Introduction
Located in southwest London along the southbank of the River Thames, Battersea is a dynamic neighbourhood that draws families, young professionals and wealthy foreign buyers with its riverside views, green spaces, cultural landmarks and proximity to central London.
The iconic Battersea Power Station, a dramatic symbol of the area’s industrial past, has been revitalized during a £9 billion regeneration project covering its vast 42-acre site to become home to a community of high-end shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, residences and office space. Two new Northern line tube stations, the relocation of the USEmbassy and a stunning Foster + Partners designed HQ for Apple have transformed an unloved industrial wasteland into a thriving neighbourhood and cultural quarter.
The first residences at Battersea PowerStation were completed in 2017 and over the last 7 years prices have increased significantly with over 1,800 residents now living there. Residents take refuge from the hustle and bustle in Battersea Park, a 200-acre green oasis along theRiver Thames that features boating lakes and an eye-catching Buddhist peace pagoda.
£5 million
average price of a 5-bedroom house
90%
of apartments at Battersea Power Station sold before completion
Property market
The average property price in Battersea as ofDecember 2024 is approximately £1,366,583, with one-bedroom properties averaging £602,659 and five-bedroom homes going for around £5 million. The area’s ongoing development continues to attract both domestic and international buyers. Of the properties built within the power station, 90% were sold before it reopened. Prices ranged from £865,000 for a studio flat to £9.1 million fora three-bedroom ‘Sky Villa’ between the four chimneys.
The streets around Northcote Road are enduringly popular with families and young professionals – buyers here tend to be cash-rich and stock supply is typically low as owners often hold houses for decades. Around Battersea Park, turn-of-the-century mansion blocks and stunning villas with park views attract deep-pocketed buyers looking for a little more value than in Chelsea just over the bridge.
London Richmond purchased a beautiful house inBattersea on Dorothy Road for the discounted price of £1.3m and converted it into 4-luxury apartments. The properties have been rented out for a good yield and they have a current market value in the region of £3m.
Things to do
The idyllic Battersea Park is one of the neighbourhood’s central attractions, featuring a boating lake and the BatterseaPark Children’s Zoo – a much-loved family destination that is home to over 100animals from around the world, including meerkats, monkeys and tropical birds.The scenic promenade along the riverfront teems with cyclists, joggers and dog-walkers and the two well-equipped playgrounds are very popular with local children.
If you find yourself inspired by the manicured herb gardens and lush greenery of the park, Battersea Flower Station is a charming independent garden centre, houseplant shop and florist in which to while away an hour or two. Decked with colourful bunting and with an expert staff on hand to advise customers on everything from window boxes to compost, the FlowerStation has won several awards since it opened in 2012.
For theatre enthusiasts, Battersea Arts Centre is a handsome civic building on Lavender Hill that is widely regarded as one of the most important incubators of new performance work in the UK. Designed by E.W. Mountford in 1893 and Grade II* listed both for its architectural significance and for its important political role in the birth of the suffragette and labour movements in the early twentieth century, the building was recently painstakingly restored to grandeur following a devastating fire inits grand hall.
“The iconic Battersea Power Station, a dramatic symbol of the area’s industrial past, has recently been revitalized into a modern complex”
Shopping
The Battersea Power Station development has introduced a significant number of premium brands to the area and now rivals established shopping spots like South Molton Street. Theory, The Kooples, ME+EM and Zadig & Voltaire offer trendy contemporary clothing, while the luxury beauty offering from brands like Aesop, Chanel and Le Labo is particularly strong. There are also various high street staples, including a sprawling ZARA concept store. Overall, the grandeur of the building and the impeccable quality of its restoration make this a retail experience with the wow factor.
Northcote Road, which sees throngs of families gather every weekend when it’s pedestrianised, offers an excellent selection of independent delicatessens and bakeries (as well as the obligatory Gail’s). Wine merchants Philglas & Swiggot has a wonderful range and regularly hosts wine tastings and dinners where you can sample their wares. Toy shops Chalkboard andQT Toys do reliably brisk trade in ‘nappy valley’, as this neighbourhood is often affectionately dubbed. And the Northcote Road Antiques Market is a two-storey treasure trove that hosts dozens of independent dealers. Whether you’re searching for Victorian glassware, a 1930s beaded evening bag or a hand-painted chair, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for (and probably pick up a few other knickknacks along the way).
Pamper and exercise
Luxury fitness brand Third Space operates not one but two sites in Battersea, one at the Power Station and one on LavenderHill inside the elegant old Arding & Hobbs department store building. Both offer state-of-the-art equipment across around 28,000 square feet of architect-designed space, stylish swimming pools, tranquil spa facilities and over 100 classes a week, including hot yoga, Reformer Pilates and HIIT. For outdoor activities, Battersea Park offers running tracks and tennis courts, as well as serene spots for yoga or meditation.
For pampering, the Spa at art’otel London onElectric Boulevard at Battersea Power Station has wonderful therapists and a varied wellness offering, including massages, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures. Their signature treatments use PROVERB and Pinks Boutique organic-certified products. There’s a double treatment room, in case you want to share the experience with a partner or friend, as well as a sauna, steam room and relaxation room. Further down the river towards Wandsworth, the RiverWellbeing spa on the third floor of the 5* Hotel Rafayel provides a range of treatments, including super-effective body scrubs that will leave your skin smooth and glowing, and is open to non-hotel guests.
Dine
Battersea is packed with amazing independent restaurants that enjoy a fierce local following as well as being destinations in their own right.
Ploussard on St Johns Road styles itself as ‘a small restaurant with a big wine list’, and the focus here is on low-intervention, biodynamic and natural wines. Parisian-style small plates with an experimental twist (think savoury eclairs stuffed with Lincolnshire poacher cheese and lamb and anchovy crumpets) are carefully curated to complement the drinks list. Fans of natural wines might also want to hit Soifon Battersea Rise, a bistro and wine bar from the team at Covent Garden’s much-missed Terroirs.
Nestled under a historic railway arch inQueens Circus, Archway was established by River Cafe alumnus Alex Owens and serves up Italian-inflected cuisine like nduja flatbreads and tagliatelle with confit duck ragu. Noci on the top floor of Battersea Power Station serves similar food and is particularly known for its delectable pasta and crisp fried starters inspired by Sicilian street food. Its signature brown butter cacio epepe and the juicy ravioli filled with ricotta and brown shrimp are probably its best-loved dishes. Elsewhere in the Power Station one finds outposts ofLondon institutions like Dishoom, Roti King and Tonkotsu.