Priced out of the area of your dreams? Try these more affordable postcodes next door

Dreaming of life in leafy Crouch End, buzzy Peckham or riverside Chiswick, but your budget says otherwise? You’re not alone.

With property prices sky high in London’s most sought after spots, getting on the ladder in your ideal postcode can feel impossible.

But don’t give up just yet. Just beyond those glossy neighbourhoods are up and coming areas that share a lot of the same charm, and at a fraction of the cost. Whether it’s artisan coffee, independent shops, green spaces or great transport links you’re after, there’s often a more affordable alternative that ticks the same boxes.

These neighbourhoods offer serious lifestyle perks without the premium price tag. And thanks to shared ownership schemes, getting a foot on the property ladder is more doable than you might think.

So if you’re feeling priced out of your dream area, it’s time to take a look next door. Here are some of the best value postcode swaps worth knowing about. 

If not Walthamstow… try Tottenham Hale

Previously an industrial wasteland, Tottenham Hale is separated from Walthamstow by Walthamstow Wetlands, the country’s largest urban nature reserve.

Tottenham Hale shares the same fiercely independent streak as Walthamstow and its numerous microbreweries are more than a match for those on the latter’s Blackhorse beer mile. And with an 11-minute Tube ride to King’s Cross, the commute’s faster from here.

Using shared ownership, you can bag a home at Millstream Tower, N17, from £90,625 for 25% of £362,500.

These are one and two-bedroom apartments in a sleek tower a stone’s throw from Tottenham Hale station. All have underfloor heating, some incorporate a balcony or terrace, and a communal garden is on the seventh floor.

Find out more information at Newlon Living.

If not Peckham… try South Bermondsey

This patch of south-east London is destined for great things as regeneration sweeps across it. A new Overground station is being built and Millwall FC’s stadium, The Den, is being redeveloped. Plans include a new sports complex and a public square with a community café, plus shops and creative spaces to give it a Peckham-like buzz.

The first of four Southwark Living developments in and around the area, Argo House, SE15, launches this year and comprises one, two and three-bedroom flats with big balconies. They’re ready to move into, and residents will soon have access to rooftop gardens. From £110,000 for a 
30% share of £370,000.

Find out more information at Southern Housing New Homes

If not Crouch End… try Harringay

Just like Crouch End, which is centred on The Broadway, Harringay has a lively high street of its own and some roads share the same postcode.

The traditional Turkish grocers, patisseries, cafés and restaurants along Green Lanes have been joined by artisan coffee shops and late-night bars, so there’s something here for absolutely everyone.

It scores highly for green spaces and schools, and there’s a wider choice of public transport.

L&Q has a range of studio, one and two-bedroom flats at Alexandra Gate N8, a 20-minute walk from Crouch End Broadway and ten minutes from Alexandra Park.

Each is pet-friendly, move-in ready and has a terrace or balcony, From £91,250 for 25% of £365,000.

Find out more information at L&Q Homes.

If not Chiswick… try Brentford

From boutiques and brunch spots to festivals and fine dining, Chiswick’s USP is the sheer variety of things to do. Brentford offers more of the same but on a smaller scale, and has the bonus of being nearer Kew Gardens. It’s also on the river, and Chiswick High Road and Strand on the Green’s atmospheric pubs are in walking distance.

Some of the one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Peabody’s KEWB, on the Brentford/Chiswick border in TW8, will enjoy views towards Kew Gardens. They are due 
to hit the market later in the spring 
and should be ready for buyers to move in this autumn, with prices to be announced.

Find out more information at Peabody New Homes.

If not Stoke Newington… try Finsbury Park

Although it can’t quite compete with Stokey in terms of hipster hangouts, Finsbury Park certainly gives it a run for its money when it comes to community spirit and open spaces.

A friendly and diverse neighbourhood, it boasts a similar Victorian Green Flag park, a nature reserve at Woodberry Wetlands and sailing, canoeing and open water swimming on the West Reservoir Centre.

Manor House’s Zone 2 station and the nature reserve are under five minutes’ walk from Gadwall Quarter in N4, a collection of one and two-bedroom flats, part of the large-scale Woodberry Down development. All include private outside space. From £118,750 for 25% of £475,000.

Find out more information at NHG Homes.

If not Canary Wharf… try North Woolwich

The new buildings aren’t as high and the facilities not as plentiful, but parts of North Woolwich look and feel like Canary Wharf before it was fully developed – and the average flat costs £180,000 less.

On the eastern edge of Royal Docks, this waterside district is served by the DLR and super-convenient for London City Airport, the newly opened Silvertown Tunnel and the Woolwich Ferry, and you can walk under the Thames into Greenwich.

Put your name on the mailing list now and you could be one of the first people to move into soon-to-launch Stories Wharf in E16.

These one, two and three-bedroom flats come with outside space, communal terraces and river views, with prices yet to be announced.

Find out more information at Hyde New Homes.

If not Islington… try City Road

It has been said that you could eat out on Islington’s Upper Street every day for a year without going to the same place twice and while City Road can’t match such claims, it is within walking distance.

Shoreditch and Hoxton are also nearby and it’s one 
of the very few locations in Zone 1 where you can find a shared ownership home.

Only studio flats – all with underfloor heating and balconies – are left at City Angel, a central scheme within Berkeley’s 250 City Road development in EC1. The luxurious on-site amenities include a gym, lounge, games room, yoga studio, a screening/karaoke room, pool and spa. From £115,000 for 25% of £460,000.

Find out more information at: Peabody New Homes.

‘Shared ownership meant I was able to buy in Zone 1’

After 15 years renting in west London with unpredictable and sometimes long commutes, Osman Siddiqui is thrilled to have found the perfect home at City Angel, on the edge of Islington.

Early in 2023 Osman, 40, a digital designer started his current job in Liverpool Street and was keen to move much closer to work. Using money he’d saved over ten years and help from his family, he put down a 30% deposit on a one-bedroom flat, which he moved into in April last year.

His journey to home ownership began with a conversation with a friend. ‘The commute was killing me but I never even considered buying in London before – it just didn’t seem feasible with how expensive it is,’ he says.

‘But when my friend told me about his experience with shared ownership in Elephant & Castle, I decided to do my research. Initially, I was sceptical. I thought it was going to be tiny, but I was wrong. It’s twice the size of my old place and the facilities are incredible.’
The location also satisfies Osman’s love of art. ‘Farringdon,
a hub of creativity, is filled with design studios and galleries,’ he says. ‘I love exploring them in my spare time. Living here means I have a ten-minute commute to the office and easy access to the places that truly inspire me.

‘Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine owning such an incredible property in such a perfect location, but here I am. Discovering shared ownership was honestly life-changing.’

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