- Sparkford House - on the Somerset Estate. We LOVE it - especially as we moved from 23 years in grimy Islington. This is exponentially better; the upkeep of the etate is pristine; the views are wonderful; the area superb; the transport lnks unbeatable; our neighbours (when you ever see any - all the highrise flats are designed so as not to be directly adjacent, and there are only 4 per floor - and that Riverside Walk.....wow.

Delighted.

Angela

I've lived in Battersea for 13 years and now I can't call anywhere else home. The vibe is great and every one gets on really well.

... I passed on it because I couldn't scrape the deposit together. Today I am looking at the same flat for over £200,000 and seriously thinking of selling my flat in Notting Hill to buy it. I loved it then - I love it now!

It was the best decision of my life. This is not one of those transient places. Everyone here lives in London and calls Battersea home.

I have lived in North and east London, but never felt the atmosphere was as good as this.

We have Latchmere Lesiure Centre, Clapham Cinema (up the road), Battersea Park, Wandsworth and Clapham Commons, shopping and travel from Clapham Junction. Clubs for all ages dotted around the place. Excellent primary schools and nurseries/playgroups. The place is full of so much history which can be researched in Wandsworth Museum and the Lavender Hill Library. Finally, you can travel by bus, train, or car to anywhere in London quite quickly from Battersea. Shame I can't afford to buy here, I have to move out to the sticks somewhere...

...and it has proven to be one of my best decisions to date. Compared to the conversion Victorian flats in the area it was far better value for money. The flat is very solidly built, spacious and has great views over London. The estate itself is quiet and one of the better-maintained estates in Battersea with the management being run by the residents' association. Battersea is a lovely place live in.

There is a great selection of pubs and restaurants and you can really feel an up-beat atmosphere here. And with the park and river nearby, my evening jogs have become something to look forward to. I can cycle to work in central London in 20 minutes or take the train to Victoria which is only one stop away. I first came to Battersea for a friend's party three years ago and I won't be leaving for some time.

I couldn't believe my luck when I found that for less than a 2 bed conversion I could have a whole house with a garage and garden! Tucked off the top end of St. John's Hill in Rochelle Close, I found my dream home 3 years ago and guess what - I'm not selling :)

The area is absolutely booming with great restaurants (new and established) and the "local" vibe is great. The things that made me finally buy here? The park; the people; the 10 minute journey into central London by taxi. Brilliant!

...though ex-local authority property has a stigma attached to it. We persevered with financing the mortgage and moved in. We love living so close to the river and to Battersea Square. The flat is a brilliant 1960's design.

The rooms are larger than the converted Victorian crap that is in the area. I love having a wall of glass! The light and the views of the river, St. Mary's church and Montevetro are stunning. The local people are very nice.

Somerset Estate is really the only estate worth buying and living on. A lot of estates in Wandsworth are really bad. So beware! Do your homework and check out crime statistics and how many teenagers hang out at night!

I have owned a house in Battersea for 15 years, but have only lived in my house permanently for the past three years, having spent several years both overseas and living in northern England.

It has this lovely mixture of professionals in Porsches, who bought into the area over the past ten years, living next to so called ordinary people who have lived in their houses for 50 years, who wonder what all the fuss is about.

It's this mix that counts, and makes it so enterprising, full of characters and cultures and backgrounds. Would not live anywhere else in London. Working in Canada at the moment where everything is pristine and new, and modern. Ohh for a bit of the dirt and grime of London (though not too much).

I still love the place, St John's Hill area is full of excellent restaurants and bars and they are building more all the time. To get to the City is easy and it is amazing how many of my friends who have 'moved out' are more than happy to come up to town to go drinking/eating around there. I wouldn't live anywhere else!