More about Clapham...
Clapham has Anglo-Saxon roots and its name is thought to mean “enclosure near a hill”. During the 17th century, large country houses were built there, and throughout the 18th and 19th centuries it became popular with London’s wealthy merchants who erected grand villas and mansions around Clapham Common and in the Old Town. After the arrival of the railways, Clapham became a commuter suburb and lost favour with the upper classes. Historically, Clapham was home to many social reformers, historians, novelists and MPs. Today it continues to be home to countless politicians and celebrities, with former residents including JK Rowling, Vivienne Westwood and Vanessa Redgrave.
Clapham is an affluent, multi-cultural neighbourhood which is home to a mix of families, students and middle-class professionals. Due to its large number of restaurants, bars and leisure facilities, it has become a fashionable place to live. For City workers, Clapham is ideal because of the fast and frequent transport links. In addition, the new Cycle Superhighway that runs alongside Clapham Common means a bike commute to Westminster takes less than 30 minutes. For students, the party atmosphere and great sporting facilities are the obvious draws, while for families it’s the schooling, local family-oriented leisure facilities and the sense of community that make the area an attractive option.
Clapham is home to some of London’s priciest streets, with the large Queen Anne, Regency and Georgian properties in parts of the Old Town commanding the heftiest price tags. As estate agents, Clapham also provides us with more affordable properties to offer buyers, ranging from period properties and converted Victorian housing to ex-Local Authority flats and apartments. Over the last ten years Clapham has been transformed into one of the trendiest and most desirable places to live, and this has served to drive up property prices and rents. As a local letting agent, SW4 is an area where we feel any type of buy-to-let investment will prove lucrative.