goddesstogo

Hi Londoners,
I'm seeking some information for friends who may be renting a flat for a couple of weeks on Sutherland Square on the south side of the river. That's all I know about it. Can anyone tell me a bit about the area re convenience, safety, shopping, transportation, etc?

I'd appreciate any info at all to pass along to them.
Thanks
gtg

janisj

Well-- it <i>is</i> south of the river, but one can hardly say it is 'on the south side of the river'.

It is a fair bit south of Elephant & Castle. Maybe a kilometer from the nearest tube station. I have no personal knowledge of the specific neighborhood but I wouldn't think it is a terribly convenient area.

walkabout

I'm not familiar with this area either. I mapped it, and it looks like it is primarily a residential area, not conveniently located for tourists.

According to londontown, the nearest tube to Sutherland Square is Kennington, about 10 minutes away; Elephant and Castle tube and railway station 12 minutes by foot; Vauxhall Railway 21 minutes walk.

I assume this is their first time to London. Are they staying there because it's cheaper than comparably-sized places? Is this a business trip or a vacation?

It wouldn't be my choice of a place to stay, particularly if it were my first trip, and I was there on holiday.

madamtrashheap

Yep, not super convenient, especially in terms of walking to Kennington Tube station (would be 15-20mins walk), but bus services run along Walworth Road, which is the main road just up from the Square (will be a 4min walk). Bus numbers 68 and 171 will be your friends in terms of getting to Elephant and Castle (tube or rail) or all the way to Holborn/Russell Square and Euston. Bus 176 takes the lond way to Tottenham Court Road, but still gets there. Busses 35, 40 and 45 will also get you to Elephant and Castle for the tube, plus keep going a few more stops and you can visit Borough Markets for food shopping (not on 45 route).

The area is quite mixed in terms of housing - there are council flats (community housing) and private houses, as well as a mix of businesses. There are local grocers, butchers, etc on the main road, but there are also some smaller versions of supermarkets on Walworth Road - Tesco Express and Morrisons - which will have staples for your friends to stock up.

It's still a little rough in some parts (tell your friends not to wander south to far towards Coldharbour Lane, it's still a dangerous area a night), but generally speaking people get on with their lives without too much fuss. It's not really gentrified (despite arguments to the contrary), that's more Vauxhall towards the river, but it's not a slum area either.

jamikins

Yup - agree with the above. Closest tube is Kennington. Mostly residential, but not really somewhere I would want to stay as a tourist. Its a bit far south - they couldnt really walk anywhere - and its not the nicest area of town. Not horrible, but for a vacation I would want to be in a nicer area.

Hope this helps!

Kate

Hmmm, it wouldn't be my choice. I have friends who live in the area and like it, but I find it a rather inconvenient location and a bit patchy - it's very close to a very large council estate which comes with some unsavoury elements. You would need to walk though this estate to get to Kennington tube.

nytraveler

TRanslaton: a "council estate" is a low income public housing project in American. Are you used to large cities and some of the grittier areas?

If not, I wouldn;t consider this.

goddesstogo

Thanks, everyone.

No, it's not their first trip to London but the flat they stayed in last time (Bloomsbury) isn't available. Their alternative is coincidentally our flat in West Hampstead and I have no problem vouching for that in every respect. The only reason they considered the Sutherland Square address is cost.

I'll pass along your comments.
Thanks again

annhig

Their alternative is coincidentally our flat in West Hampstead and I have no problem vouching for that in every respect. The only reason they considered the Sutherland Square address is cost.>>

your flat in Bloomsbury would have to be very pricey for me to want to spend my precious holiday time in Southwark. still it might turn out to be a cheap trip as they'd probably be staying in every night!

if they want to save money, why not try priceline?

goddesstogo

It was my friends who stayed in Bloomsbury, annhig, not us. We were in West Hampstead but as it turns out, that flat isn't available. The flat they had in Bloomsbury was small but suited their needs and their budget since they were only going to be there a week.

annhig

sorry, gtg, i got hold of the wrong end of the stick. i though you meant YOUR flat, as opposed to the flat that your friends stayed at.

what i meant was your flat in West Hampstead.

really, almost anywhere would be better than sutherland square. there must be other apartments available in Bloomsbury or West Hampstead.