Greenwich vs Blackheath

Greenwich and Blackheath are neighbours separated by Greenwich Park, and both offer extraordinary access to green space. Greenwich is a historic riverside town full of museums and visitors; Blackheath is a smaller, quieter village beside its open heath.

Greenwich scores higher for connectivity and nightlife. Its DLR stations provide direct trains to Canary Wharf and Bank, its rail station reaches London Bridge in around ten minutes, and river boats run from Greenwich Pier. Blackheath relies on Southeastern rail services from its station, which are quick to London Bridge but less frequent, and has no DLR or tube.

Blackheath scores higher for safety, and both score at the top of the site for green space. Blackheath's village, with its independent shops, restaurants and Georgian architecture, is quieter and more polished than Greenwich's tourist-heavy centre, but it is typically slightly more expensive. Blackheath is also split between Lewisham and Greenwich boroughs, so council services and tax can differ depending on which side of the heath a flat sits.

Greenwich is the livelier historic town: museums, the river, the DLR to Canary Wharf and more going on in the evening. Blackheath is the calmer village: Georgian terraces, the heath, a polished high street and quiet nights, with rail-based commuting and slightly higher rents. People who work at Canary Wharf often find Greenwich's DLR the deciding advantage; people who work from home often choose Blackheath.