Is Raynes Park a nice place to live and buy a house?
March 18th 2024
Raynes Park, located in the London Borough of Merton, is a popular South West London suburb that offers a fantastic balance of suburban living and city convenience. In this comprehensive area guide, we will go through everything you need to know about Raynes Park, from its transport links and schools to its range of local shops and things to do, to help you decide if this is the perfect area for you.
What are transport links like in Raynes Park?
One of the most significant benefits of living in Raynes Park is its fantastic transport links. Raynes Park station is in Travelcard Zone 4 and provides easy access to central London via Southwest Trains, with trains taking just 20 minutes to get to Waterloo Station. Buses run frequently throughout the day, providing easy access to Wimbledon town centre, Kingston, and beyond. The suburb is also located near several major A-roads, including the A3 and A24, making it incredibly easy to get around by car.
Are there good schools in Raynes Park?
Raynes Park boasts several quality schools with fantastic reputations that cater to both primary and secondary school students. The Ursuline High School, for example, is a highly-regarded Roman Catholic all-girls school that has earned an ‘outstanding’ rating from OFSTED. Hollymount Primary/Nursery School, Wimbledon Chase Primary School and Joseph Hood Primary School, both rated as ‘good’ by OFSTED, are also highly sought after by parents.
In terms of higher education, Raynes Park High Schools has an excellent Sixth Form centre, and the nearby Merton College offer an excellent range of vocational courses and apprenticeship opportunities. As it’s in South West London, Raynes Park offers good access to a number of world-class London universities, including Imperial College London, Brunel University and Goldsmiths.
What is there to do in Raynes Park?
If you’re a fan of the outdoors, Raynes Park won't disappoint you. It is conveniently located near green spaces such as Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, both excellent walking spots for families and dog owners.
Away from the outdoors, Raynes Park has an abundance of leisure facilities, including the David Lloyd fitness centre and Wimbledon Dance Academy, offering everything from pilates and yoga classes to salsa dancing. There are also several fantastic restaurants, cafes, and pubs in the area, such as the Mediterranean restaurant Lime & Thyme, the Raynes Park Tavern, and Raw Bistro, a South African family-run business.
What shops are there in Raynes Park?
Raynes Park is home to a range of local shops, making it a perfect location for those who enjoy shopping locally. Everything from smaller independent shops to high street names such as Boots, Waitrose, Starbucks and Costa can be found in the area. The Raynes Park Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday, attracts visitors from far and wide who come to browse the wide variety of offerings from local farmers.
Is Raynes Park in the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone)?
Raynes Park is included in the ULEZ, which covers all of London’s boroughs including the London Borough of Merton. This means that if your vehicle (including cars, vans and motorcycles) does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards, you need to pay a daily charge of £12.50 to drive in the zone.
If you’d like to find out more, visit the Transport for London website.
What is the housing market like in Raynes Park?
If you’re interested in buying a house in Raynes Park, according to Rightmove:
‘Properties in Raynes Park had an overall average price of £796,067 over the last year.
The majority of sales in Raynes Park during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £804,033. Flats sold for an average of £446,520, with semi-detached properties fetching £1,089,499.
Overall, sold prices in Raynes Park over the last year were 9% down on the previous year and 4% up on the 2017 peak of £765,921.’
If you’re interested in moving to Raynes Park, check out the properties we currently have listed in the area, and contact our local branch for more information.