoria line, which means you’ll always have a seat on the tube.”

Property and house prices

“Most of the properties are Victorian and Edwardian, from one or two bedroom flats to four or five bedroom houses,” says Mr Bernard. “The local market is very dynamic and many people do not want to move. I’ve been here 15 years and I’ve helped people get tenancies on small flats, only for them to come back a decade later wanting a big family home.”

However, upsizers will need a big budget to cover the significant price difference between two- and three-bedroom homes, with the former costing from £600,000 and the latter around £1 million.

How much is the average house in Herne Hill?

Rent:

1 bed: £1,400 per month

2 beds: £1,800 per month

3 beds: £2,600 per month

4 beds: £3,200 per month

Buy:

1 bed: £350,000 to £400,000

2 beds: £500.00 to £650,000

3 beds: £850,000 to £1 million

4 beds: £1.2m to £1.5m

Source: Winkworth Herne Hill

“Buyers who can’t find the extra cash tend to move further afield to Forest Hill, Catford and Crystal Palace,” says Mr Bernard. “For better value in Herne Hill itself, look for ex-council housing such as that in Regent Road with its excellent St Jude’s Primary School.”

Just two months ago, Winkworth was selling most homes for more than asking prices, with up to 12 offers available on some properties. “I sold a house after something silly like 25 offers,” says Mr. Bernard. “Things are calmer now, but tenants should expect to pay more than the price. That market is completely insane!”

Sought-after streets include Stradella Road, where Edwardian detached properties fetch between £2.5m and £3m, Burbage Road towards Dulwich Village and the North Dulwich triangle, where larger period houses fetch around £1.5m.

Poet’s Corner, where roads are named after Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare and Milton, is popular with artistic celebrities and is the place to look for characterful Victorian houses built in a variety of styles.

schools

Herne Hill and the surrounding area offers a number of primary and secondary state schools rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, including those mentioned above. St. Jude’sbilingual Judith Kerr, Rosendale, Evelyn Grace, St Martin-in-Fields and Charter School.

Private primaries include Herne Hill School, Oakfield and Rosemeadwith the three reputable secondaries just around the corner in Dulwich Village: Alleyn’s, James Allen’s Girls (aka JAGS) and Dulwich College.