Postcode · London

SW1Y 5AQ area guide

Who lives in SW1Y 5AQ, what homes sell for, and how it compares on crime, schools and transport.

Neighbourhood: Strand, St James & Mayfair
Council: Westminster
Region: London
Neighbourhood population: 1,577 (2024)

SW1Y 5AQLondon

At a glance

What SW1Y 5AQ is like

SW1Y 5AQ is a postcode in the Strand, St James & Mayfair area of Westminster. Because census and crime data isn’t published for single postcodes, the figures here cover the surrounding neighbourhood of about 1,577 people. 33% of households own their home, 63.6% rent privately and 2.9% are in social housing. The largest age group is 20–24, and 60.8% of adults are in work. It ranks among the more affluent parts of England. Higher-harm crime is more than double the England and Wales average. Homes in SW1Y sold for a median of £900,000 over the year to August 2026.

Scores

How SW1Y 5AQ compares

Headline figures for SW1Y 5AQ, set against England as a whole.

AffluenceMore

8.0/ 10

Less deprived than most. Scored from 1 (most deprived in England) to 10 (least deprived).

CrimeMore

9/ 10

Higher than most: 65.8 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year vs 31.1 nationally.

House pricesMore

£900,000

Median over 7 sales in SW1Y.

TransportMore

10.0/ 10

Excellent: 44 stations within a mile, 73 bus stops within 800m.

SchoolsMore

100%

Rated good or better across 12 inspected schools within 1 mile.

Household incomeMore

£81,840

Average annual income before tax, higher than 94% of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

What stands out

Worth knowing before you invest

Where SW1Y 5AQ differs most from the national average.

01
A big private rental marketPositive
63.6% of households rent privately, against 20.5% across England. Tenant demand is established here.
02
A student area
19% of adults are full-time students, against 7.9% across England. Expect HMO demand and term-time turnover.
03
Higher crime than mostLook closer
65.8 higher-harm crimes per 1,000 people a year, against 31.1 across England and Wales.
04
A young populationPositive
40% of residents are aged 20 to 34 (the peak renting age), against 19.6% across England.
05
Among the more affluent placesPositive
Scores 8.0 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, making it less deprived than most of England.

Questions

SW1Y 5AQ FAQs

Is SW1Y 5AQ a good place to live?

Deprivation, crime, schools and transport at a glance.

It scores 8.0 out of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 10 is the least deprived in England. Higher-harm crime runs at 65.8 per 1,000 people a year, band 9 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 SW1Y 5AQ?

The median sale price over the last year was £900,000.

Homes in SW1Y sold for a median of £900,000 across 7 sales in the year to August 2026. Prices come from HM Land Registry’s record of every residential sale.

Is SW1Y 5AQ safe?

How recorded crime here compares with the national average.

Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 65.8 offences per 1,000 people a year around SW1Y 5AQ, more than double the 31.1 average across England and Wales, band 9 of 10.

Who lives in SW1Y 5AQ?

Age, home ownership and housing from the census.

The largest age group is 20–24, at 17.6% of residents. 33% of households own their home. The most common property type is purpose-built flat (65.5%).

Which council covers SW1Y 5AQ?

The local authority for SW1Y 5AQ is Westminster.

SW1Y 5AQ comes under Westminster in London. Council tax, planning applications and bin collections are handled there.

How well connected is SW1Y 5AQ?

Connectivity scores 10.0 out of 10.

There are 73 bus stops within 800m and 44 stations and tram stops within a mile, scoring 10.0 out of 10 (excellent). The nearest station is Charing Cross, 0.2 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.

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