Javaid Ahmed, Sales Manager of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward’s Forest Hill branch, on why SE23 is a good investment
Best Known For
Forest Hill, one of the highest points in London, offers some of the best views of the city through its tree lined streets. With great transport links into central London (15 minutes to London Bridge), the area attracts young professionals, young families and artists alike. In the heart of Forest Hill is Havelock Walk, where the area’s creative community is based, while further west, heading towards Dulwich, sits the Horniman Museum, which is set in 16 acres of parkland and has a world famous taxidermy collection, as well as an aquarium and children’s zoo.
Where Can I Shop?
Small boutique shops like Bunka are great for fashion and jewellery, while Doopo Doopo art hub and gallery is an essential resource for local artists. If you have a sweet tooth, head for Sugar Mountain to help fix that craving – it’s a traditional sweet shop with a twist that still sells sweets from jars.
Gourmet Recommendations
There are some great gastro pubs like The Dartmouth Arms and The Hill, plus an array of coffee shops. Canvas & Cream, located just behind Havelock Walk, offers an eclectic and artistic vibe as a cafe-cum-restaurant-cum-gallery, with natural therapies also on offer. The great thing about Forest Hill is that it has managed to stay under the radar of big corporate chains, so the majority of shops are still very much independently owned.
Good Schools
If there is something that Forest Hill can scream about it is primary schools – both Eliot Bank and Fairlawn Park have an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating. And for secondary education, there is Forest Hill Boys School and Sydenham Girls School.
The Property Market
The property market in Forest Hill has been consistently rising since 2012, with house values increasing by approximately 66% in three years. A three bedroom 1930s house on Kemble Road that would have been £330,000 in 2012 is now worth in excess of £550,000. Buy-to-let investors, first-time buyers and families are all drawn to Forest Hill for its excellent transport links into central London, the variety of architecture, good schools and its real sense of community, as well as those amazing views over London.
Call Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, Forest Hill, on 020 8699 1596 or see kfh.co.uk