Walworth South
Southwark 016 · 4 sub-areas · 6,806 residents
Southwark 016 is a densely populated pocket of Southwark in south London, home to around 6,800 people. A typical two-bedroom flat lets for about £2,270 a month — noticeably below the central London average for equivalent properties. Nearly six in ten households are in social housing, making this one of the most distinct tenure profiles in the borough.
Walworth South is a green, lower-density part of Southwark — parks within walking distance of most addresses, a slower weekday rhythm, and a population skewed toward longer-tenure households rather than transient renters.
Overview
What's it like to live in Walworth South?
The area is unusually green for its density — 8 parks and 18 playgrounds sit within five minutes' walk of the centroid; food and drink within walking distance is workable but not dense — around 41 restaurants and 9 pubs in five minutes; Recorded crime is higher than the national norm — common for built-up urban areas, but worth weighing if you're looking for a quieter base; Public transport is genuinely strong; most errands and a fair share of social life don't need a car; rents sit firmly in the upper bracket nationally, with a typical home letting at around £2,388 a month; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 4 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Walworth South in Southwark
Living in Walworth South
This part of Southwark has a character that sets it apart from much of inner London. The overwhelming majority of residents — nearly 60% — live in social housing, which gives the area a settled, community feel that's unusual this close to the City. You're not looking at a neighbourhood in transition; it has a long-established residential character, with families and long-term tenants making up a significant share of the population.
Rents are cheaper than you'd expect for a location barely 13 minutes from central London by public transport. A two-bedroom flat runs around £2,270 a month, with one-beds available from about £1,810. That's still a serious sum, but it reflects the premium of being in Zone 1–2 south London with fast links north of the river. Private renters make up just over a quarter of households — a much smaller share than in comparable inner-London neighbourhoods — which keeps some downward pressure on the private market too.
The population skews relatively young: nearly a third of residents are between 18 and 34, with a further fifth aged 35 to 49. Single-person households account for around 32% of all homes. The area has a high ethnic diversity index of 69, and just over half of residents were born in the UK — both figures broadly in line with inner Southwark's character. Degree-level qualifications are held by around 42% of residents, slightly above the London norm for areas with this tenure profile.
Deprivation is a real factor here. The area sits in the second-lowest decile nationally on the Index of Multiple Deprivation, which reflects the concentration of social housing and higher unemployment — the claimant count runs at around 5.7%. That context matters if you're looking at schools or local services, though the greenspace picture is unusually good: virtually all residents are within a short walk of green space, with the nearest park just 92 metres away on average.
For sub-areas and individual streets within Southwark 016, see the streets and sub-areas listed below.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Southwark 016 a nice place to live?
- It depends what you're after. It's a well-connected, genuinely urban neighbourhood with fast links to central London and good greenspace access — virtually all residents are within a short walk of green space. The trade-off is a high crime rate and significant deprivation by national standards. It suits people who need affordable access to central London and aren't deterred by a rougher urban edge.
- What is the rent in Southwark 016?
- A one-bedroom flat runs around £1,810 a month, a two-bed around £2,270, and a three-bed roughly £2,630. These are estimates scaled from borough-level data. Rents rose just 1.3% in the last year. Private rental supply is limited here — nearly 60% of homes are social housing — so availability in the private market can be tight.
- Is Southwark 016 safe?
- Crime runs at around 260 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, which is substantially above the UK national average of roughly 80. It's elevated even by inner-London standards. Conditions vary within the neighbourhood, so it's worth visiting at different times before deciding. It's not unusually dangerous relative to similar high-density central London areas, but it's not low-crime either.
- What's the commute from Southwark 016 to central London?
- Around 13 minutes by public transport, which is one of the fastest connections in the borough. The nearest rail station and underground station are both roughly 1 km away — about a 13-minute walk. About 39% of residents commute by public transport; another 32% work from home.
- Who lives in Southwark 016?
- A mixed population anchored by long-term social housing tenants — nearly 60% of households. About a third of residents are aged 18 to 34, and single-person households account for 32% of homes. The area has a high diversity index of 69, with 45% of residents born outside the UK. Around 42% hold a degree-level qualification.
- What schools are near Southwark 016?
- There are 264 schools within 2km, so choice isn't the issue — quality is. Only around 41% of those nearby schools are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, well below the national average of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding school is about 785 metres away. Check Ofsted's website directly for current ratings on specific schools before making decisions.
- How does Southwark 016 compare to the rest of Southwark for rent?
- It sits at the lower end of Southwark's private rental market, reflecting the social housing concentration and the area's deprivation profile. A two-bed at around £2,270 a month is lower than you'd pay in more gentrified parts of the borough. The trade-off is a higher crime rate and lower Ofsted ratings in local schools.