Savills Portugal

Until recently, the leafy village of Teddington in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames was relatively unknown compared with the surrounding south-west London villages of Twickenham and Richmond. But, set between a particularly scenic stretch of the River Thames and Bushy Park, Teddington has undergone a residential renaissance in recent years, having been discovered by those seeking a riverside locale with plenty of greenery, a friendly atmosphere and slightly lower priced housing than its better known neighbours.

Providing a healthy dose of both countryside and waterfront in the city, Teddington offers the best of both worlds. At more than 1,000 acres, Bushy Park is the second-largest of London's eight Royal Parks and a haven for wildlife. It is home to impressive 17th-century water gardens, woodland gardens and wild deer which roam freely. Each May, the blossom on the park’s magnificent horse chestnut trees is celebrated on Chestnut Sunday with a vibrant parade featuring vintage bicycles, vehicles and horses, plus stalls, fairground rides and music.

The meandering river is a big draw for those who enjoy the many benefits of being by the water. Thriving sailing, rowing and paddle boarding clubs are dotted along its banks and most have regular open days where prospective members can get a taste of the water sports on offer. Teddington’s historic lock is the longest on the Thames and the nearby eye-catching blue and white suspension footbridge provides access to the winding tow path for walks to Ham House, Richmond or Kingston.

The pretty high street has many independent boutiques, shops, cafés and restaurants, while the magnificent Grade II* listed Landmark Arts Centre hosts art fairs, exhibitions, concerts and workshops.

The area is popular with families, young professionals and those who love the outdoors. Families flock here for more space, the strong sense of community, good schools and a slower pace of life. Young professionals are attracted by the humming high street and pursuit of a healthy work/life balance – it’s perfectly possible to spend the day in the office and then be out on the water in the evening. The area is also popular with cyclists, walkers and runners (the now global parkrun events started in Bushy Park nearly 20 years ago).

Teddington has an array of period houses, mostly Edwardian and Victorian, which often have larger gardens than comparative properties in nearby suburbs. Rows of pretty terraced cottages stretch out from the high street giving way to larger semi or detached family houses and attractive Victorian villas. There are plenty of period conversions and new-build flats for those starting out and the area is still more affordable than Twickenham and Richmond.

The Grove conservation area is a hidden gem with characterful houses built around the Grove Gardens bowling green and pavilion. Some of the prime river roads have gardens with direct access to the water and private moorings. For those seeking a slice of island life, Trowlock Island has riverside homes accessed by traditional chain link ferry.

The average second hand sale price of a home in Teddington is £860,000 but detached houses cost an average of £1,738,000 and those with large gardens or those on the river will command an even greater premium. Flats in the area cost an average of £483,000. Prime detached houses in the riverside conservation area with large gardens, river frontages and moorings are particularly coveted and command between £3,000,000 and £8,000,000.

The area is increasingly popular with young professionals and families looking to rent too and some residents prefer to rent in the area while they search for their dream home to buy. Corporate relocation in the area is also very high, with Teddington a desired location for many professional families being relocated by their companies.

Transport links include regular trains to Clapham Junction, Vauxhall and Waterloo. Heathrow Airport is only some 20 minutes by bus or car. While the area is well connected, it’s also tranquil and once discovered many residents never want to leave which is one of the reasons why many families make Teddington their home for life.

Savills Teddington is hosting a Local Property Insights event on Thursday 20th April to share information about the Teddington property market. Find out more and sign up here.