Living in Barnes, South West London

For those seeking a village feel and a strong sense of community but with close access to Central London, you would be hard pressed to find a better location than Barnes.

Location

Situated along the bend of the River Thames, Barnes feels like an oasis away from the hustle and bustle, but it is in fact in the heart of South West London. The neighbourhood attracts families and people seeking more space and plenty of greenery, which include Barnes Common and the fantastic Wetlands Centre. The latter extends to 100 acres of natural marshland habitat and is home to over 180 species of birds, a great place to visit with the kids.

The riverside also offers great walks with routes to Chiswick, Hammersmith and south to Mortlake, North Sheen and Putney.

The commute

To the south of Barnes, commuters have access to South Western Rail from Barnes or Barnes Bridge Station where you can reach Waterloo in as little as 20 minutes. Those closer to north Barnes can walk across Hammersmith Bridge (which is currently open to pedestrians and cyclists) to access the Piccadilly and District tube lines at Hammersmith Station which will connect you to the rest of London London and to the financial districts to the east of the city.

Heathrow Airport is only 30 minutes drive away and heading West couldn’t be easier as Barnes has quick access to the M4 and M3, linking to the M25.

The property market

From mansion block flats, 4/5 bedroom Victorian houses to the rarely available riverside Georgian mansions, there is something for everyone when it comes to finding your new home in SW13, although all that is on offer does come at a high price.

The property market in Barnes has had a steady increase over the last few years but slowing growth. On average, a detached house costs £1,683,719, which is up 15.4% on last year. A semi-detached house on average costs £1,113,698, a terraced house £900,096 and a flat £510,552. Renting a two bedroom flat will cost you £1,692 per month.

Schools

There are an excellent range of schools within a couple of miles of Barnes that attract families to the neighbourhood.

Rated Outstanding by Ofsted include Barnes Primary School and nearby St Peter’s Primary School. While Ashcroft Technology Academy in nearby Wandsworth was recently rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

In terms of Independents, St Paul’s School and The Harrodian are highly regarded, alongside nearby Godolphin and Latymer School and St Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith.

Food and drink

The community and activities are centred around Barnes Green and the lovely duck pond. From there you’ll find delights at Barnes Farmers Market every Saturday and a range of wonderful cafes including Gail’s Bakery, &feast, and Alma Cafe. The Orange Pekoe Cafe on White Hart Lane has an impressive range of teas, as well as afternoon tea and brunch menus. The Olympic Studios on Church Lane, once a famous recording studio, has been transformed into a cafe, cinema and Members Club with dining.

Seafood fans will love Rein Steins local restaurant, while Asian-fusion chain OKA is a popular choice. Other great spots for dinner and drinks include neighbourhood restaurant Church Road, critic favoured Riva and pubs The Bulls Head and The Sun Inn.

Shopping

Locals are spoilt for choice when it comes to independent food shops with popular options including Two peas in a pod, The Real Cheese Shop, Barnes Fish Shop, TotallySwedish and Cook.

Along Church Road you’ll find a mecca of stores covering fashion, home and interiors, gifts and bookshops, among others. Gems include Barnes Bookshop, fashion store Nina, antiques specialist Tobias and the Angel and florist Blue Lavender.

For more information on Barnes, visit our location page here.