I’ve visited this up and coming area of South London to see what I liked and didn’t, see what I made of it in the below Canada Water Area Guide.
About Canada Water
Welcome to the vibrant and dynamic neighbourhood of Canada Water, a delightful corner of London that in my opinion blends urban living with natural beauty.
So strap in to find out what Canada Water has to offer, from scenic waterside walks to an array of culinary delights and cultural gems.
Situated in the Rotherhithe Peninsula there is one word which sums up Canada Water for me, development.
This place feels like it is in the midst of a transformative process with cranes and building sites everywhere you look.
The developers have their hands in their pockets for good reason, as Canada Water has a lot to offer.
Canada Water Area Guide – Transport Links
The fact that executive blocks of apartments are springing up everywhere is no mistake.
Probably the number 1 reason for this huge investment is down to the amazing transport links and location.
It is a major transport hub, with links to central London, the Docklands, and other parts of the city.
Utilising the Jubilee Line you can get to Canary Wharf in 2 minutes, yes you read that correctly.
But not only that, you can also get to Westminster in around 9 minutes.
So if you were to place a pin on a map of London looking for a perfect commuter area it may well be Canada Water.
I haven’t even mentioned the Overground line either yet which takes you all around East and South East London with a regular service.
This is all while being in Zone 2 of the London Transport Network, so nipping around is just a couple of pounds.
Finally you have the bus network which is centered around the station. Realistically a lot of people will use the tube but if the bus is your thing, there are tonnes of routes available.
The postcode for Canada Water station is SE16 7HS.
Canada Water Demographics
Like most areas of London there are a broad range of people calling Canada Water home.
In terms of a breakdown by ethnicity according to the most recent census it is as follows;
White: 63% (White British: 20%, Other White: 26%)
Asian / Asian British: 12% (Indian: 10%, Chinese: 1.5%, Other Asian: 0.5%)
Black / African / Caribbean / Black British: 10% (Black African: 13%, Black Caribbean: 1.7%)
Mixed / Multiple Ethnic Groups: 8%
Other: 7%
The median age of residents in Canada Water is 33, compared to the London average of 40. This is likely due to the high proportion of young professionals and students in the area.
As you might expect the wealth levels in Canada Water are above the London average.
According to the 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), Canada Water is ranked as the 103rd most deprived area in London out of 326.
This means that it is in the top third, least deprived areas in the capital.
The average household income in Canada Water is £50,000, compared to the London average of £42,000.
The IMD also considers factors such as employment, education, health, and crime when calculating deprivation.
Canada Water performs well in all of these areas. For example, the employment rate in Canada Water is 77%, compared to the London average of 70%.
Crime – Is Canada Water a safe area?
The crime rate per 1,000 in Canada Water is 121. This is noticeably higher than the London average.
There are a couple of things to note however. Firstly this is lower than the Borough of Southwark average of 134.
It is also a lot lower than the Rotherhithe Ward average of 159.
In terms of crime types the Metropolitan Police figures for the area shows assaults and violence to be the most common.
This is followed by anti social behaviour and then theft, largely due to the retail presence.
So in summary crime is a factor to be aware of in Canada Water.
It however seems to me that it is probably crime from surrounding areas unfortunately overspilling.
Canada Water Area Guide – House Prices
According to Rightmove, the average property price in Canada Water last year was £549,000.
At first glance you may think that this is quite reasonable but it is heavily skewed to the fact that the majority of properties are flats.
As an example the average terraced property is £826,000 which is a lot higher than areas such as Sydenham.
Also of note is that properties have gone down in value by 7% in the last year, something to bear in mind.
Is Canada Water A Nice Place To Live?
The wonderful thing about London is that there is something for everyone. A good example of this variation is Canada Water.
Having spent time all across the City it has to be said that Canada Water has some of the best transport links around.
The fact that it is sandwiched between Westminster and Canary Wharf will appeal to a number of potential residents.
Investment in the area is also incredibly apparent, almost to the point of overkill.
Everywhere you look there is a new executive block of apartments shooting up, with the cranes spoiling the skyline somewhat.
But with investment comes infrastructure and improvements to the surroundings and that shows.
For me, if I didn’t have a family and wanted to cut down my commute, Canada Water would be at the top of a short list of destinations.
