Blackheath: Village living in Blackheath

Background

While Britons looking for property to rent in the capital may love living in one of the busiest, cosmopolitan and popular cities on earth, by choosing a flat or house in Blackheath, they can get all this, plus the chance to reside in a village-like atmosphere.

Situated in the south-east London borough of Greenwich, Blackheath is built around an open area of green, known locally as the Heath - and such is the atmosphere of the borough, its centre is known as the Village.

But in addition to this quiet and leafy location, residents also benefit from shops, good restaurants and bars, while the Millennium Dome is just a short distance away, which may be good news for gig-goers.

Property

With so much to offer, many Britons may be concerned that there is no way they will be able to afford to live in Blackheath.

And property prices in the borough of Greenwich are high when compared with the rest of the UK.

According to figures from the Land Registry, the average property price in Greenwich stood at £242,174 in August of this year - and while this is lower than the £275,494 high noted last August, this is still significantly more than the national average.

For a detached property in Greenwich, buyers could expect to shell out some £438,806, while a semi-detached home will set people back £282,445. Meanwhile, a terraced property costs an average of £231,549 and a flat or maisonette amounts to approximately £216,728.

With this in mind, Britons may find that it is a much more affordable option to look for property to rent in Blackheath if they are planning a move to the city.

Indeed, rental prices in the borough rage from £162 a week for a studio flat to £350 for a three-bedroom property over the same period.

A one-bedroom flat in Blackheath costs in the region of £992 a month, a two-bedroom pad comes to £1,300 a month and a three-bedroom place will set people back just £1,517 a month.

Transport

While Blackheath has the feel of a village, it also boasts a number of good transport links into the city, which could prove useful to those looking to move in order to work in London, or for people who wish to grab a regular slice of the city's nightlife.

The area has rail links to London Bridge, Waterloo and Charing Cross, with journey times lasting between just 15 and 23 minutes on average.

And the nearest stations to Blackheath, in addition to Blackheath Railway Station, are Deptford Bridge station, Greenwich station, Hither Green station, Kidbrooke station and Lewisham station.

Amenities

Blackheath's village is situated close to the railway station and boasts a number of shops, restaurants and pubs for locals to enjoy once work is over.

There is also a concert venue for those looking for a spot of culture, in the form of the Blackheath Conservatoire of Music and the Arts and Blackheath Halls, managed by Trinity College of Music.

And when autumn arrives, locals and visitors head for the Heath, where each year a spectacular Guy Fawkes fireworks display takes place. The event is one of the most popular of its kind in the whole of the UK and each year attracts more spectators, who now number in the thousands.

Meanwhile, sports fans living in Blackheath may already be aware of its place in history, with the nearby Royal Blackheath Golf Club being one of the first associations to be set up outside Scotland.

Furthermore, Blackheath Rugby Club is renowned for being the oldest rugby club in the country.

So, whether it is quiet community living, cosmopolitan nightlife or sporting weekends people are after, Blackheath is sure to offer something for everyone.

Published 13th October, 2009

© 2009 Estates IT Limited