You don’t have to live in the countryside to enjoy an active lifestyle. With its rowing clubs and vast green spaces, Putney combines sophisticated city living with the great outdoors.
Putney: where rowing meets residential
Putney embodies riverside life in London more than any of its contemporaries that line the banks of the Thames. Once a year the eyes of the nation are firmly fixed on this southwest corner of the capital, which marks the start of the historic Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. When the swathes of spectators and the TV cameras have left for another year, rowing remains part of the area’s fabric. On weekends members of Putney’s many rowing clubs unwind in the riverside pubs and cafes after an invigorating morning on the water.
Putney is nestled in the heart of west/southwest London’s residential heartland, with the river and Fulham to the north; Wandsworth and Earlsfield to the east; Wimbledon to the south and Richmond to the west. It’s not just the well-heeled suburban sophistication that attracts people to the area; the swift rail and underground links into central London are also a major draw.
Transport
- Tube: Putney Bridge station (on the boundary between travel zones two and three) and East Putney station (travel zone two) are both on the Wimbledon branch of the District Line.
- National rail: Putney Train Station provides services to Waterloo that take just 15 to 20 minutes, with most trains stopping at Clapham Junction and Vauxhall.
- Road: The South Circular – one of London’s main arteries – runs through Putney, and it takes just 40 minutes to drive to Heathrow airport.
- Bus: There are two popular commuter bus services: the 22 to Oxford Circus via King’s Road and Knightsbridge, and the 170 to Victoria.
Property scene
Putney is home to a smorgasbord of property styles, including large Edwardian mansions, period conversion flats, purpose-built mansion flats, and modern riverside apartments – with nearly twice as many flats for sale as houses.
- Average property price in Putney: £685,369 – average flat price: £521,709, average house price: £1,528,846
- Average rental price in Putney: £512 per week – rental price range £323 – £900 per week
Schools
- Primary schools: Ofsted-rated “outstanding” primary schools are in plentiful supply around here: Our Lady of Victories RC Primary School, Brandlehow Primary School, All Saints CofE Primary School, Ronald Ross Primary School, and Greenmead School.
- Secondary schools: Local state secondary schools: Ashcroft Technology Academy (co-ed, ages 11 to 18) rated “outstanding”, Ark Putney Academy (co-ed, ages 11 to 18) rated “good”, and Saint Cecilia’s CofE School (co-ed, ages 11 to 18) rated “good”.
- Private schools: Local private primary schools: The Merlin School (co-ed, ages four to eight), Lion House (co-ed, ages five to seven), Hurlingham School (co-ed, ages four to 11), Prospect House School (co-ed, ages three to 11), and Falcons School for Girls (ages three to 11). Putney High School (girls, ages four to 18) is a local all-through school.
Things to do
- Shopping: Putney High Street and Upper Richmond Road combine to form the area’s shopping hub, including the Putney Exchange Shopping Centre.
- Open space: Riverside walks are par for the course around here. The 1,140 acres of green space split between Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath and Putney Lower Common fringe the even larger Richmond Common.
- Leisure and the arts: Putney Arts Theatre houses the Putney Theatre Company, one of the UK’s leading amateur theatre companies. The Putney Odeon cinema is located on Putney High Street. Putney Leisure Centre houses the local council-owned swimming pool.