The neighbourhood of South Roehampton is situated just below the southern banks of the Thames in the well-to-do southwestern borough of Wandsworth. The area is an interesting mix of taller residential buildings and family homes, bordered by the vast green Richmond Park. It is surrounded by a multitude of outdoor entertainment options, including Roehampton Recreation Centre, Putney Heath, Wimbledon Common, and Richmond Park Golf Course. The area’s multicultural population is represented in its celebrated Middle Eastern and Caribbean restaurants, and the broad community focuses around local favourite, the King’s Head pub, which boasts a great roof terrace. Filled with well-rated schools, this neighbourhood is an excellent choice for families who want to be on the doorstep of some of London’s best green spaces, while having an easy access into town from the nearby stations of Southfields and East Putney.

The locality began to develop in the 14th century, at first as East Hampton, and then Rokehampton, with the ‘Roke-’ element possibly referring to the presence of rooks, rocks or oaks. Roehampton was originally a village but quickly evolved into a popular residential area for the wealthy, within easy reach of London, and has the surviving villas to prove it. One of the finest surviving villas in the neighbourhood is Mount Clare, which was built in 1772 – probably by Robert Taylor – for George Clive, cousin to Lord Clive. Mount Clare is now surrounded by University of Roehampton halls of residence, but no one lives in the villa itself, and it is instead used as some rather grand university offices. Some of the mansions and villas in this area have been taken over by various institutions, but sadly most were demolished during the 20th century.

The neighbourhood was once home to Josephine Butler (1828-1906), a feminist and social reformer, in the late 1800s. She campaigned for women’s suffrage, the right of women to better education and the end of coverture in British law.

The Alton Estate, which is located in this neighbourhood, has been used as a film and television location. Fahrenheit 451 (1966) used some of the estate as its backdrop for a bleak dystopian society of the future.

The busy A3 forms the southern border of this otherwise peaceful and leafy neighbourhood. Some residents have complained that the road causes a great deal of noise and environmental pollution, but it is an important thoroughfare that keeps the locality connected to nearby areas.

The local council has designated this neighbourhood area as one in need of regeneration and it has numerous renewal opportunities. The council, working in partnership with residents and local organisations, wants to create new housing, improve existing housing, and invest 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 neighbourhood, provide better shopping, employment, community and leisure facilities. Residents of this neighbourhood can expect to see meaningful developments in the coming years. Launching by the end of 2022, Greenside is a new development in the area 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.