Property insider: Fulham, SW6

Fulham is a busy village, or rather a series of London villages. Fulham Road, once a bustling coaching route to Portsmouth, remains a traffic-blogged artery but move away a little and you are soon among quieter family-friendly, tree-lined streets of decorative Victorian houses, while down by the river are luxury apartments with stunning Thames views.

Fulham is bordered on the east side by trendy Chelsea and West Brompton. The river Thames runs along the south and west sides of the suburb, with Barons Court, Hammersmith and West Kensington to the north.

Houses and flats for sale in Fulham.

'Many investors snap up opportunities to buy one- or two-bedroom flats close to Fulham Road with its popular bars and restaurants'

It’s lively with young people all moving around its huge number of independent bistros, boutiques and shops. For homemakers, it has the antiques treasure troves of Munster Road, for the “Sloaney Pony’s” it has Parsons Green for a glass of fizz, and for markets there is the cosmopolitan buzz of Fulham Broadway and North End Road.

Excellent transport links, schools and open spaces add to its appeal and attract investors, young professionals and families willing to pay premium prices to live in this trendy part of the capital.

Local estate agent Aimee Bruce of Fitz-Gibbon says: "There are lots of very distinct areas of Fulham, each having its own community. Parsons Green has the feel of a home counties village with the heart being the wonderful green itself. Munster Village takes its village status very seriously and has a fantastic selection of local shops, cafés and restaurants."

What types of properties are typical to the area?
Fulham has a wide variety properties. There are the large family homes that make up the wonderful Peterborough Estate (Quarrendon, Chipstead, Bradbourne and Chiddingstone Streets), the Hurlingham area with its’ fine period properties and substantial homes, and the ‘Alphabet’ Streets (located just off Fulham Palace Road).

There are also modern developments, including Chelsea Village and Imperial Wharf. Most properties in this area are late-Victorian, bay-fronted terraced houses, many of which have either been extended or converted into apartments.

What are the 'hottest' properties in the area?
The Peterborough Estate is very popular as the houses are large and are close to both Parsons Green and the shops and transport links at Fulham Broadway. The estate is built on the site of Peterborough House, which was demolished in 1900, but the houses were built from the 1890s and are topped with lions, the trademark of the builder, J Nichols.

Imperial Wharf offers luxury apartments with concierge, underground parking, lovely views across the River Thames and excellent shops. With little social housing, the area is pricey and highly sought after, particularly now that a new station links this area to Clapham Junction in the south and Shepherds Bush to the north.

Where are the 'hidden gems'?
Sands End, in the southern-most part of Fulham, is a real up-and-coming area. There are also some fantastic properties on Rosebury Road and Hazlebury Road, and the roads leading south of Stephendale Road, such as Althea Street, where homes have been converted into maisonettes. Both top-floor and ground-floor flats have private gardens. These properties are typical Victorian homes but are more affordable than those closer to the Parsons Green area.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Bishops Mansions, on the edge of Bishops Park, opposite the river and adjacent to Craven Cottage - the home of Fulham Football Club.

What are the best investment opportunities in the area?
Apartments in Fulham provide solid buy-to-let investments. They always let quickly because the area is very popular among young professionals, families and the corporate market. Many investors snap up opportunities to buy one- or two-bedroom properties close to Fulham Road with its popular bars and restaurants. The area near the Durrell Arms and Fulham Wine Rooms, on the junction with Munster Road, is popular.

Parsons Green is an equally hot investment spot with its villagey feel just minutes from trendy Fulham Road. City professionals congregate at the White Horse (affectionately known among locals as the “Sloaney Pony”) and the Duke on the Green. Family homes in Munster Village or Sands End are also a good buy as they are more affordable than some of the larger homes in other areas.

How is local parking?
Most parking in Fulham is residents’ permit parking, with off-street parking quite hard to come by in the period homes. Most new-build properties have underground parking.

What are service charges in the area like?
Service charges in the modern riverside apartments, such as Imperial Wharf, are typically around £1,500 a year for a two-bedroom property.

What are your favourite viewings to show potential buyers?
I love showing properties with the wow factor and lots of homes in this area have very plain exteriors but have been transformed inside with open-plan living areas, modern and contemporary fixtures and great features, such as the addition of basement entertainment areas.

If money were no object, where would you buy in this area?
I would purchase one of the amazing family homes located in the ‘Alphabet Streets’ such as on Cloncurry Street and Donneraille Street. Just walking down these roads is a pleasure.

Aimee Bruce is the manager of Fitz-Gibbon, Chiswick and West London