Sitting at the final stop on the Northern line, this slice of 1930s suburbia is the savvy choice for those who wish to find the outer London “quiet”, combined with fantastic accessibility. Countryside and greenery punctuates the twisting streets of unassuming Edwardian terraces in the form of numerous recreation grounds, greens, and the National Trust-owned Morden Hall Park, which surrounds the idyllic River Wandle. It also houses a historic water wheel, a mill, a wetlands boardwalk, a quaint café, and supposedly one of south London’s best garden centres. The Art Deco high street of London Road provides a host of chain shops and restaurants, which are convenient, but nothing to write home about. The surprisingly affordable houses have made the neighbourhood increasingly popular with families who commute, and its diverse community is demonstrated by the magnificent Bait’ul Futuh Mosque, which opened in 2003 and can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers.

The town of Morden grew up around the grade I-listed St Lawrence Church, which dates from the 1630s, and later around Morden Hall from the 1770s; however, human activity in the area dates back to the Iron age period. It was owned by Westminster Abbey until the Dissolution in 1540s, when the manor was sold to Lionel Ducket. As it passed through numerous hands, it remained rural despite the rapid suburbanisation of nearby Wimbledon in the 19th century. It wasn’t until the extension of the Northern line in 1926 that Morden truly developed. With deliberately cheap rail fares, the extension stimulated a housing boom and the population grew rapidly. The owner of Morden Hall died in 1941, and the land was passed to the National Trust, with Morden Park becoming council owned in 1945. Much of the area’s entertainment-based architecture was demolished in the 1970s to be replaced by flats, many of which remain today.

Despite what its situation on the Northern line suggests, Morden tube station is the southernmost station on the entire Underground network. The town was once home to Joseph Bazalgette (1819-1891), who designed London’s sewer system, as well as the musicians Good Shoes and Sampha.

Whilst the area is very well connected and green, the town is rather uninspiring and grey, without many independent enterprises or local community spots on the high street. The area’s distance from London can also be a difficulty for commuters, as its zone 4 location means that travel can get rather expensive, especially if one has to travel during peak times.

Merton Council set out plans to regenerate Morden town centre into a thriving local retail and business area, which can accommodate the local population and future growth. The town centre’s regeneration has however suffered a number of obstacles. In 2019, it was announced that regeneration-related initiatives could take as long as four years before they start. But the council has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalise the area and consultations were held in 2021 to gain insights from the community. Between 2021 and 2023, Merton Council is investing £300,000 money earmarked for community use paid by developers to improve the town centre. This includes creating green spaces in the town centre and a new community garden at Morden Baptist Church which opened at the end of 2021. A council report from 2019 also said work could start in 2023 but as there are no solid plans in the pipeline, or that even been announced, it’s not certain when works to rejuvenate the neighbourhood are expected to be initiated.