A popular destination with tourists during the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament, the affluent, handsome suburb of Southfields is a favourite amongst commuting families. Its large Edwardian and Victorian terraced houses provide large living spaces and gardens, and Southfields’ station on the District line runs very regular services into the inner city. The bustling high street of Merton Road is home to a number of community-led independent shops and cafes, as well as some convenient chain stores and local favourite the Park Tavern; the combination of these features has made the area popular with young professionals as well. It’s likely the pub’s name refers to the sprawling King George’s Park that sits to the area’s east, offering locals a great space for both sport and relaxation. The neighbourhood also boasts a Mosque, a number of churches, and multiple schools.

Up until the late-19th century, the area of Southfields was just open agricultural land located between the developed villages of Wimbledon and Putney. A number of the former roads that traversed the fields still remain today, such as Wimbledon Park Road, Kimber Road, and The Baulk. The opening of the District & South Western Railway from Wimbledon to Putney Bridge in 1889, prompted house building, with a school opening just one year later. The ‘Southfields Triangle’ developed into a working-class district along with the area known as ‘The Grid’, which was built up slightly later. Over the following decades the neighbourhood, like many of its nearby areas, saw a great deal of gentrification, and has since become a rather well-to-do part of town.

Southfields is the home of London’s first ever Mosque, which was opened in 1926. The Fazl Mosque, which is also known as the London Mosque, was built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and still exists today.

The area’s recent gentrification has led to an increase in house prices, and this has resulted in a number of residents being priced out. The train lines that traverse the neighbourhood are also considered a nuisance due to the noise pollution they can cause in the otherwise quiet residential area.

The neighbourhood has seen a number of new developments in recent years, which are set to bring many new residents to the locality and likely spur further development in the future. These include the Cambium, a Lendlease scheme completed in 2019 and comprised of 55 three and four storey mews-style townhouses and a single block of 55 apartments constructed for customer Lendlease. There is a selection of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments and 3, 4 and 5-bedroom houses. Designed to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4, the development met with the Lifetime Homes standards (with 10% wheelchair accessible), and the Mayor’s London Housing Design Guide. The site was also awarded with a Considerate Constructors Scheme Silver Award at the National Site Awards 2019. Carlyle Court was also built opposite Southfields station, with 22 flats that started at £550,000 when they were completed.