Wimbledon vs Richmond

Wimbledon and Richmond are the two big leafy towns of south-west London, and on paper they are almost twins: the same typical one-bed rent, top marks for green space, high safety scores and a fast mainline run into Waterloo. People shortlist both because they want London without feeling hemmed in by it, and the choice usually comes down to which kind of greenery and which kind of town centre they prefer.

Wimbledon's open space is the Common, a huge sweep of heath and woodland that joins Putney Heath, and its town is split in two. Down the hill is a busy centre of shops and chain restaurants around the station; up the hill is Wimbledon Village, with boutiques, pubs and horse riders on the Common. Richmond's green space is Richmond Park, with its deer and its view from the hill, plus the Thames towpath, Richmond Green and Kew Gardens next door. Its town centre is older and prettier, and the riverside fills up on sunny weekends.

Transport is closer than it looks. Wimbledon's station combines fast mainline trains, the District line, Thameslink and the tram to Croydon, which gives it more ways out in more directions. Richmond has the District line, the Overground across north London and its own fast trains to Waterloo. Richmond sits under Heathrow's approach paths on some days; Wimbledon gets the tennis crowds for a fortnight each summer.

Richmond tends to win for people who want the river, a historic town and the biggest park in London at the end of the road. Wimbledon tends to win for people who want slightly more practical transport, a bigger shopping centre and the Common's wilder feel, with the village on hand for evenings out.