This neighbourhood is located off the banks of the Thames in the southwestern borough of Wandsworth, just north of the sprawling Richmond Park and Putney Village. The area’s residential parts are a mix of family homes and modern flats, sprinkled in between numerous higher education institutions, including the esteemed University of Roehampton, Southlands College, and Froebel College. The area is also surrounded by a plethora of outdoor entertainment and open green spaces, such as the Roehampton Golf Course, Putney Heath, Richmond Park, and the Wetland Centre.

Residents can also frequent an African foods grocery store, local favourite Colicci, a sandwich shop on the edge of the park, and Al Forno a popular Italian restaurant, as well as many other bars and restaurants in nearby Putney. This neighbourhood is excellent for professionals and families alike, who want to live on the doorstep of some of London’s best parks and green spaces.

The area has a long history, much of it as an oasis away from the city where wealthy Londoners could escape from the hustle and bustle. The first mansion or villa of significance was Roehampton House, which was rebuilt from a hunting lodge around 1630. At the end of the 17th century, this was the home of Christiana, Countess of Devonshire. Among her guests here were the political philosopher Thomas Hobbes and most of the leading figures of the Restoration court. In 1777, Roehampton House was demolished and replaced by Roehampton Grove, and today is known as Grove House.

Emily Blunt was born in Wandsworth and attended Ibstock Place School in this neighbourhood. Also, Roehampton Priory claims to be London’s oldest private psychiatric hospital and has treated many celebrities for problems such as exhaustion, depression and various addictions.

One of the downsides of this neighbourhood is that it is only serviced by the District line or South Western Railways, which both have frequent service problems and delays. Depending on where one needs to get to in London, this could prove somewhat problematic.

The local council has designated this neighbourhood area as one in need of regeneration and which has plentiful renewal opportunities. The council, working alongside residents and local organisations, wants to create new housing and improve existing housing, at the same time investing in improvements to Roehampton University, including the provision of additional student accommodation.

There are also plans to attract new investment into the area to create a vibrant new heart for Roehampton, improve the appearance of the area, provide better shopping, employment, community and leisure facilities. Residents of this neighbourhood can expect to see numerous impactful developments in the coming years. Launching by the end of 2022, Greenside is a new development of shared ownership apartments, including wheelchair adaptable homes, with private outdoor space and large communal gardens, plus parking to selected apartments. In 2021, a housing development in Bessborough Road was completed and called McKinney House to celebrate the life of the former vicar of Holy Trinity Church the late Rev. Jim McKinney. The site delivers 10 new council homes including five three-bed maisonettes, two three-bed flats and three two-bed flats, and is the first stage of the regeneration of the Alton Estate by Wandsworth Council.