Pocket is working harder than ever to help Londoners get onto the property ladder. We love this city, especially during the festive season.
In this blog, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite Christmas markets in London to get you into the holiday spirit. A few of these hidden gems take place in neighbourhoods our Pocket communities call home. You can visit our development page to see where we’ve built our first time buyer homes and how they’ve become thriving communities.
Add them to your list and start planning your winter outfits!
The starting point of time – and now, the starting point of homeownership.
Our new Charlton development, The Heights SE7, is ideally located in the heart of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, making it the perfect base to explore the area’s diverse surroundings. 45 one-bedrooms and 3 two-bedrooms homes are now available to first time buyers across all London boroughs. To celebrate this milestone, we’ll highlight the top attractions in the local area.
Greenwich town centre
Where to start? Well, it is the start of time, so a stop at the Royal Observatory is a no-brainer. From there, you can wander to the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s House, and the vast greenery of Greenwich Park. Don’t forget Greenwich Market, where the world comes to you! Think Thai food, Nepali cashmere, and South American coffee. If tea’s more your vibe, the Cutty Sark (a famous tea clipper) is just a two-minute stroll away. It’s free to admire from the outside, though you’ll need to pay for a tour inside.
Getting there: A 20-minute cycle or 177 bus from The Heights SE7 development.
Charlton House and Park
Charlton’s architecture is a mix of styles that all bring something unique to the table. Take Charlton House, an impressive Jacobethan manor house that hosts changing exhibitions, inspiring interiors, and events throughout the year. On the ground floor, you’ll find Frilly’s Tea Room, plus the Old Cottage Shop Café tucked away in Charlton Park.
Getting there: Just a 10-minute walk from The Heights SE7 development.
The 02 and Greenwich Peninsula
It’s been a quarter of a century since the Millennium Dome (as it was called back then) made its mark on the London skyline. Today, the site is home to the iconic O2 Arena, the more intimate Indigo at the O2, a designer outlet mall, a cinema, and plenty of restaurants and bars. North Greenwich Station, right next door, connects you to the Jubilee line, whisking you to London Bridge in just 7 minutes.
If you’d rather stay above ground, you can climb to the top of the O2 for a thrill or take a cable car across the Thames, both offering stunning views of Canary Wharf and beyond.
Getting there: A 15-minute cycle or a 422/486 bus from The Heights SE7 development.
Charlton retail parks
Stretching about a mile along Bugsby’s Way, the retail parks here offer a wide range of shopping and leisure options, just a 10-minute walk from The Heights SE7.
While it’s not as independent as nearby Charlton Village or Greenwich town, you’ll find all the essentials for setting up home. Need furniture? Ikea, Next, and Home Sense have you covered. For food shopping, you’ve got M&S, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and Lidl. Feeling adventurous with DIY? B&Q’s the place to go.
And if you’re after a bite to eat or a movie, you’ll find plenty of restaurants and an Odeon cinema nearby.
Getting there: Just a 10-minute walk from The Heights SE7 development.
Charlton Village
Much of Charlton falls within the ‘Charlton Village Conservation Area,’ with its commercial heart stretching east from Charlton House along the aptly named street, ‘The Village.’ Here, you’ll find The Village Greengrocers, offering a great selection of health foods and organic produce, while ‘The Bugle Horn’ is a popular pub set in a Grade II listed building. For pampered pets, head to ‘Top Paws Grooming Salon.’ Other handy services along the parade include a pharmacy, hair and beauty shops, and international food stores.
Getting there: Just a 5-minute walk from The Heights SE7 development.
Charlton Lido
Offering an Olympic-size heated pool, gym, café, and sunbathing space, there’s something for everyone at Charlton Lido and Lifestyle Club. Its enduring appeal has kept it in the area since 1939. It may seem hard to imagine swimming outdoors in winter, but the pool is heated to 25°C, and in warmer months, there are sunbathing areas to soak up the rays.
Getting there: An 18-minute walk from The Heights SE7 development.
Oxleas Woods and Severndroog Castle
Perched on the highest point in South London, Severndroog Castle offers panoramic views of the area. Look north and west, and you’ll see the urban sprawl of Canary Wharf blending with the historic heart of Central London. On clear days, you might even spot the iconic arch of Wembley or planes descending into Heathrow. To the south, the green expanses of Oxleas Woods and Eltham offer a peaceful contrast. The Grade II-listed Gothic castle itself, built in 1784, features turrets and ornate ceilings. Take in the views from the viewing deck, relax in the tearoom, or explore the surrounding Oxleas Woods. On the first Sunday of every month, a popular farmers’ market offers local arts and crafts, baked goods, and delicious food.
Getting there: A 10-minute cycle or 486 bus from The Heights SE7 development.
Woolwich
Just a short journey east from Charlton, Woolwich boasts fascinating naval and military history and some impressive architecture. From the new Elizabeth line station (only 14 minutes to London Liverpool Street), head towards the river and explore the pedestrianized Royal Arsenal area, home to an array of eateries and a farmers’ market on the second and last Saturday of each month. ‘Woolwich Works’ is an important cultural hub where you can join dance classes, watch comedy, play chess, or relax with a hot drink at the on-site café. At ‘Punchdrunk,’ enjoy a unique theatre experience where you’re free to roam the performance spaces – you’ll likely see something new each time you visit.
Getting there: A 15-minute cycle, multiple buses, or an overground train from The Heights SE7 development.
Plumstead Common
Around 20% of the Greenwich borough is made up of green space, and Plumstead Common offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of the bustling Plumstead community. The common features a nature reserve, gentle slopes, lakes at ‘The Slades,’ and outdoor gym equipment. Just off the common, ‘The Slade Café’ offers a quirky spot for brunch – set in a converted 1930s public toilet. ‘The Plumstead Pantry’ is another beloved local fixture.
Getting there: A 15-minute cycle from The Heights SE7 development or the 53 bus.
Looking to call Charlton home?
It’s an exciting time for the borough. The Elizabeth line has recently joined the Jubilee line, DLR, overground, boat, and London’s only cable car. The opening of the Silvertown Tunnel in April 2025 will also provide free bus journeys across the Thames for those who’ve lived in the Greenwich borough for at least 12 months and offer a free shuttle bus for cyclists through the tunnel.
The Heights SE7 consists of 45 one-bedroom Pocket flats (two of which are wheelchair adaptable) and 3 two-bedroom Pocket flats. Just a 5-minute walk from Charlton Station, it’s perfectly placed for transport links – making it easy to explore Greenwich or head to the city.
Pocket offers discounted homes exclusively for locals, giving them the chance to own a piece of the city they love. Our homes are unique, we sell them at a 20% discount compared to other one-bedroom flats in the area. Pocket is an alternative to shared ownership—no rent, and you own 100% of your home from day one.
London is a city where there’s a neighbourhood to suit every taste—from bustling and vibrant to quiet and laid-back. Each area has its own unique personality and charm. In this blog, we’re taking a stroll through London’s best neighbourhoods around our developments, showing you the best spots for food, fun, and everything in between, as well as the quickest ways to get around.
Country peace. City pace. The Woodside Park urban retreat is perfectly placed to enjoy both. You’ll find wildlife and nightlife, rural pubs and urban coffee shops, casual eateries and smart restaurants, along with bustling venues for sport, exercise, dance and theatre.
As a homeowner at Woodside Park N12, you’ll have many off-duty options. Learn hip-hop or the Argentine tango at the AV dance studio. Or wander through Woodridge Nature Reserve, a haven for wildlife. Take your seat for a show or comedy spot at the Arts Depot. Or spread out a picnic with friends at the nearby wildflower meadow. Culture or country? At Woodside Park N12, both are close by.
Things to do
Firstly, The Arts Depot is an award-winning cultural hub with two theatres, a ‘creative research lab’, drama, dance and art studios and an art gallery.
Cafe culture is never far away. So, dip into the Holybellaartisan coffee house and savour an expertly crafted drink… a Merry Berry smoothie with a Veggie Sourdough Club at lunchtime and a slice of cake to take home.
The Tally Ho and The Griffin are traditional local pubs serving real ales, craft beers and generous portions of pub grub. Or try a pint of Hasty at The Bohemia brewpub.
For special dining occasions, visit Sofalino for typical Italian dishes such as Vitello Milanese and Fettucine al Funghi, or head up to The Orange Tree for a tempting menu featuring British classics and Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Transport links
Woodside Park tube station, on the Northern Line, is literally on your doorstep. Take a southbound train to reach Kentish Town, with its live music venues, in just 13 minutes and Camden Town, with its clubs and bars, in 15 minutes. The journey to central London’s King’s Cross St Pancras takes a mere 20 minutes and the tube will take you direct to Tottenham Court Road, at the end of Oxford Street, in 23 minutes. Bus route 383, with a stop outside Woodside Park station, is just one stop to North Finchley High Road in one direction and Tally Ho Corner in the other. This bus will also take you to Barnet High Street.
Our development
At Woodside Park N12, we’re building 37 energy-efficient homes to be sold at a 20% discount to the market price. Each one-bedroom apartment is designed to make the best use of space, and the communal rooftop encourages a sense of community. These low-maintenance Pocket homes are a blank canvas to decorate and live in as you like. Sustainable travel is sorted, with on-site secure cycle storage, or the tube across the road, which whisks you to King’s Cross St Pancras in 24 minutes. For such a leafy part of London, you are never far from the city’s bright lights. Woodside Park N12 is complete and ready to move in to now!
Just over 9 miles south of Charing Cross, Croydon has a well-deserved reputation as a great place to live, work and play. As somewhere to set up home, the town ticks many boxes, more specifically, connectivity to central London, access to pubs, cinemas and galleries, and affordability.
Things to do
Settle into your sofa at the Everyman cinema with your beer until your chorizo or sharing plates are brought to your seat.
Boxpark, a collection of 80 refashioned shipping containers housing cafés, restaurants, bars and music venues. It has energised the town’s nightlife — as well the ever-changing display of dynamic street art has enlivened Croydon’s creative edge.
Surrey Street Market provides goodies ranging from German turnips and Thai orchids to Indian mangoes and Romanian cake.
The London Borough of Croydon has over 120 parks and open spaces. The 130-yearold Park Hill Park is just round the corner, and the multi-amenity Lloyd Park is a gentle 15-minute walk away.
Transport links
Location, location, location. Central London, Gatwick airport and the seaside city of Brighton are all readily accessible from East Croydon station. With a regular service, the rail journey to London Victoria or London Bridge takes just 16 minutes. Croydon Tramlink, with a loop around the town centre, stops right outside East Croydon station and Addiscombe Grove is well served by the bus network.
Our development
Buying a one bedroom Pocket home at Addiscombe Grove could be an extremely smart move. Not only will you obtain a discount of 20%, you’ll also own 100% of your home from day one. Designed by award-winning architect Metropolitan Workshop, each high-quality apartment makes the best use of every square foot. There are 112 Pocket homes in the development, each designed to maximise space and create a homely, efficient environment. Across the building, there are also various breakout spaces with ultra-fast hyperoptic WiFi. Light and airy, these have the ambiance of a trendy Scandinavian hotel. The 9th floor wellness room can be used for yoga and meditation sessions or residents’ get-togethers. You’ll have access to three communal landscaped gardens on different floors, a residents’ lounge, workspace and a secure bike store.
Named ‘Britain’s coolest neighbourhood’ by The Daily Telegraph, Walthamstow is ‘on trend’ right now. Time Out magazine says: ‘There’s loads to do, tons of nice people call it home and it’s an actual creative hub, a place where stuff gets made’. It’s easy to see why the area is attracting rave reviews. Where else can you visit a mile-long brewery trail, a celebration of neon lighting, the longest open-air market in Europe, a café with a climbing wall and a pub offering life-drawing classes?
Walthamstow Village, centred around Orford Road, is a cluster of quirky independent shops and restaurants such as the famed Eat17.
Along Blackhorse Lane, lovers of craft beer can stop off at a strip of micro-breweries or an urban winery. More traditional pubs, such as The Village and The Nags Head, offer superior pub grub.
Lloyd Park is a few minutes’ walk from Forest Road and has an outdoor gym, skate park and petanque court.
The William Morris Galleryis a Georgian house, once occupied by design pioneer and social activist William Morris. It celebrates his revolutionary life as a leader of the British Arts & Crafts movement.
Hoe street is located between the east and west of Walthamstow, and is pretty much the best of both worlds. You’ll find 5 star restaurants hidden between a greasy spoon and a yoga studio.
With a cult following in London and Los Angeles, God’s Own Junkyard is a must-visit. You’ll be immersed in new & used neon fantasies, salvaged signs, reclaimed neon signs, old movie props and retro displays.
Transport links
One of the glories of Walthamstow living is rapid access to central London via the Victoria Line. Walthamstow Central is just a 12-minute stroll, or an even quicker bus ride, from the Pocket Living development. The tube will take you to the shops and restaurants of Islington’s Upper Street in just 11 minutes and to the heart of the West End in only 18. Forest Road E17 is also well served by local bus routes, with three bus stops less than five minutes away. No tube or bus journey is required to visit an expanse of greenery, of course, as Lloyd Park is just across the road.
Our development
We’ve built 90 energy-efficient homes for first time buyers to be sold at a 20% discount to the market price. Each one-bedroom apartment is designed to make the best use of space, and communal gardens encourage a sense of community. You can meet for a coffee or drinks on the landscaped rooftop gardens, where shared allotment beds are on hand. The courtyard garden at ground level offers another opportunity to get together.
Whether you’re drawn to the quiet charm of Woodside Park, or the urban energy of East Croydon, Pocket has a place for you. Our developments are located in some of London’s best neighbourhoods. They offer energy-efficient homes with a 20% discount to the market price, designed for first-time buyers.
Spring has sprung, Londoners! It’s that time of the year to bid adieu to winter and embrace the blue skies that have appeared. In this blog, we’ve curated a selection of the best spring events in London that you won’t want to miss. There’s a little something for everyone, so gear up to mark those calendars!
Foodies Festival (25-27 May)
The Foodies Festival began in Edinburgh in 2006 and has since hosted 14 festivals nationwide. Each event celebrates local food and drink, featuring artisan producers, street food traders, and regional food and drink producers. You can expect 200+ food stalls, tastings, workshops, live music, and a DJ setting the vibe. As far as spring events in London go, this one has to be the tastiest!
Sunday Jazz and Soul Lunch at Boisdale (every Sunday)
Indulge in a Sunday Roast experience at Boisdale, where a scrumptious 3-course lunch is accompanied by a live jazz show. Gather your friends and family and enjoy the perfect combo of good food and live entertainment.
Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace (23 Mar-14 Apr)
Another must-attend spring event in London this year is the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace this Easter. You’ll have to find bunny statues among the flowers and match names to red ribbons to win a chocolate treat. The perfect Easter adventure for your family.
London Home Show (13 Apr)
The London Home Show, where the housing market meets urban living. This spring event in London gathers property experts, developers, and housing organisations, offering insights into affordable homes and first time buyer opportunities. This year, Pocket Living are attending, speaking to first time buyers about how they can land a 20% discounted home, don’t miss out!
London Coffee Festival (11-14 Apr)
The ultimate coffee celebration at The London Coffee Festival is back. It showcases London’s leading specialty coffee culture and hospitality scene. Boasting 250+ artisan coffee and gourmet food brands, interactive workshops, barista demonstrations, and unique features like Latte Art Live, this is every coffee fanatics dream.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show (21-25 May)
One of the most famous spring events in London, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is back! Globally acclaimed garden designers, plant specialists, and florists will gather in one of London’s charming neighbourhoods to showcase the latest and greatest in garden designs and floral displays.
London Marathon (21 Apr)
Join the iconic London Marathon, a celebrated event since 1981, weaving through the city’s landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge. Whether you’re running or cheering from the sidelines, the atmosphere is unbeatable.
We hope this roundup has sparked your excitement and filled your calendar with spring events in London. From sipping coffee at the London Coffee Festival to experiencing the vibrant colours at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, to finding yourself a 20% discounted home, this season is going to be a good one.
Finding a good local café is important, and we think the best ones combine location, atmosphere, and, of course, great coffee. To help with your search, we’ve compiled a list of the best up and coming cafés in Croydon, all a stone’s throw away from our Addiscombe Grove CR0 development. Some are colourful, some are cosy, but all of them live and breathe the spirit of Croydon, which is why we love them.
