Wimbledon Area Guide | RM Surveyors
“Remember you’re a womble.” That’s what you get to sing to yourself as a resident of Wimbledon – a popular part of south west London made famous by its annual tennis tournament. But there’s much more to Wimbledon than tennis and the wombles: divided into two main sections – the busy ‘town’ (where the station is) and the ‘village’ – Wimbledon offers a taste of country life close to the city, with ample open space, large family homes, boutique shopping and traditional pubs. Join me for a jaunt on the common and a saunter along the high street as we discover this distinguished and much-loved location.
Wimbledon Station
Typical housing stock
The most common types of homes in Wimbledon are Victorian villas, Edwardian terraces and four to five bedroom townhouses, built after the arrival of the railway in 1938 to house the growing middle class. Stylish modern apartments are on the up, with one off luxury homes and a few larger developments popping up throughout the area. The most attractive (and expensive) homes tend to be found in the village, home of the tennis tournament, while the area round the Common is known for its large and prestigious homes.
Who lives here?
Families and professionals flock to Wimbledon and tend to settle in for the long haul: with its expansive homes and gardens, access to green space and local amenities, plus great transport links into the City and Surrey, it’s ideal for those seeking a suburban lifestyle but who still want to dip their toes in the city – which is just a 30-minute commute away. During the tennis, many locals pack up the car and decamp to calmer locations, making the most of the demand for accommodation by letting out their homes to tennis fans.
Transport links
Tube: The area has three main tube stations, Wimbledon Station and Wimbledon Park, both on the District Line, and South Wimbledon on the Northern Line.
Rail: A South West Trains service runs from Wimbledon station to Waterloo (18 minutes), calling at Clapham Junction (seven minutes) and Vauxhall (12 minutes). Wimbledon Chase and Wimbledon are also served by Thameslink trains that reach Farringdon in just over half an hour.
Tram: A tram runs from Wimbledon to Beckenham Junction, stopping at Croydon, Mitcham Junction and numerous other stops along the way.
Drinking and dining
Gastronomes are spoilt for choice in Wimbledon, which has a wealth of stylish and casual restaurants, gastro pubs and bars. On the High Street, both the Rose & Crown and Dog & Fox are popular, as is the Fox & Grapes in Camp Road and the Crooked Billet, a gastropub with a country feel on a corner of the Common. And in the heart of Wimbledon Village, there’s The Ivy Café.
Art deco inspired 601 Queens Road is an excellent option in the town, as is Thai Tho. The Light House and Cannizaro House offer more high-end menus, while the White Onion on the high street offers seasonal European food. Head over to Hemingways when you fancy a cocktail.
Shopping
Wimbledon is a large area and there are different shopping experiences on offer. Around the station and in Centre Court Shopping Centre you’ll find a hub of familiar high street names, while the nearby Elys Department Store specialises in fashion and homeware and has been open in Wimbledon for 125 years.
Up the hill towards the village and common, there are more independent shops around and a slightly nicer vibe, like local bookshop Wimbledon Books, boutiques like Caroline Randall, and pretty gift shop Postmark. Then there’s the beautiful bouquets of florist Gardenia, and when you’re in the mood for a picnic on the Common, head to deli Bayley & Sage for a mouth-watering range of cheese and thoughtfully sourced produce.
Parks and green spaces
Wimbledon has so much green space that it’s easy to forget you’re still in London. As one of the biggest stretches of open land in the capital, the treasured Wimbledon Common has nine ponds, an 18-hole golf course, an athletics track and cricket pitches – not to mention an abundance of verdant nature and plenty of lovely walks. Wimbledon in general is quite a hilly area, so it’s popular with cyclists too.
Richmond and Wimbledon Parks are also close by, while in Wimbledon village, Cannizaro Park, formerly the landscaped gardens of a grand house, has been bequeathed to the local community to enjoy. There’s a rose garden, rare trees and a water garden, with many quiet corners for reflection – I used to enjoy taking my daughter Jemima there for a treat when she was young. There used to be a bust of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie in Cannizaro Park, but this was destroyed in 2020.
Arts and culture
I love the beautiful building that houses Wimbledon Public Library – it opened in the 1800s and was saved from redevelopment by a local campaign in 2013. Alongside collections of books, it runs taster sessions in IT, crafts and fitness.
At the heart of the Common, the Wimbledon Windmill (tongue twister!) was built in 1817 to serve local people who grew their own wheat for flour. Today, it has been converted into a museum covering local history and is open at weekends.
There are two theatres in the area, the New Wimbledon Theatre, which puts on plays, musicals and a wide variety of productions, and the Polka Theatre, a popular centre for drama and the performing arts for kids. In June, Wimbledon’s village vibes get turned up to the max with a country style summer fair.
Sports and leisure
For several weeks every summer, tennis fever comes to town – join the Wimbledon Club to play on some local courts all year round. Wimbledon Village Stables offer horse riding lessons and hacking in local parkland, and there’s also a popular sports club in the area – Wimbledon Windmilers – which meets for regular 5K runs. The council-run Wimbledon Leisure Centre houses a swimming pool in its Victorian building, and there’s also a multitude of gyms and fitness centres in the area.
Schools
Wimbledon has a strong selection of schools from nursery and primary onwards, as well a range of state secondary and sixth form colleges, and the University of the Arts’ fantastic Wimbledon College of Arts. My daughter Jemima went to school in Wimbledon, and had a very positive experience there. The most sought-after primary schools include Holy Trinity, Pelham Primary and Wimbledon Chase, while local independents like Willington Prep and Wimbledon High School cater for toddlers right through to teens.
Local council
Wimbledon is in the London Borough of Merton, which currently has a Labour majority.
Estate agencies
Wimbledon is a huge residential area, so there are plenty of estate agents around to help find your perfect home. As well as the usual names like Foxtons, Lauristons and Dexters, there are some really good smaller and independent local agencies about, such as John D Wood & Co, Jackson-Stops and Ellisons– many of whom I had the pleasure of meeting when we went out to take photos for this blog! (see below for a comprehensive list of Wimbledon Estate Agents.
Surveys and valuations
If you’ve already got your eye on a property in Wimbledon and are ready to take the next step, I offer a wide range of independent and cost-effective residential surveys and valuations.
As a residential chartered surveyor and RICS registered property valuer with more 20 years’ real estate experience across London and the south-east, I know that buying property is one of the most important decisions most people ever make. That’s why I’m passionate about taking the stress out of the survey and valuation process and helping people realise their dreams, whether that’s a treasured new home or the next investment property.
Contact me today at roo@rmsurveyors.co.uk or by phone on 07957 606886 to have an informal, confidential and no-obligation consultation about your requirements.
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