A guide to living in Teddington, London
- Whereshome
- Dec 5, 2021
- 4 min read
Crowned as 2021’s top London neighbourhood and singled out by The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide for its community spirit, independent shops and cafes, Teddington is a family-friendly, leisure-filled and pleasant riverside area full of Victorian streets and excellent commuter links.
Its houses are not the cheapest but offer better value for money than other well-known West London riverside go-to's such as Richmond, Fulham and Twickenham. Moreover, for central London commuters, this suburb of the borough of Richmond upon Thames is a convenient 30-minute commute to London Waterloo.
At Whereshome, we understand the enormity and complexity of deciding where amongst the many standout places in the UK to set up shop. With this guide, we hope to give you a real in-depth account of what it is like to live in Teddington, written by a local.
Sites of Interest
When the enormous Bushy Park with its endless activities gets boring, take a stroll through Teddington’s quaint streets to some of its other spectacular sites. There’s a wealth of striking stately homes to visit, including the famed Hampton Court Palace, Gothic Strawberry Hill House and Ham House. For avid rugby fans, Twickenham Stadium is a short train or bus journey away. The river around Teddington Lock also presents many opportunities for activities. Some will know the area as the location of Monty Python’s Flying Circus’s fish slapping dance sketch, others will appreciate it for its multiple rowing clubs and well-sized leisure centre with a pool.
The Landmark Arts Centre is also a popular go-to for locals, with regular concerts, art fairs, book clubs and art classes.
Lifestyle
Teddington is enjoying a moment in the limelight as a London hotspot for both families and professionals but has also long been recognised as a bustling media and science hub. Grand parks, leafy conservation areas and leisure facilities bolster the west London area’s appeal. It’s a perfect best-of-both-worlds option for families ready to move out of central London but not totally ready to leave the capital behind entirely.
To the south is Bushy Park, one of the most famous landmarks in Teddington and the second-largest park in London after Richmond Park. Locals enjoy strolling through into Hampton Court Park and continuing on to the Thames to round off an active Sunday morning. Ham Common, Ham House & Garden and Richmond Park to the north are also popular outdoor attractions. In terms of shopping, there is an excellent selection of independent shops, an attribute that Teddington is well known for, and an array of useful basics like banks and supermarkets. The high street also has a useful variety of chain restaurants.
Residents are well and truly spoiled when it comes to dining options in Teddington. Family-friendly cafes are rife, including the popular The Fallow Deer and The French Tarte, as well as several enticing riverside pubs, notably The Anglers and Tide End Cottages. In the evening, fight off your fellow locals for a seat at the wildly popular Retro Bistrot, along with the award-winning The Kings Head, owned and operated by Raymond Blanc’s White Brasserie company.
Schooling
Teddington offers a unique blend of riverside charm, strong community spirit, and outstanding educational opportunities—making it a standout choice for families planning their next move. The area is well-served by top-rated state schools such as Collis Primary School, St Peter’s and St Mary’s Church of England Primary, and Hampton Wick Infant and Nursery School, all rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School also holds a solid ‘Good’ rating.
While Teddington itself has no independent schools, families are spoilt for choice in nearby Kingston, Richmond, and Twickenham. Prestigious private options such as Radnor House, Kingston Grammar School, Surbiton High School, and Hampton School are all within easy reach, offering exceptional academic standards and extracurricular opportunities. For older students, St Mary’s University provides a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, from law and teaching to media and international relations.
Transport
Teddington residents enjoy a seamless journey east into central London from the sole national rail station, traversing through Richmond, Battersea and Vauxhall on the way to Waterloo and beyond. Rush-hour trains to Waterloo take just over half an hour with an annual season ticket costing just shy of £2,000. The Overground and District Line are also available with just a short train journey to Richmond. Lots of easterly busses are also available to the equally quaint Twickenham and Richmond.
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