Is Putney a Good Place to Live? A Local’s Advice (2023 Review)

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Is Putney a good place to live? As a local, this post determines whether or not Putney is a good place to live in London. We moved to Putney a couple of years ago, and it was one of the best decisions we have ever made.

Not only do I feel safe living in Putney, but there is so much to do here! From lively restaurants and bars, to large green spaces and parks, to high-street shopping and riverside views; there are so many reasons why Putney is a great place to live.

This post explains why Putney is such an amazing place to live in London, as well as giving you an insight into what it’s like to live here. So, let’s get started.

Other Putney and Southwest London posts:

• 16 Fun Things to do in Richmond, London (By A Local)
• Best Brunch in Putney: 11 Recommendations from a Local
• BEST Restaurants in Putney: Updated Guide
• Best Pubs in Putney: A Local’s Guide
• Fun Things To Do In Putney, London: A Local’s Guide

Is Putney a good place to live? A Summary

Putney is a leafy-green suburb in Southwest London. It’s most famously known for being the starting point of the Oxford v Cambridge boat race, and is situated on the River Thames.

It is located in the Borough of Wandsworth, which is also one of its neighbouring towns, as well as Fulham, Wimbledon, Barnes and Roehampton. Putney is easy to reach from Central London, and is on both the main line (from Waterloo) and the District Line.

Whilst many commuters use the train, if you’re looking for something a bit different, you can board the Uber boat from Putney Bridge directly into Central London.

One thing that stands out about Putney is the amount of green space and parks it has. You’ll have a pocket of countryside in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world. And not only does it have a lot of outdoor space, but it has a great atmosphere in the evenings and weekends.

The average age in Putney is around 28-40 years old. If you want somewhere to socialise, but also to appreciate parks, the river and traditional English pubs, Putney is for you.

So is Putney a good place to live? Yes, it is an amazing place to live in London! Whether you’re a young professional or wanting to start a family, Putney is a great place to either rent or buy in London. From things to do, large green spaces, bars and restaurants, easy access to Central London and good transport links, Putney is one of the best areas to live in London.

Where to temporarily stay in Putney, London

If you’re visiting Putney for the first time and need a place to stay to check out the area, here are some of the best-located apartments and hotels.

• 3 Bedroom Private Apartment: for a cosy and quintessential apartment with garden space in the heart of Putney ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!
• Modern Flat on Putney High Street: the perfect location for travelling in and out of London on a daily basis! ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!
• 1 Bedroom flat with Patio: five minutes from the high street, this apartment is on the River Thames and has a beautiful setup! ➡ CHECK PRICES HERE!

Getting around Putney

Southwest London isn’t as tricky to drive in as Central London, and most people in the area own a car. If you’re visiting for a short amount of time, it may be worth hiring a car to get around to some of the parks, attractions and museums. 

If you’re looking to hire a car in London, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in London now!

If you don’t want to drive, there are regular trains until midnight and buses in Putney 24 hours a day. You can use your contactless card on both trains and buses in London. 

For cheap train tickets to and from London, check out Trainline. We book with them whenever we are leaving the city, and want to get to other locations in the UK (including airports). ➡ CHECK TRAIN PRICES NOW!

Living in Putney: At a Glance

• There are approximately 30 thousand residents living in Putney.
• The average age in Putney is 37.
• There are lots of open spaces such as Bishop’s Park and Putney Heath, with Wimbledon Common around a 5-minute drive away.
• Putney has three tube stations (East Putney, Putney, Putney Bridge) which are in zones 1 and 2.
• It also has two local cricket pitches, one golf course, 20 rowing clubs and a Putney tennis club.
• Putney has over 100 restaurants and 25 bars.
• Wandsworth Council has the cheapest council tax borough in the country.
• It is home to many speed cameras on main roads, especially Putney Hill.
• Putney is the starting point of the Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race.
• It is situated along the River Thames & the famous Putney Bridge.
• Sports are a big thing in Putney, and beer gardens will be busy on game days (especially rugby, rowing and cricket).
• Putney is around 45 minutes to Heathrow (car) or 1 hour to Heathrow via public transport, or 45 minutes to Gatwick Airport via train.
• Putney is within walking distance of Wandsworth town centre.
• It is also close driving distance to Wimbledon, Richmond, Barnes, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court, Kingston, Teddington, and Twickenham.

Is it safe to live in Putney?

Yes, it is safe to live in Putney. As a female, I have never felt unsafe walking around Putney at night or even after midnight. Of course, as anywhere, you have to be sensible and aware of your surroundings, but on the whole, Putney is a safe place to live. Locals are friendly, and there are lots of opportunities to join clubs and make friends.

Nightlife on the high street (especially Thursday-Saturday) can get busy; but attracts a more sensible crowd than its neighbours Kingston and Clapham.

Moving to London? Check out my post: Is London Safe for Solo Women Backpackers? 11 Handy Tips (2022)

Getting from Putney to Central London: What zone is Putney in?

Putney is between zone 2 and 3, and it takes under 20 minutes to reach London Waterloo on the mainline train. It is easy to get to and from Central London.

If you’re not in a rush, board the District Line at East Putney. Note these trains do tend to be less frequent and sporadic, and prone to delays. Earls Court is roughly 10 minutes away from Putney and has links to the Picadilly Line, and Victoria is roughly 15 minutes on the District Line.

What is there to do in Putney?

From river walks to picnics in Bishop’s Park, live music on the high street and pub roasts, there are many fun things to do in Putney. Putney Wharf, which is directly on the riverside, has benches and beer gardens overlooking the Thames, and Putney Heath, a 400-acre woodland is a stone’s throw away from the high street.

If you’re visiting Putney for the first time, some of the best things to do are…

• Walk along the river or through Bishop’s Park
• Stroll through Putney Heath woodlands
• Try foods from around the world at the local Lebanese, Brazilian, Indian, Turkish or Italian restaurants
• Drink coffee in one of Putney’s many coffee shops
• Listen to live music in either the Half Moon, East Putney Tavern or Lost Society
• Party the night away at Le Fez or Tequila Mockingbird
• Play Jungle Golf
• Go shopping on the high street
• Get a team together and do a pub quiz
• Plan a day out to Richmond

For a more in-depth guide about what to do in Putney, check out my guide here.

Things to do near Putney

Putney is surrounded by other areas that are fun to explore and enjoy. From Richmond and its Royal Park, to Clapham and its crazy nightlife, Wandsworth and its large shopping mall, and Wimbledon; the home of championship tennis – there are lots of things to do near Putney. Some of these activities near Putney include:

🎾 Wimbledon Common and High Street: Full of cute restaurants, bars, cafes, a huge common with a lake and ducks, Sunday markets, hearty roast dinners and even bottomless brunches. And of course, Wimbledon’s world-famous tennis centre court, which is only around an 8-minute drive from Putney town centre.

⛴️ Richmond: Walk along the riverside, rent a paddleboard or kayak, visit London’s only ‘flooding’ pub, have a cocktail and a steak at Gauchos or ponder the high street for some high-end clothes. Richmond is truly beautiful. Check out my post Fun Things to do in Richmond, London and Putney To Richmond, London: Step-By-Step Guide for more information.

🌻 Kew Gardens: Putney is only a 10-minute drive from the world-famous Kew Gardens!

🏰 Hampton Court: Henry VIII’s former home isn’t too far from Putney high street, and can be visited as a day trip.

🦌 Richmond Park: The biggest royal park in London and home to over 650 deer.

🏉 Twickenham Stadium: The home of English rugby is only a 15-minute drive away.

🥂 Chelsea: Chelsea and King’s Road are within walking distance of Putney.

What shops are in Putney?

When we first moved to Putney, we checked out the local shops to see if we’d need to travel to a big Westfield or shopping mall for our everyday needs. But luckily, between Putney’s shops and Richmond’s, we have everything covered! Here are some of my favourite shops (and not all of them!) that are on Putney High Street.

• H&M
• Waterstones (with a cafe)
• The Source (no-plastic store)
• Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, LIDL
• Sports Direct
• Mountain Warehouse
• Paul, Costa, Cafe Nero
• Tiger
• Paperchase

Check out my guide about the best shops in Putney and best shops in Richmond here.

Best pubs and restaurants in Putney

Whether you’re looking for live music and a roast dinner, or evening entertainment in a restaurant, you can find it in Putney. The pubs are restaurants in Putney are one of the best things about living here. Here are some of my favourite pubs and restaurants close to the town centre:

• The Telegraph, right in the heart of Putney Heath woodlands
• East Putney Tavern (EPT) for pub food and live music
• Lost Society for cocktails and late-night music
• The Jolly Gardener for hearty food and a nice beer garden
• Bosa for delicious Lebanese food
• Gazette for French food
• Kashmir for Indian food
• Taj Mahal for Indian food with bring your own alcohol options

I’ve written a guide about the best restaurants and pubs in Putney if you need any more detailed information.

Is Putney a good place to live? FAQs

1) Is Putney posh?

This depends on what you think ‘posh’ is. Is Putney an affluent area? Fairly. It’s not as affluent as its neighbours Richmond and Wimbledon, but there is a large part of Putney that is covered in multi-million-pound houses.

If you’re moving to Putney as a young adult, the flats and houses in the average price range aren’t too ‘posh’. I think ‘posh’ is a very subjective phrase anyway. Most flat blocks are four floors maximum, and the average one-bedroom flat sells for £300-400k.

Putney is also home to a number of private schools, such as Putney High School, which is well-known across England. But it has a large number of public schools.

2) Can I live in Putney as a young adult?

Yes. The average age in Putney is 37, and most people in the area are between the ages of 28-40. Putney is full of pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, home-working spaces, gyms, parks, beer gardens, transport links, and everything that makes living in London as a young professional fun.

3) Is Putney a nice area to live in?

Yes, Putney is one of the nicest areas in London to live in! It has a high street full of bars, restaurants and cafes, with some overlooking the River Thames. Whether you want to eat dinner whilst watching the sunset on the river or take a stroll through the Putney Heath woodlands, Putney is one of the nicest areas in London.

4) Is it expensive to live in Putney London?

Putney is one of the most expensive areas in London. Housing prices are above the average in the UK, and it is known to be one of the most affluent areas in London.

5) Is Putney a wealthy area?

Yes, Putney is considered a wealthy area in London. Putney is a desirable, affluent area that is popular with young professionals and middle-class families.

6) Can I drive around Putney?

Yes, Southwest London isn’t as tricky to drive in as Central London, and most people in the area own a car. The streets are quieter and not as chaotic as Central London, and most apartments in Putney come with parking spaces.

➡ Need to hire a car in London? We always rent our cars in London from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! 🚗 LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN LONDON NOW!

7) Do I need a SIM card to travel around London? 

Yes, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive. 

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Is Putney a Good Place to Live? In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about whether or not Putney is a good place to live. When you’re planning a trip to Southwest London, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more London content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

• Best Brunch in Putney: 11 Recommendations from a Local
• BEST Restaurants in Putney: 2022 Updated Guide
• Best Pubs in Putney: A Local’s Guide
• Fun Things To Do In Putney, London: A Local’s Guide
• Shops in Richmond, London: Ultimate Guide