Why Battersea is a brilliant place for family days out

Battersea is undergoing a true renaissance at the moment, with the Power Station being redeveloped and the area’s close proximity to fantastic schools, amenities and central location drawing in families looking to buy beautiful but affordable homes. The popularity with young families has led to the area around Northcote Road between the Commons which has large four and five bedroom Victorian homes being increasingly referred to as ‘Nappy Valley’. And with its array of green spaces, great schools and excellent transport links it’s no wonder it’s proving a hit...

Green Spaces

When it comes to parklife, Battersea’s truly a hit. The area really benefits from a suburban feel. Battersea Park offers lots of wildlife and activities for families looking for a fun day out with many viewing this park as the best in London. A 200 acre green space, it’s situated on the south bank of the River Thames and occupies marshland reclaimed from the Thames as well as land formerly used for market gardens. The park opened in 1858 and there are are many events in this park, like the Battersea Affordable Arts Fair and there’s a zoo which is perfect for children.

As well as Battersea Park, Wandsworth and Clapham Common are also favourites and have plenty of outdoor events.

Education

Another reason Battersea is so popular with families is that there’s a great offering of schools in the borough. For primary education, Honeywell and Belleville Schools are the most popular state primaries and have ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted reports.  Secondary schools include Burntwood in Earlsfield, which is close and in Balham there is La Retraite, a Catholic girls’ school. In September 2012, a new City Academy opened in the old Bolingbroke Hospital building. If you’re looking for private schools, Newton Prep has an excellent local reputation and draws a lot of people to the area. There’s also the Dolphin School, another prep school and the Lycée Francais Charles de Gaulle Wix Schools.

Transport links

Battersea’s location is another reason it’s so popular. With Waterloo just ten minutes away from Clapham Junction, you can access most key stations from here. Gatwick airport’s just 25 minutes away and there are two underground tube stations – Clapham Common and Clapham South on the Northern Line. There are four night buses and day bus routes, which include the 35 (to Shoreditch), the 37 (to Peckham), the 49 (to White City), the 77 (to Waterloo), the 87 (to Aldwych) and the 319 (to Sloane Square).

Battersea Properties

Lovely, tree-lined streets and Victorian architecture means the area really pulls in those looking for family homes. No wonder there’s the highest concentration of young families in Europe! Naturally, three bedroom houses and extended four and five bedroom houses are popular with those looking for space for their children, while first-time buyers, young professionals and students; favour the one and two bedroom Victorian conversion flats.

Things to do

Battersea’s got a range of things to do that both adults and children can enjoy. One is the Northcote Road market, which runs every Monday to Saturday and feels more like an entertaining day out than a serious place to shop. If you want to grab a quick coffee, try Gail’s café on Northcote Road – this serves great coffee and pastries all day long. If you’re looking for something different, why not check out Battersea Arts Centre – you can watch dance, music and theatre productions en famille. All this and much much more! Oh – we almost forgot – The Hive Honey Shop will leave the kids fascinated for hours! A honey shop selling over 700 sweet items, they’ll be fascinated by the shop’s glass fronted beehive, home to 20,000 bees.

Battersea’s really a prime hotspot for families looking to live a well-rounded life in London. It’s fast becoming the place to live for those looking for a relaxed, yet fun-packed family experience.