Is Elephant & Castle a safe place to live?

When you’re moving to a new area in a big city, safety is sure to cross your mind. And of course it’s sensible to seek out a new neighbourhood that’s secure, so you can enjoy the fun of a bustling metropolis without feeling like you have to be on the lookout for trouble.

In this blog post we’re going to take a look at how safe Elephant & Castle is, and explore other aspects of the area that might help you decide whether or not it’s the right choice for you.

A quick intro to Elephant & Castle

If you’re not massively familiar with Elephant & Castle, here’s a bit of info you might find useful.

• Elephant & Castle is located in Southwark, a borough in south-east London. 
• It was named after a pub - well, an 18th-century coaching inn. Although there’s speculation that the inn could have been there even earlier, as the ‘Elephant’ was mentioned in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, written in 1601.
• The area is being hugely redeveloped, including a new town centre, new housing, community spaces and a two-acre park. This is creating new employment opportunities and community spaces, while giving Elephant & Castle a significant facelift.
• It’s close to the River Thames, meaning all the riverside views and attractions are within easy reach, and The City and Westminster are walkable within 30 minutes (though there are great transport links too!).

But what about safety? That’s why you’re here after all, so let’s dig into that before getting back to the fun stuff.

What are the crime statistics like for Elephant & Castle?

Crime is inevitable in any big city, and London of course has its share. However, compared to other European cities London has only the 17th highest crime rate, and looking worldwide it has just the 106th highest.

But how safe is Elephant & Castle in particular? According to police data, the annual crime rate here is 224 per 1000 population, which according to the linked source is ‘average’. It’s also worth noting that crime rates have been coming down here since 2011.

The Met Police actively works with other agencies to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in the area, and the current regeneration of Elephant & Castle is also helping to improve safety. On top of this there is a Safer Neighbourhood Team, which patrols the area, meeting with people on the streets and dealing with issues that occur. 

What does Elephant & Castle have to offer beyond safety?

If you’re thinking about moving to Elephant & Castle you want more than just a safe neighbourhood. What about great food and drink, activities, attractions and the chance to be part of a thriving and growing community?

Fab food & drink

Well, Elephant & Castle offers all of this. Let’s start with food and drink. There are countless restaurants and cafes throughout the area, but many foodies head straight to Mercato Metropolitano to sample some of the offerings from the 40 varied food venues based here. Whether you fancy French, Italian, Chinese or pretty much any other delicious international cuisine, you can get it here, washed down with your choice of drink, from craft beer to cocktails and much more.

Elephant Park

A major part of the recent regeneration, Elephant Park combines green parkland with living, dining, drinking, shopping, recreation and community spaces. Here you can also visit Elephant Springs, the bubbling water features that kids (and adults!) love in the summer, and which make a serene place to chill out all year round.

A wealth of culture

If you fancy some history you could pop down to the Imperial War Museum, or The Cinema Museum if you’re a film lover who wants to get behind the scenes. Southwark Playhouse is very close too if you like to take in a show from time to time. 

Amazing access to London & beyond

Elephant & Castle is just a 30-minute walk to The City and Westminster, and it has great transport links too. Here you can travel by mainline or underground rail, and buses can take you into the heart of the city in as little as 20 minutes. 

Drivers will find themselves in a great spot too, with easy access to the A2 from the A201. And if you want to hop on a bike to get across the city while getting some exercise, there are plenty of cycle docking stations. 

Check out our post on what it’s like living in Elephant & Castle to learn more about fun things to do and see in the area.

Should you live in Elephant & Castle?

There is clearly plenty of fun to be had in Elephant & Castle, so you certainly shouldn’t get bored living here. Safety is up too and is being improved further by the regeneration project, which is making Elephant & Castle one of the most sought-after areas to live in London. So should you live in Elephant & Castle? Well yeah, we think so!

Living In Elephant & Castle With UNCLE

If this sounds like a great area to you, check out our stunning flats in Elephant & Castle right now. 

Discover the other perks of living with UNCLE too, which include a free on-site gym and stunning city views (did we mention this is London’s tallest residential building?!). 

In the heart of London, just a stone's throw from world-famous attractions and plenty of eclectic entertainment and dining options, Elephant and Castle is a brilliant place to call home.

But what is it about this historic part of London that makes it a great choice for those looking to move into the area? In this post, we’ll explore exactly that, diving into things to do, places to see and food to eat, and consider how safe it is. If you’re thinking about living in Elephant and Castle, we’ll help you realise just how great a decision that could turn out to be.

Is Elephant and Castle a good place to live?

Yes, Elephant and Castle is a great place to live. In fact, Elephant and Castle is rated 4.61 stars out of 5 on HomeViews, with almost 3 in 4 people (72%) rating it as excellent.

Over the last decade, £4 billion has been invested into the area across more than 25 different projects, which has given Elephant and Castle a new lease of life. Now, with a revitalised town centre, parks, leisure facilities, housing, shops and dining, it’s fast becoming one of the most sought-after areas of London.

Living in Elephant and Castle

With a variety of ways to get around, wonderful places to relax and have fun, and plenty of amenities, living in Elephant and Castle is a great choice. Below are just a few of the reasons why you should consider this fantastic area of central London.

Getting around London from Elephant and Castle

Just a 30-minute walk from Westminster and The City, Elephant and Castle is a great location for busy professionals. If you’re looking for bus or rail links, you also have plenty of choices. Elephant and Castle has a tube station right on the borders of Zone 1 and 2 on both the Northern and Bakerloo lines. There’s also a mainline railway station that can take you to St Albans, and Euston is less than 20 minutes away if you’re looking to go further afield.

If you’re a fan of the bus, there are options to get you to Oxford Circus, London Bridge or Westminster within 20 minutes, so wherever you’re headed you should get there with little hassle.

Of course, there are numerous Santander Cycle docking stations and if you’re a driver, the A201 splits Elephant and Castle down the middle, which gives you quick access to the A2.

If you’re a frequent international traveller, both Heathrow and Luton are just a couple of trains away and you can get to either in around an hour or less.

What is there to do in Elephant and Castle?

Whatever floats your boat, there’s plenty to see and do around Elephant and Castle. 

Elephant Park is home to the iconic Elephant Springs, and the new Tree House is a fantastic community space with regular events. It’s also a great place to relax, hang out and enjoy a bite to eat. 

For a spot of culture and history, the Imperial War Museum offers an eye-opening look into the past, and The Cinema Museum will keep cinephiles busy for hours.

In the evening, why not catch a play at the Southwark Playhouse, or dance the night away at the world-famous nightclub Ministry of Sound?

To help you keep on top of your fitness regime, the Castle Centre has a fully-equipped gym, two pools, a sports hall and spa facilities.

Is Elephant and Castle safe?

In the past, Elephant and Castle has had slightly higher than average crime rates, but since 2011 this has come right down. Since the start of the regeneration project, it’s provided new housing, employment opportunities and community spaces that are improving the area by the day. 

The most common incident in the area is anti-social behaviour, but overall Elephant and Castle is a safe place to live.

For more information, read our blog post answering the question, is Elephant and Castle safe?

Places to eat in Elephant and Castle

Thanks to the regeneration project, you’re now spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat and drink in Elephant and Castle.

Foodies from all over the city come to Elephant and Castle to try an array of incredible dishes at Mercato Metropolitano, which is home to 40 food outlets serving everything from bao buns to fresh pasta. Diners can eat themselves around the world with the help of a cocktail or two. You really will struggle to find a larger variety of incredible options.

For a trendy spot combining fabulous French cuisine with toe-tapping jazz, Toulouse Lautrec serves breakfast, lunch and dinner while accompanied by some of London’s best musicians.

For something with a Latin flavour, Paladar has an a la carte menu and Chef Jose’s tasting menu if you want to experience a range of incredible textures and tastes. It also has a fully-stocked wine cellar where you can find a South American wine to complement every dish.

We could talk about the food in Elephant and Castle all day. Other highlights include Polish kitchen Mamuśka!, authentic Japanese at Koi Ramen Bar and fresh stonebaked pizza at Theo’s. 

Living in Elephant and Castle with UNCLE

Do you like the sound of what Elephant and Castle has to offer? Here at UNCLE, we have a range of fully-serviced flats available to rent in Elephant and Castle. For more information, contact us today.