Is Nine Elms a Good Place to Live?

Crime levels here track close to the London norm, with violent crime and anti-social behaviour the more common issues rather than burglary or car crime, which tend to be less of a worry given the newer, well-overlooked developments. It's not an area that should put off most residents, though anyone particularly cautious might want to walk the streets at different times of day before committing, given how much of the neighbourhood is still mid-transformation.

This is one of the costlier pockets of south London, largely thanks to the glut of new-build riverside towers that dominate the skyline here. It suits buyers and renters with a healthy budget who want turnkey, amenity-rich living, but it's not the place for first-time buyers hunting a deal or anyone wanting a Victorian conversion at a modest price.

Think glass towers, riverside walkways and a steady hum of cranes, this is London's newest big regeneration project taking shape in real time. The crowd skews young professional and international, drawn by Battersea Power Station's shops and restaurants on one side and easy Tube access on the other. It has a polished, slightly corporate feel rather than an established neighbourhood one, though that's softening as more amenities bed in.

There's more here for families than the glossy tower blocks might suggest, with Outstanding-rated primaries like Chesterton Primary and Pimlico Primary both within reach and most local schools rated Good or better. Green space comes via a scattering of pocket parks rather than one big open space, and secondary school options are a bit thin locally, so it's worth checking what's realistic for older children before settling here.