Reasons to move to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace is synonymous with its renowned park, the Grade I listed dinosaur sculptures, as well as an impressive 719ft broadcast transmitter. However, the South East London area has become popular for more than just its historical landmarks. In this blog, Graham Cook, Partner at Proctors Anerley branch looks at the reasons why you should consider SE19 for your next move.
The hub of Crystal Palace
At the heart of the area is the busy ‘Crystal Palace Triangle’. Just a stone’s throw from the park, Crystal Palace train station and bus depo, the triangle is made up of three main roads – Westow Street, Church Road and Westow Hill – where you will find a number of gastro pubs, vintage and antique shops, independent coffee bars and restaurants. Our favourites include the quirky Westow House pub which we hear will be adding hotel rooms upstairs later this year, Blowing Dandelion chocolate shop for delicious handmade delights, and Four Boroughs who hit the spot for the perfect caffeine pick-me-up. The area also includes one of the highest points in London at 367 feet, offering fantastic views over the capital – expect plenty of steep hills, such as Fox Hill and Anerley Hill.
A sporting paradise
If you love your sports, Crystal Palace stands out with its offerings. The notorious National Sports Centre is located within the park, influencing the area's sporting culture. The centre has activities for everyone, featuring a gym, tennis courts, climbing walls and four pools – including a 50m racing pool, as well as beach volleyball courts.
It’s not unusual to see cyclists in their packs racing through the area, or training at the indoor Cadence Performance centre at the top of Anerley Hill. For yogis, there is a good selection of studios, with hot yoga at The Yoga Edge a popular choice with locals. And you’ll also find studios dedicated to Crossfit, personal training and boxing around the triangle. For runners, Crystal Palace Fun Runners is the club to join, or simply head to the park for the free 5k Parkrun every Saturday morning at 9am sharp.
An easy commute
Crystal Palace’s historical quirks, buzzing centre and outdoor lifestyle is popular with young professionals, sharers and young families, offering an easy commute to London Bridge, London Victoria and Canary Wharf via Canada Water. The East London line also runs through Crystal Palace, stopping at popular spots such as Shoreditch High Street, Hoxton and Dalston Junction. There is also an excellent bus service going to many locations, including Oxford Circus in Central London. Football enthusiasts can hop on the 157 to take them to Selhurst Park to see Crystal Palace Football club in action.
Property mix
For property, there is plenty of choice to suit different tastes and requirements. You’ll find lots of large Victorian houses converted into flats located in and around popular roads close to the park, such as Crystal Palace Park Road and Thicket Road, which has views overlooking the boating lakes. There are also many Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses, 1960s town houses and sparkling new flats. Belvedere Road and Cintra Park are sought after locations close to the Crystal Palace Triangle, located within a conservation area.
Considering a move to Crystal Palace or want advice on the area? Contact our Anerley office and speak to a member of our team.
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