Tuesday 21 January 2014

Calling Wimbledon home

By Madelin Moor


There is a lot to do and see in Wimbledon. It is most recognised for its annual tennis tournament. There are frequent and reliable tail and underground links between Wimbledon and central London and Surrey.

Situated in the London borough of Merton, Wimbledon is a huge area, comprising Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village, South Wimbledon and Wimbledon Chase, and all of these areas are within easy reach of each other either walking or by using public transport services. Recently, the town centre has had quite a facelift, with new shops and apartments being built.

Types of housing

There is a vast range of accommodation throughout Wimbledon. Whilst in the village there are mansions and penthouses, South Wimbledon offers a housing estate, tower blocks and maisonettes. There is also a great market in Wimbledon for people wanting to rent, with a variety of great accommodation on available.

Unless you are a millionaire, Wimbledon Village is not affordable for most people in terms of housing, although occasionally flats may be available to rent beneath the usual rates. Wimbledon Village is also one of the nicest areas of London in which to live.

There is a wide variety of flats and house shares available in central Wimbledon, and these are much cheaper, and considerably cheaper than those in Putney. If you are looking to spend a little more, there are plenty of new apartments available too, although the price difference between new and old properties is quite steep. South Wimbledon is the cheapest area, although it is perhaps a little more edgy than the town centre. The borough of Merton has one of the lowest crime rates in London.

Diverse population and culture

There is a huge community of settlers (short and long term) in Wimbledon from the southern hemisphere, and a huge South African community too. This leads to the area often being called 'WimbleDurban', and this results in a very lively weekend nightlife. Most of the residents from the UK are young professional tenants and families. Wimbledon Village, at the top of Wimbledon Hill (the posh area of Wimbledon), hosts millionaires, celebrities, and those living the 'Playboy' lifestyle.

South Wimbledon is hugely multicultural, with many North African and Polish immigrants, who also make up a large percentage of the local workforce. Wimbledon is friendly and welcoming to tourists due to its cultural diversity. Regardless of your background, you are sure to find people from a vast array of different cultures.

Parks and leisure activities

For the more active individual, Wimbledon Park offers water sports, playing fields, tennis courts and mini golf. Alternatively, Wimbledon Common, which is home to the Wombles, makes for a relaxing and quiet day out with its woodland, windmill, tearoom and lake. Because Wimbledon is on the outskirts of London, there are a lot of parks and green space, which makes it a fantastic place to be in summer.




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