Catford. Home to a giant 1970s cat guarding the entrance to the area's shopping precinct and once home to singer-songwriter Cat Stevens.
Situated south of Lewisham and to the east of Dulwich, this part of south-east London remains under the radar for many buyers, who favour more popular nearby Forest Hill and Honor Oak Park.
Although these areas have a slightly more polished edge to them, with artsy cafes and gastro pubs, Catford has a bustling town centre vibe and it's much bigger, meaning you'll find most things on your doorstep for day-to-day needs.
Residents have been long awaiting a revamp of Catford's centre, which has been agreed and signed off by the council. Works will include renovation of the Catford Centre, rerouting the South Circular that runs straight through the middle of town and generally improving the look of the area.
Meaning now is the time to buy.
What is there to do in Catford?
Catford is the market capital of south-east London (not including Greenwich, whose markets are tourist hotspots), with markets happening every day of the week.
Catford Broadway Market trades Monday to Saturday for everyday bits and bobs, such as fresh produce and household items, plus there's also a covered market in the Catford Centre every Tuesday to Sunday.
A new addition to Catford's market scene is Catford Food Market, which is launching on March 25. It will be a permanent fixture taking place on the last Sunday of every month, where you can expect delicious street food, locally sourced produce and homemade treats.
And after you've enjoyed your artisan coffee and posh sausage roll, you can stroll along part of south London's Waterlink Way – a cycle route that runs from Elmers End to Greenwich. In Catford, a section of the route includes a riverside trail along Pool River.
And north of Catford there is Ladywell Fields, ideal for dog walking and running around with the kids.
Catford's transport links
From Catford Bridge Station there is a 25 minute service to London Charing Cross roughly every 15 minutes, passing through London Bridge and London Waterloo East.
And for those of you who work in central London and the City, Catford Station provides services on the Thameslink line to London Blackfriars, Farringdon and London St. Pancras every 20 minutes.
What are the schools like in Catford?
Rathfern Primary is a mixed school in-between Stanstead Road and Catford Hill and is rated Outstanding, which is the same Ofsted rating given to Holy Cross on the opposite side of Bromley Road. There's also Independent St Dunstan's College for ages 3 to 18, as well as a number of other good primary schools.
How much is a property in Catford?
Catford's average house price of £456,278* is well below the London average and this average even takes into account some of our £1 million+ properties.
One bedroom flats in Catford start from about £325,000 and two bedroom apartments from around £375,000. However, it is houses like this one that was on the market for £449,950, which offer the best value for money.
New to the area is Catford Green, one of a number of new developments in Catford that are changing the face of the area. The completion date is set for summer 2018 and the development is available with the Help to Buy scheme. It's comprised of two bedroom apartments that are priced from £389,000.
And if you fancy a project, this five bedroom house in need of modernisation is on the market for £640,000.
* Foxtons average sales price in Catford as of 6/3/2018
