Stockwell is a former manufacturing district that is well on its way to becoming as popular a residential area as neighbouring Clapham. The area is somewhat 'up-and-coming' and working to shed a not-entirely-deserved reputation for roughness. Stockwell's relative affordability may be the reason people give it a go to begin with, but once settled, they'll find pretty good access to parks, a mix of property for many styles and budgets, and excellent transport links as well as a cosmopolitan vibe helped by the presence of a large Portuguese community.
Stockwell is home to the largest Portuguese community outside Portugal. There are numerous local businesses, and the area is fairly family-orientated.
Stockwell is rated by the Met police as having average crime, though there is an above-average crime hotspot fairly nearby, in Brixton. The 2014/2015 crime rate was about the same as the overall London crime rate, but the violence against the person rate in Stockwell was a bit higher.
Stockwell is neither an exceptionally good nor exceptionally poor place to look for parking for a relatively central part of London. The rate of car ownership in Stockwell is half the overall London rate, at less than one car for every two households. Road links - including the A3 and the A203 - are good, if often congested.
Stockwell and neighbouring Clapham and Brixton had the full range of nightlife on offer, from pubs, restaurants, and bars to live music venues and clubs. Transport links are good, especially with the Night Tube, as well as several bus options - but much of what you'd be looking for can be found within walking distance.
The wide range of property in Stockwell means that it is possible to find a period townhouse or other suitable family home, though much that is available will be ex-council flats. Though Stockwell doesn't have its own park, it is near several - including Clapham Common, Brockwell Park, and Battersea Park, as well as several recreation grounds. The percentage of children aged 0-15 living in this area is slightly low for London.
Stockwell property includes some homes that would be suitable for pets, though much of the housing is ex-council flats. It is near several substantial parks, including Clapham Common, Brockwell Park, and Battersea Park - and the Thames is also close, giving dog owners the option of riverside walks.
Stockwell is in Zone 2 and has its own Tube station, which is served by the Victoria and Northern Lines. Nearby Oval is served by the Northern Line, and Brixton also offers rail services. The area is well served by buses, and road links - including the A3 and the A203 - are good, if often congested. More than twice the percentage of London residents who cycle to work do so in Stockwell.