The Times has named Merton as number four on a list of the UK’s best places to live, with Richmond and Sutton as number one and number eight respectively.
The Times combined nine different data sets, covering a range of different categories for every local authority in the country.
This covered the number of Ofsted ratings, local crime rates, listed properties, and Green Flag parks in each area.
According to data gathered by The Times, 26 per cent of Merton schools are outstanding.
Merton has 15 outstanding schools, with seven of them being primary schools, along with five secondary schools, two special schools, and one independent school.
Among some of the top-rated schools are Wimbledon Park Primary School and St Mark’s Church of England Academy.
Merton is one of south London’s more expensive places to live, with the average house price costing £579,000.
Merton is a leafy borough, with multiple green spaces and parks, including Wimbledon Common and Ravensbury Park.
It also has convenient links to Central London, with several train stations and two London Underground lines.
In the summer months, Merton comes alive with strawberries and cream as the world-renowned Wimbledon Tennis Championships kicks off each year.
Sutton boasts a vibrant dining scene with several popular restaurants and cafes.
The Trafalgar pub has earned the prestigious title of South West London Branch Pub of the Year from CAMRA an impressive six times since 2007 and was most recently named in 2024.
Merton was named one of the best places to live by The Times and one of the best places to retire by The Telegraph.
