Kennington, once popular with civil servants and MPs, is increasingly liked by young professional sharers and families, too. The area is known for having a great deal of beautiful Georgian architecture, but there is also a range of property including Victorian terraces, modern flats, and everything in between. Local amenities, from pubs to green spaces to schools, are very good. Kennington is also very central, only just in Zone 2, and as such has unparalleled transport links. About the only downside is the fact that, of course, it's not cheap to live here.
Kennington has a strong sense of community that remains despite the fact that the area is undergoing a lot of change as part of regeneration efforts. The neighbourhood increasingly attracts young families, but they may move away for secondary school years - and sometimes return as empty nesters. There is an annual summer fête in Cleaver Square, too.
Kennington is a fairly safe place to live, with an average crime rating from the Met police. However, neighbouring areas including almost the whole of Central London have a high crime rating, and the 2014/2015 crime and violence against the person rates in this area were notably higher than for London as a whole.
This would be a fairly difficult and expensive place to own a car. The rate of car ownership in this area is half that of London, with fewer than one car for every two households. Road links - including the A3, the A3204, and Vauxhall Bridge - are good, but beware the Congestion Charge zone!
There's a good range of restaurants, pubs, and bars in this area, as well as a fringe theatre, modern art galleries, and the Cinema Museum. Kennington is also incredibly central, and served by the Northern Line - which operates a Night Tube service at weekends - and it is among the easiest places from which to reach the nightlife of the West End.
Kennington increasingly attracts young families, though they tend to move further out for the secondary school years (despite both state primary and secondary schools in the area being generally good). The range of property that is available in this area includes options for suitable family homes, from large Georgian houses and early Victorian terraces to more modern homes - though family homes in this area will come at a high price. Kennington has many small parks in the area, including Kennington Park, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, and the Lambeth Walk Open Space - where you'll find facilities for children, including sports fields and playgrounds. There's also the Thames for pleasant riverside walks. The percentage of children living in this area is slightly lower than the percentage in London as a whole.
Property available in this area is diverse, and includes spacious period houses modern homes that would be suitable for pets - though there are also many flats that would be less suitable. Kennington has many small parks in the area, including Kennington Park, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, and the Lambeth Walk Open Space. There's also the Thames for pleasant riverside walks, and the Vauxhall City Farm is nearby.
Transport links in this area are outstanding. Kennington and Oval stations are in Zone 2, and are on the Northern Line. Lambeth North is nearby, in Zone 1, and served by the Bakerloo line. Rail services at Vauxhall or Waterloo are nearby. The area is well-served by buses, too, and road links - including the A3, the A3204, and Vauxhall Bridge - are good, though beware the Congestion Charge zone. Cycling is a good option for locals, who can reach places like Charing Cross by bike in a quarter of an hour.