South London hotspots like Clapham and Brixton remain popular with renters in South London. Alongside these, Abbey Wood, Crystal Palace and Woolwich are climbing in popularity thanks to affordable rents and easy commutes.
Here, we take a look at why.
Most Popular Areas to Rent in South London 2025
1. Abbey Wood (SE2)
Abbey Wood is the rising star of the South London rental scene. A predominantly residential area, it is located in the outskirts of London in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Its green spaces, affordability and convenient commute to central London, thanks to the introduction of the Elizabeth Line, make it a great choice for families as well as professionals.
In recent years, Abbey Wood’s popularity has increased exponentially. Data from SpareRoom shows that in the list of the most searched-for London rental locations, Abbey Wood increased 41 places between 2022 and 2023. Since then, searches for properties in this area have more than tripled (210%).
The average rental price in Abbey Road is around £1,926 (as of September 2024 according to Track Capital). However, there is plenty of variation depending on the property. Abbey Wood draws in families looking for houses as much as it does single adults, couples and professionals looking to rent a flat or by the room.
Property Rents in Abbey Wood by Type
| Property Type | Average Rent |
| Room | £835 pcm |
| Flat | £1,952 pcm |
| House | £2,377 pcm |
Data from Home.co.uk
2. Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace is another South London rental destination growing in popularity. In the same data from SpareRoom, searches for properties in Crystal Palace went up 23 places in the ranking, year over year.
One of the biggest perks of Crystal Palace is its excellent transportation links. A destination on multiple bus routes, it is also home to Crystal Palace overground station and Gipsy Hill station with direct links to London Victoria. For those with a car, it is a stone’s throw away from major motorways in case you’re looking to escape the city for the weekend.
Home to its namesake, Crystal Palace park, the neighbourhood offers plenty of green spaces. That, coupled with good schools, plenty of activities and multiple sports facilities, make it a family-friendly rental location in South London. Its selection of restaurants and cosy pubs draw in renters of all ages.
When it comes to rent, it is still one of the most affordable locations in South London with an average monthly rent of £650 for a room (£2,268 for the whole flat) according to Home.co.uk.
3. Woolwich (SE18)
Woolwich is another location which is popular largely thanks to its excellent links to central London. With its own Elizabeth Line station, this picturesque riverside location provides a convenient commute to central London as well as boasting links to outer city hotspots like Kent.
With an average room rent of £856 per month (SpareRoom) or £2,153 per month (Home.co.uk) for the whole flat, it is still on the affordable side when it comes to London rent. An interesting blend of history and new builds, there is plenty of variety when renting in Woolwich.
From the Woolwich Works Project, a cultural hub located in a restored historic site, to large green spaces and parks, Woolwich has plenty to offer families, couples and solo renters alike.
4. Clapham (SW4)
Although SpareRoom data showed a significant decline in searches for rentals in Clapham, it is still the most popular search for renting in London. A blend of a vibrant nightlife and plenty of entertainment with peaceful green spaces and an easy commute, it’s easy to see why. The low crime rate and good schools attract many families while the buzzing high street, great restaurant and pub scene and convenient commute makes it a popular choice for younger renters.
Its relatively high rental prices (£1,098 monthly per room or £2,633 monthly per flat), don’t seem to deter renters. Clapham is likely to still be popular with renters in South London for many years to come.
Clapham Park
5. Brixton (SW2)
Brixton is another South London rental hotspot not looking to go anywhere anytime soon. The second-most searched for rental destination in South London, Brixton has something for everyone: excellent travel links, community spirit, thriving nightlife and plenty of cultural offerings. Known originally as the home to David Bowie and one of the biggest Afro-Caribbean communities in London, Brixton retains its diverse charm and cool vibes. This makes it one of the trendiest places to rent in South London.
As a trendy location, it is also one of the priciest with an average monthly rent of £1,041 per room. However, for that price you have access to fast and convenient links to London (via the Victoria line) as well as plenty of life and atmosphere.
Key Factors Driving Popularity Of Areas in London
Affordability
Probably the most influential factor for how popular an area of London is to rent is the price. As London gets more expensive, affordability is a priority for most renters. The majority of people will have this as their number one criteria when looking for their next home.
Accessibility
This is another hugely important factor when it comes to renting in South London. People want to live in an area that has convenient, easy and fast connections to the city centre – especially those needing to commute. The addition of the Elizabeth Line has made places like Abbey Wood and Woolwich more accessible and, in turn, more desirable as rental destinations.
Trendiness
The trendiness of a place is still an important factor for many London renters, especially young professionals and recent graduates. It’s why places like Clapham, despite increasing rent prices, remain a popular choice thanks to the buzzing nightlife and Clapham Common for a lazy Sunday.
Family Friendly
As buying in London becomes less and less affordable, renting is not just a popular but necessary way to live. Increasingly more families are looking to rent homes in South London. Unsurprisingly, the locations on the list are mostly family-friendly areas, with plenty of green space and good schools.
Where Renters Want to Live in South London
Rentals in South London are in high demand, especially in trendier areas like Clapham and Brixton. As destinations further outside of London develop better train links, thanks to the Elizabeth line, more affordable areas such as Abbey Wood, are now more accessible.
This combination of affordability and accessibility makes these locations a popular choice for renters. As a London landlord, renting out a property in these South London areas can be extremely profitable.
Struggling to keep up with the ins and outs of being a landlord in South London? Working with a property management London company can make the whole process even more seamless.
If you need help sourcing reliable tenants or managing your property, J Property Management is a London property management company that can help. To find out more get in touch with the team at info@jpropertymanagement.co.uk
