London boroughs ranked by accessibility

The question of which borough is best for first time buyers is a hotly contested one. Affordability is undoubtedly an important factor, but so is the availability of local amenities and access to transport links. Where buyers choose to invest in their first home is one of the most important decisions they’ll ever make, so it’s crucial that the borough ticks all the boxes that matter most to them.

We conducted research to rank London boroughs by accessibility for city makers, taking into account annual house price growth, access to Cycle Superhighways and Green Flag parks and number of train stations and bus stops. Read on to find out which boroughs came out on top and why they stand out.

London’s most accessible boroughs

Our research revealed Hillingdon in West London as London’s most accessible borough, containing the highest number of Green Flag parks of any local authority in the country and 60 award-winning green places. The City of Westminster, Southwark and Hackney, amongst others, also have access to a significant number of Green Flag parks that are publicly accessible.

The second and third most accessible boroughs are Havering and Croydon. Croydon will be London’s Borough of Culture in 2023 and has some of the lowest average house prices. It also sees strong house price growth and access to almost 1,000 bus stops. We currently have homes for sale in this borough at Addiscombe Grove CR0, just minutes from East Croydon Station.

Addiscombe Grove CR0

Perhaps unsurprising given its central location, Westminster also has the highest number of Underground and DLR stations in London, 32, which will increase to 35 with the arrival of the Elizabeth Line. Tower Hamlets and Newham currently both have access to 26 stations, with Brent following closely behind with 21.

Barking and Dagenham

It’s worth noting that Barking and Dagenham ranked 13th overall, with lowest average house prices across London, access to a Cycle Superhighway and an annual house price growth of more than 7% – making it a prime location for those looking to buy their first home in an area with strong growth potential.

Jenny Anson, our Head of Sales, commented: “With the average first time buyer property in London now selling for over £400,000 according to the ONS, we’ve found that many of the city makers we speak to were feeling priced out of the capital before hearing about Pocket. This is why we work hard to deliver homes such as those at Harbard Close IG11 in Barking, where remaining homes start from £198,000, to help people take that first step onto the property ladder.”

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Harbard Close IG11

Jenny adds: “Over the past 15 years, we have provided new homes for Londoners across 18 of the Capital’s boroughs, so it is interesting to see how well they now rank on the accessibility scale.”

Harbard Close IG11 is just half a mile from Barking Station, making Central London accessible within 16 minutes. Residents have access to secure bike storage inside the building, as well as on-site allotment beds.

Other boroughs that made the list include Greenwich and Waltham Forest, where we have upcoming developments. See a map of our locations across London here, and view the full table of boroughs ranked by accessibility here.

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