Thursday, January 23, 2014

Moving to Wimbledon

By Madelin Moor


There is a lot to do and see in Wimbledon. It is most recognised for its annual tennis tournament. There are frequent and reliable tail and underground links between Wimbledon and central London and Surrey.

Wimbledon is located in Merton, and is a very large area consisting of Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village, South Wimbledon and Wimbledon Chase. All of these areas are within easy reach of each other on foot or by public transport. In the last six or seven years, the town centre has had a facelift, with a variety of new shops and flats having been built.

Types of housing

Wimbledon offers a wide range of types of accommodation. Whilst in the village you will find upmarket penthouses and mansions, in the cheaper area of South Wimbledon there is a large housing estate, tower blocks and maisonettes. There is a great rental market, with decent accommodation to suit a wide range of budgets.

Unless you are a successful tennis player or very rich indeed, Wimbledon Village is going to be out of reach in terms of housing, although sometimes privately let flats may become available below normal rates, so it is certainly worth checking out. Wimbledon is also one of the most pleasant areas of London to live in.

There is a wide variety of flats and house shares available in central Wimbledon, and these are much cheaper, and considerably cheaper than those in Putney. If you are looking to spend a little more, there are plenty of new apartments available too, although the price difference between new and old properties is quite steep. South Wimbledon is the cheapest area, although it is perhaps a little more edgy than the town centre. The borough of Merton has one of the lowest crime rates in London.

The people of Wimbledon

'WimbleDurban' is the nickname given to the area of Wimbledon with a large South African community, as well as the community of settlers from the southern hemisphere. All of this results in vibrant weekend nightlife. The English residents in Wimbledon tend to be young professionals, and family homeowners. 'The Village' is the posh area at the top of Wimbledon Hill, and plays host to millionaires and celebrities who frequent the classy bars.

South Wimbledon is a very diverse area indeed, and in particular there are a lot of North African and Polish people there. As a result of this diversity, Wimbledon has a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere for visitors. No matter where you are from, you are sure to find people from a wide range of cultures.

Parks and leisure activities

Wimbledon Common is a tranquil and quiet place to visit, with its woodland, windmill, tearoom and lake, as well as being home to the Wombles. If you are more energetic, Wimbledon Park has water sports, playing fields, tennis courts and mini golf. Because of its location on the outskirts of London, there is a lot of green space, which is great in summer.




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