Eltham: A lesson in history in Eltham

Background

Situated in the London borough of Greenwich, Eltham can offer those looking for property to rent a touch of class and the chance to visit some of the countries heritage buildings.

Eltham is one of the largest urban centres of the capital and particularly in the borough of Greenwich and is home to a campus of Greenwich University, situated in the former Avery Hill Park mansion and gardens which is open to the public and displays a number of tropical plants.

And history lovers can also visit Eltham Palace, which originally belonged to Edward II in 1305 and was a favourite of the Tudor royal family at Christmas.

Property

As a place of such historical significance, it could be expected that property prices in Eltham are relatively high.

And such a belief could be correct as the Land Registry reveals the average price of property in Greenwich stands at £240,680.

Broken down, online resource Home.co.uk notes that the average flat in Eltham is listed for £164,209, rising to £238,821 for a terraced house and at the other end of the spectrum £574,991 for a detached house.

The average time spent on the market is just 190 days - which may illustrate that people are quick to snap up homes in the area.

And with prices ranging from £144,979 for a one-bedroom home to £557,379 for five bedrooms, people may feel that property to rent in Eltham is a more affordable option to buying a home.

In contrast to purchasing a property, studio flats to rent in Eltham work out at an average monthly cost of £425, while a one-bedroom property to rent in Eltham stands at £641 on average a month.

Larger households looking for a bigger home may be interested to hear that they can rent a two-bedroom property for an average of £841 a month and a three-bed for £923 a month.

Transport

Eltham does not have a London Underground station but is on two main rail links to Central London, along with a road network for car owners.

The two rail lines serving the suburb are the Bexleyheath Line and the Dartford Loop. These can be accessed through either the New Eltham Station or the Mottingham Station.

Commuters can also get to Pimlico and Victoria, along with stops on the Kent coast and Canterbury on National Express coaches. There are also a number of bus routes.

Amenities

There are a good number of shops, pubs and eateries in Eltham, including the Tudor Barn, which dates back to 1568, while Electriq Cafe, Mottingham Cafe and China Noodle could also be well worth a visit.

Meanwhile, theatre-lovers may wish to visit the Bob Hope Theatre - where Hollywood actor Jude Law began his professional career - which is named after the actor and comedian of the same name, who was born in Eltham.

However, it may be the historical sites and parks in the suburb which offer the greatest interest to residents.

This Is Eltham reports Severndroog Castle is noticeable as a result of its triangular shape and has stood on Shooters Hill since 1784.

Meanwhile, the Firepower Museum and Fan Museum could be places of interest for families to visit, with the former detailing the story of Gunners in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, while the latter is the world's only museum specialising in fans and fan-making.

And children and walkers may enjoy a visit to Woodlands Farm, where a number of walking trails offer the chance to go wildlife-spotting.

It could be said that people planning a move to Eltham could very soon have discovered more about the historical significance of their new home.

Written by Chris Price

Published 21st September, 2009

© 2009 Estates IT Limited