Postcode district · London

SW1A area guide

Who lives in SW1A, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Council: Westminster
Region: London
Population: 7,988 (2024)

SW1APostcode district · London

At a glance

What SW1A is like

The SW1A postcode district in Westminster covers 144 live postcodes and is home to about 7,988 people across 4 census neighbourhoods. 28.6% of households own their home, 54% rent privately and 15.8% are in social housing. The biggest age group is 25–29, and 63.9% of adults are in work. On deprivation it sits close to the middle of the range for England. Higher-harm crime is in the top bands nationally. Homes in SW1A sold for a median of £2,850,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How SW1A compares

Each figure is set against England as a whole. Follow a score for the detail behind it.

AffluenceMore

7.8/ 10

Around the middle — decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of England, 10 the least.

CrimeMore

8/ 10

Higher than most — 46.3 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£2,850,000

Median over 1 sale in SW1A.

TransportMore

10.0/ 10

Excellent — 42 stations within a mile, 68 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

of 2 rated schools in SW1A are good or better.

Household incomeMore

£83,627

Average a year, before tax — higher than 95% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Only flagged where this area is materially different from the national picture.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
54% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
A student area
15.5% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
03
Higher crime than mostLook closer
46.3 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
04
A young populationPositive
39.5% of residents are 20 to 34 — the age group that rents most — against 19.6% across England.
05
Well connectedPositive
42 stations within a mile and 68 bus stops within a ten-minute walk.

Questions

SW1A FAQs

Is SW1A a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 it averages decile 7.8 of 10, where 10 is the least deprived tenth of England. Higher-harm crime runs at 46.3 per 1,000 people a year, band 8 of 10 nationally. 100% of the inspected schools nearby are rated good or better. Transport connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10 (excellent).

How much does a house cost in SW1A?

The median sale price over the last year was £2,850,000.

Homes in SW1A sold for a median of £2,850,000 across 1 sale in the year to August 2026. Prices come from HM Land Registry's record of every residential sale.

Is SW1A safe?

How crime here compares with the rest of the country.

Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 46.3 offences per 1,000 people a year around SW1A, well above the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 8 of 10.

Who lives in SW1A?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The biggest age group is 25–29, at 16.1% of residents. 28.6% of households own their home. The most common home is purpose-built flat (82.3%).

Which council covers SW1A?

SW1A is in Westminster.

SW1A is in Westminster, in London. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is SW1A?

Connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10.

There are 68 bus stops within 800m and 42 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 10.0 out of 10 (excellent). The nearest station is Charing Cross, 0.3 miles away.

Sources: Census 2021 (ONS); ONS mid-year population estimates; police recorded crime; the English, Welsh and Scottish indices of deprivation; ONS small area income estimates; ONS private rents; DfE, Welsh and Scottish school registers and Ofsted; DfT NaPTAN; ORR estimates of station usage; HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.

Explore