Elephant & Castle is one of very few central London areas that can still be described as rough around the edges. Though it is home to two large roundabouts, a tower (the Strata) which has been called the ugliest new building in Britain, and an uninspiring Sixties shopping centre, there is much to love about Elephant & Castle. For one thing, there are billions of pounds being spent on regenerating the area, including plans to improve traffic - and for another, the area already has great schools and fantastic public transport links.
Elephant & Castle has a fairly strong sense of community - it is full of small, independent businesses and local markets. Locals are attached to their neighbourhood, even as regeneration is set to improve it, and sometimes manifests in protests against demolitions.
This area has above-average crime, according to the Met police, much like many more central parts of London. The 2014/2015 crime rate in the ward containing Elephant & Castle was twice that of London as a whole, and the violence against the person rate was notably higher as well. Nearby, heading toward Westminster, is a high-crime hotspot.
This can be a fairly difficult and expensive place to park. The rate of car ownership in this area is half that of London as a whole, at less than one car for every two households. Road links - including the A201 and the A3 - are good, though the roundabout is infamous and traffic can be pretty congested.
Elephant & Castle is very centrally located, and on the Northern Line, making travel to the West End for nightlife really easy - especially with the Night Tube running at weekends. There are pubs, bars, and restaurants in the immediate area, too.
This is not necessarily a place known for its family homes - most of the housing is in Elephant & Castle is flats, maisonettes, or apartments category, but there are a few surviving Victorian terraces and other homes that might be suitable for families. There are several excellent schools, both primary and secondary, in this area. The percentage of residents of this ward - which includes a larger area than just the neighbourhood - is a little less than half the London percentage of 20%.
Most of the housing is in Elephant & Castle is flats, maisonettes, or apartments category, but there are a few surviving Victorian terraces and other homes that might be suitable for pets. There's not a great deal of green space in this area, though there are a few smaller parks, like Newington Green.
Elephant & Castle (Zone 1/2) is on the Bakerloo Line and the Northern Line. There are also rail services to Blackfriars and St Pancras. The area is well-served by local buses, and road links - including the A201 and the A3 - are good, though the roundabout is infamous and traffic can be pretty congested.