It’s probable that Fulham is one of the best known areas in south west London for those who want to upsize their living arrangements.
This area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has the River Thames on two sides.
It is home to many beautiful parks, some of which have Green Flag status thanks to their outstanding level of facilities, cleanliness and horticulture.
Living in Fulham isn’t just about beautiful green spaces and a riverside lifestyle though.
There are also plenty of leisure facilities and shopping opportunities, as well as impressive schools for youngsters, and this is the reason why a lot of families have chosen living in Fulham over other areas of central London.
Fulham is known for its cosmopolitan feel, with a culturally diverse and wide demographic of residents. Retirees, young professionals and couples with children all come here to find homes, and thanks to the excellent transport links via the District Line into the heart of London and beyond, accessing the city couldn’t be easier for commuters.
If you’re wondering whether Fulham could be the best place for you to buy or rent a property, read on and discover our Fulham area guide.
Is Fulham a good place to live? In this article you’ll find:
- What Kind of Property Can I Live In Near Fulham Broadway?
- Is Fulham Road Well Located?
- Are There Good Schools In Fulham and Parsons Green?
- What Is Fulham Living Like?
- Using Our Fulham Area Guide
What Kind of Property Can I Live In Near Fulham Broadway?
Fulham is home to some gorgeous Victorian terraced houses. In fact, it has one of the largest numbers of Victorian homes in the whole of London.
For this reason, a lot of Fulham is a designated conservation area. Once primarily orchards and farmland, when the Great Western Railway arrived (today, this is the London Underground’s District Line), Fulham began to be developed and became a new residential area within easy reach of central London.
Although most of the property here dates back to the 19th century, there are some purpose-built flats and mansion blocks like Queens Club Gardens and Rivermead Court.
Also, new residential blocks have been constructed in the Riverside real estate area.
Chelsea Creek’s new-build homes near Imperial Wharf are also an excellent choice for commuters.
The Peterborough Estate is a local area well known for its “lion houses”.
These large red brick homes get their name from the stone lions found on their roofs.
Townhouses can also be found on the borders of Fulham and Chelsea in the Moore Park Estate. Bishops Park on Fulham’s West side is where Fulham Palace (the Bishop of London’s former home) dominates, and where some of the areas’ biggest homes, many of which have impressive gardens are situated.
Heading towards the River Thames, you’ll find Sands End where many Victorian properties have been turned into maisonettes and apartments.
First time buyers and young professionals flock here to take advantage of the convenient location for Imperial Wharf station.
Of course, you don’t have to buy a house to live in Fulham. There are also many places to rent too.
Whether you’re seeking a period conversion flat, a studio, 3 bedroom duplex, small 2 or 3 bedroom terraced houses or a grand 6 bedroom semi-detached house, you’re sure to find something to suit your needs in Fulham.
Of course, house prices are high, as you would expect in London. Average prices for houses are over a million, but you can find an entry level property for around £500,000.
Is Fulham Road Well Located?
Fulham living means that you can benefit from some excellent public transport links.
Whether you want to travel overground or underground, Fulham is a great place to be if you’re happy to hop on a tube or bus.
Fulham is home to no less than six underground stations – Putney Bridge, Parsons Green, West Brompton, West Kensington, Hammersmith and Fulham Broadway – all of which are within zone 2.
It takes less than 30 minutes to reach Victoria or Monument on the District Line tube. On the other hand, if you’d rather travel by overground train, the West London Line runs from Imperial Wharf and West Brompton.
One of the things that really makes London Fulham stand out in terms of transportation is its outstanding bus network.
There are buses travelling into the heart of the city as well as to Putney Heath, West Brompton, Richmond and Clapham Junction.
For those who’d prefer to use their own car, the M4 motorway is just 15 minutes away, while bicycling is a popular choice for commuters who head from London Fulham to Victoria every day.
Riding by road to Putney only takes 10 minutes while the journey by bike to Waterloo takes only half an hour and all of this adds up to make this area one of the top places for anyone looking for a perfectly located property.
Are There Good Schools in Fulham and Parsons Green?
Families considering moving to this area of London need to be sure that their children can benefit from an excellent education.
Fortunately, Fulham won’t disappoint on that front. There are some excellent schools here including two primary state schools that have been rated Outstanding by Ofsted (St Augustine’s RC School in Disbrowe Road and Langford School in Gilstead Road).
For older children, there are some outstanding comprehensive schools including, for girls the Lady Margaret C of E school which is in Parsons Green and Fulham Cross in Munster Road Fulham.
For boys, the London Oratory School in Seagrave Road is an excellent choice as is the Fulham Boys school which is located near Fulham Broadway on the corner of Fulham Road and Heckfield Place, while in Lots Road, the Chelsea Academy C of E school, which is co-educational, is also highly rated.
There are also some excellent preparatory and primary schools, including those for international and Islamic pupils.
Fulham School is a private all-through co-educational school in Greyhound Road while a boarding and day A-level and GCSE college can be found in Fulham Broadway – Chelsea Independent College.
What Is Fulham Living Like?
As you would expect from an area so close to Chelsea and Putney, this area close to the River Thames has no shortage of retail therapy opportunities, albeit being primarily high end.
Most shopping in Fulham can be found along its primary roads with the centre of town being clustered mostly around the shopping centre of Fulham Broadway.
You’ll find many well known shops like Wilko, Boots and Sainsbury’s together with popular chain restaurants like Wagamama and Nando’s.
The relatively new Market Hall boasts food stalls which are arranged attractively around the eating area in the lovely setting of the former station entrance to the underground.
Also, around and in Jerdan Place, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes serving delicious food, including the local Malt House gastropub.
Meanwhile, overlooking Parsons Green, there is the popular White Horse Pub (otherwise known as the Sloaney Pony). Fulham Road’s Manuka Kitchen is one of the top local restaurants for dinner and brunch, while on Lillie Road, French food with an unusual Japanese twist can be found at Bistro Mirey.
Also worthy of a mention is Tinto Coffee in Fulham Palace Road and Walham Grove’s Harwood Arms – the only Michelin-starred pub in London – a popular spot with high end diners.
If you’re buying food or household items, North End Road is the best bet with its fishmonger, butcher, food shops, supermarkets and street market selling fresh produce while Lillie Road is the place to go for antiques shops and Fulham Road is home to independent shops like the Nomad independent bookstore.
Open spaces abound in this area of London, with two green lungs or parkland areas found off the New Kings Road and the Riverside Bishops Park around Fulham Palace which houses a skate park, children’s playgrounds, bowling green, tennis courts, an urban beach and summer waterplay activities.
South Park is also known for its cricket pitches while. Of course, the proximity of the area to the river only adds to the beauty of this popular spot with the Thames river path under the Putney Bridge being a wonderful walk to enjoy on a sunny day.
For the sports enthusiasts, Hurlingham Park should be the first port of call with its netball courts, football and rugby pitches and tennis courts.
Lillie Road is home to Fulham Pools and, of course, Fulham is also home to Craven Cottage, the home ground of the local football club.
Craven Cottage, close to Stamford Bridge, is an iconic feature of the neighbourhood and is a popular haunt with fans of Fulham football club.
Although Fulham is a tube ride away from London’s West End, there are two great theatres nearby including Earl’s Court Finborough Theatre and Hammersmith’s Lyric.
Using Our Fulham Area Guide
Now that you know all about the lifestyle, properties, schools, and transportation links in Fulham, you can make an informed decision about whether this is the perfect place for you to live.
