The highest proportion of company directors in the UK
Having been through many transformations in its history, today Fulham is a green London area within very close reach of many famous and extravagant places, such as Chelsea and Kensington. In 2007, it was included in Savills’ list of “prime” London areas.
Fulham remained a working-class area for the first half of the twentieth century but was subject to extensive restoration between the Second World War and the 1980s. Located a mere 3.7 miles south-west of Charing Cross, today Fulham is one of the most desirable and expensive parts of London and, therefore, the UK.
Property prices in Fulham are above the average for London (Hammersmith and Fulham is the fourth most expensive London borough). Overall sold prices in Fulham over the last year were 19% up on the previous year; the market here is very buoyant.
Hammersmith & Fulham borough had a population of 182,493 at the 2011 census, an increase of 10% from 165,242 in 2001. The working age population increased by 13 per cent, while the elderly population decreased by 5 per cent. This shows the borough is becoming more popular with younger professionals and families. Two top-flight football clubs, Fulham and Chelsea, are situated in Fulham contributing greatly to its economy. The former Lillie Bridge Grounds hosted the second ever FA Cup Final in 1873. The first ever amateur boxing matches were also held in Fulham.
In an agreement between Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Westfield London, over £20 million will be spent on improving the local area. The investment is part of the agreement of the Council granting planning permission for a £1 billion expansion of the existing Westfield, Shepherds Bush centre and will include at least 162 new homes with scope for this to increase to 250 homes.
That means Fulham property investment is right for you if you're looking for a very affluent and productive London area.
Economy & Employment
Fulham is home to multi-national, multi-million-pound companies
Statistically, residents in Fulham are highly qualified, they represent the highest proportion of company directors in the UK. Others are employed in professional and white collar occupations in the service, IT and financial sectors.
Fulham is also home to the Headquarters of the Virgin group which had a £15-billion turnover in 2012.
The area is one of west London’s key commercial and employment centres. It is a major transport hub for west London, with three London Underground stations, a London Overground station and a bus station at Hammersmith Broadway.
Most of the office space is located on Hammersmith Road. A few of the multinational companies that create employment and support the borough’s economy, who reside in these offices are, L’Oreal, AOL UK, Accor UK, Disney, Pokémon, US Airways and Royal Jordanian Airlines.
Alongside these, there are two major hospitals in the area providing employment; the Hammersmith Hospital and the Charing Cross Hospital, which has an A&E department and a teaching department that is run by the Imperial School of Medicine.
Investment
Multi-million-pound regeneration and investment projects are underway
Fulham’s regeneration will have a positive effect on the surrounding area, increasing the economic health, bringing substantial local employment and provide new facilities for the area.
The aim is to respect the area’s character and provide well-designed, safe, well-connected, well managed and distinctive places, in a quality new neighbourhood, with high-quality design throughout, blending the local character with innovative approaches to mixed-use urban design.
Fulham Town Centre will increase in importance in the locality, partly as a result of the increased local population in the regeneration area. There will be a vibrant mix of uses and a greatly enhanced environment.
Some 950 acres of industrial land is being developed at Old Oak Common and Park Royal in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. 24,000 homes will be built in the area and by 2026, HS2 and Crossrail stations are set to be built there. The entire project could create up to £6.2 billion for the London economy, with figures showing that Old Oak Common could supply up to 2.5 percent of the Greater London housing requirement up to 2031.
South Fulham Riverside Regeneration Area is located in the south of the borough and covers 40 hectares, with south facing river frontage of 1,700 metres. The regeneration of the area will provide new homes, jobs and reconnect the local community with the river.
Transport
Air: Fulham is situated 13 miles west of London City Airport and 13 miles east of London Heathrow Airport.
Rail: Fulham nestles in a loop of the Thames across the river from Barnes and Putney. It is on the Wimbledon branch of the District line of the tube. Fulham’s tube stations are Putney Bridge, East Putney, Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway.
The London Overground West London Line stops at Imperial Wharf in Fulham, Sands End.
Bus: As you would expect west London is amply served by day and night bus services, throughout the borough.
Education
Schools: Fulham is home to several schools, including independent pre-preparatory and preparatory schools.
Fulham is the home of Lady Margaret School (LMS) on Parsons Green, a school that welcomes girls of all academic abilities aged 11–17 years. It has been at the forefront of girls’ education for over 95 years.
The prestigious independent girls’ school, St Paul’s Girls’ School is in Brook Green (often ranked in first place in the country in league tables, with nearly 50% of each year group gaining entry to Oxbridge)
Further Education: Three institutions offer the boroughs FE study’s; The Chelsea Independent College, The Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College and the William Morris sixth form centre.
Higher Education: University of West London (UWL) is located in what is widely regarded as being one of the most desirable places in London to live. There is a free bus available to all students which connect the two sites, Ealing and Brentford, just 10 minutes apart. Both towns combine a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere with spacious parks and relaxed café culture. The area is safe, beautiful, multi-cultural and close to both London Heathrow Airport and the very centre of the city of London.
Shops & Leisure
Shopping & Dining: Fulham Broadway is located in the heart of Fulham. Incorporating Fulham Broadway Underground station on the District Line, it attracts 12 million visitors a year. With an excellent selection of shops and restaurants as well as a 9 screen cinema and a luxury health club, Fulham Broadway has everything you need to shop, eat and play. Fulham is also home to a great weekend market on North End Road, selling loads of great fresh produce.
The area like other comparable areas of London is home to a number of pubs and gastro-pub. The White Horse in Parsons Green is colloquially known by many as the “Sloaney Pony”, a reference to the “Sloane Rangers” who frequent it. Other popular pubs include the Durrell in Fulham Road, the Mitre on Bishops Road and the Duke on the Green at Parsons Green.
Leisure & Sport: There is a cinema complex as part of the Fulham Broadway Centre and Fulham Town Hall is now used as a popular venue for concerts and dances, especially its Grand Hall. Fulham is home to two major football stadiums. Craven Cottage is home to Fulham FC and Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge on the border with adjoining Chelsea.
Green Spaces: Fulham has several parks and open spaces of which Bishop’s Park, Fulham Palace Gardens, Hurlingham Park, South Park, Eel Brook Common and Parsons Green are the largest.
