William Square is in London and in Southwark district. SE16 5XJ is located in the Surrey Docks electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark. This postcode has been in use since 1999-12-01.
StreetScan combines information about William Square, London, SE16 5XJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: SE16 5EG, SE16 5EE, SE16 5EL, SE16 5XL, SE16 5DZ, SE16 5EB, SE16 5NY, SE16 5FS, SE16 5XH.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding SE16 5XJ is primarily male, with 53.7% of the population being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 47.9% | 46.3% | -1.6% | 51.0% | -4.7% |
| Male | 52.1% | 53.7% | 1.6% | 49.0% | 4.7% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around SE16 5XJ, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 51.4% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 47.8% | 51.4% | 3.6% | 37.9% | 13.5% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 36.7% | 34.2% | -2.5% | 44.2% | -10.0% |
| Married: Same sex | 1.4% | 2.3% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 2.0% |
| Separated | 2.5% | 1.6% | -0.9% | 2.2% | -0.6% |
| Divorced | 9.4% | 7% | -2.4% | 9.1% | -2.1% |
| Widowed | 2.2% | 3.5% | 1.3% | 6.1% | -2.6% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
This area has a high percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (88.5%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either a younger population or more affluent area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 57.8% | 56.3% | -1.5% | 48.4% | 7.9% |
| Good health | 30% | 32.2% | 2.2% | 33.6% | -1.4% |
| Fair health | 8.6% | 7.3% | -1.3% | 12.7% | -5.4% |
| Bad health | 2.9% | 3.8% | 0.9% | 4.0% | -0.2% |
| Very bad health | 0.6% | 0.3% | -0.3% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
In the area around SE16 5XJ this area, 8.9% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%. This area stands out for its high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 69.6%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 7.9% | 8.9% | 1.0% | 18.2% | -9.3% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 5.4% | 2.3% | -3.1% | 9.6% | -7.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 3.2% | 3.9% | 0.7% | 13.4% | -9.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 5.3% | -3.7% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10.1% | 8.6% | -1.5% | 16.9% | -8.3% |
| Degree or Similar | 64.4% | 69.6% | 5.2% | 33.8% | 35.8% |
| Other | 9% | 5.1% | -3.9% | 2.8% | 2.3% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 76% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 1.9% | 0% | -1.9% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 4.8% | 5.6% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 4.9% |
| Indian | 8.3% | 2.1% | -6.2% | 3.1% | -1.0% |
| Other Asian | 3.2% | 2.1% | -1.1% | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Black African | 5.4% | 3.5% | -1.9% | 2.5% | 1.0% |
| Black Caribbean | 1.9% | 2.4% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 1.4% |
| Other Black | 2.2% | 0% | -2.2% | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.6% | 2.1% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.4% | 1.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.6% | 0% | -0.6% | 0.9% | -0.9% |
| Mixed Other | 1% | 1.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| White | 68.7% | 76% | 7.3% | 81.4% | -5.4% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Other | 0.3% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
In this area, just 48.1% of residents were born in the United Kingdom, meaning that the majority of residents originate from outside the UK.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 55.9% | 48.1% | -7.8% | 83.2% | -35.1% |
| European Union | 15% | 22.3% | 7.3% | 6.1% | 16.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 2.9% | 4.9% | 2.0% | 0.8% | 4.1% |
| Africa | 8% | 5.6% | -2.4% | 2.7% | 2.9% |
| Middle East and Asia | 11.8% | 9.1% | -2.7% | 5.6% | 3.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 3.8% | 7.3% | 3.5% | 1.3% | 6.0% |
| Oceania | 2.6% | 2.4% | -0.2% | 0.3% | 2.1% |
| British Overseas | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.3% |
In this area majority of residents originate from outside the UK. Only 48.1% of residents were born in the United Kingdom. 23.4% of residents have lived in the UK for 10 years or more.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 54.3% | 48.3% | -6.0% | 83.2% | -34.9% |
| 10+ Years | 8.3% | 23.4% | 15.1% | 9.8% | 13.6% |
| 5-10 Years | 7% | 14.7% | 7.7% | 2.9% | 11.8% |
| 2-5 Years | 14.7% | 6.3% | -8.4% | 2.2% | 4.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 15.7% | 7.3% | -8.4% | 1.9% | 5.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 60.8% | 76.7% | -15.9% |
| Ireland | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| France | 1.7% | 0.3% | 1.4% |
| Germany | 1.7% | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| Italy | 3.8% | 0.6% | 3.2% |
| Portugal | 2.1% | 0.5% | 1.6% |
| Spain | 2.4% | 0.4% | 2.0% |
| Lithuania | 2.1% | 0.3% | 1.8% |
| Poland | 2.1% | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| Romania | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Other EU countries | 5.9% | 1.5% | 4.4% |
| Other Europe | 2.8% | 0.2% | 2.6% |
| Central and Western Africa | 1% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Eastern Asia | 3.1% | 0.3% | 2.8% |
| Southern Asia | 0.3% | 1.2% | -0.9% |
| South-East Asia | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 1.4% | 0.3% | 1.1% |
| Central and South America | 1.4% | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| Oceania | 1% | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| No passport held | 2.8% | 13.5% | -10.7% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 41.9% | 37.2% | 4.7% |
| Christian | 41.2% | 46.2% | -5.0% |
| Buddhist | 2.1% | 0.5% | 1.6% |
| Muslim | 2.7% | 6.5% | -3.8% |
| Other religion | 1.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Not answered | 10.3% | 6.0% | 4.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around William Square was 406.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 220.3% higher than the Rotherhithe average. The most reported crime type was Shoplifting.
William Square has the highest crime rate of 46 local areas in Rotherhithe and the 76th highest crime rate of 769 local areas in Southwark .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 72.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has risen by about 59.4%.

Households in this area have a much higher level of wealth compared to the average household in England and Wales. 99% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 William Square, London, Greater London Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £425,000 | 2026-02-13 | £425,000 |
| 31 William Square, London, Greater London Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £328,000 | 2025-01-29 | £316,214 |
| 37 William Square, London, Greater London Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £480,000 | 2023-11-14 | £455,273 |
| 13 William Square, London, Greater London Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £315,000 | 2023-04-28 | £316,010 |
| 33 William Square, London, Greater London Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £506,000 | 2022-09-30 | £473,713 |
SE16 5XJ area has a very high level of entrepreneurship. Only 8% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 16% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
SE16 5XJ area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 3% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 137 |
| Self-Employed | 40 |
| Retired | 25 |
| Part-Time Employee | 15 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 13 |
| Other | 7 |
| Looking after home or family | 7 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 4 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 0 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 47 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 35 |
| Information and communication | 24 |
| Human health and social work activities | 18 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 15 |
| Education | 14 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 14 |
| Other | 10 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 7 |
| Transport and storage | 5 |
| Construction | 4 |
| Real estate activities | 4 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Church Nursery School Walter Terrace , Stepney E1 0RJ | - not rated | 1,224 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Harry Roberts Nursery School Harford Street , Stepney E1 4PZ | - not rated | 1,727 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Elizabeth Landsbury Nursery School Cordelia Street , Poplar E14 6DZ | - not rated | 1,739 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Alice Model Nursery School 14 Beaumont Grove , Stepney E1 4NQ | 4out of 4 | 1,862 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Rachel Keeling Nursery School Bullards Place , Morpeth Street E2 0PS | - not rated | 2,626 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Hills with St Mary's and St Paul's CofE Primary School 2 Beatson Walk , Rotherhithe SE16 5ED | 3out of 4 | 391 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Redriff Primary, City of London Academy Salter Road , Rotherhithe SE16 5LQ | 4out of 4 | 602 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Redriff Primary School Salter Road , Rotherhithe SE16 5LQ | - not rated | 602 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cyril Jackson Primary School 51 Three Colt Street , Limehouse E14 8HH | - not rated | 716 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cyril Jackson Primary School Limehouse Causeway , E14 8AQ | - not rated | 716 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon's College Timber Pond Road , SE16 6AT | 3out of 4 | 654 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bacon's College Timber Pond Road , Rotherhithe SE16 6AT | - not rated | 654 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bishop Challoner Boys' School 352 Commercial Road , E1 0LB | - not rated | 1,204 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Stepney All Saints Church of England Secondary School Stepney Way , Stepney E1 0RH | 4out of 4 | 1,254 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bishop Challoner Catholic School 352 Commercial Road , E1 0LB | 3out of 4 | 1,303 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New City College Poplar High Street , Poplar E14 0AF | - not rated | 1,582 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Southwark College Bermondsey Centre , Keetons Road SE16 4EE | - not rated | 2,256 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| East London Arts & Music Maltings Close , Bromley By Bow E3 3TA | - not rated | 3,040 yd | Free schools 16 to 19 | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Workers' Educational Association 4 Luke Street , EC2A 4XW | - not rated | 3,904 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hackney Community College Shoreditch Campus , Falkirk Street N1 6HQ | - not rated | 4,290 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Paul's Way Trust School 125 St Paul's Way , E3 4FT | 3out of 4 | 1,726 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Paul's Way Trust School 125 St Paul's Way , E3 4FT | - not rated | 1,726 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bobby Moore Academy 1 Siding Street , Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park E20 2AE | 3out of 4 | 3,988 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ark Globe Academy Harper Road , SE1 6AG | 3out of 4 | 4,256 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| School 21 Pitchford Street , E15 4RZ | - not rated | 4,948 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon's College Timber Pond Road , Rotherhithe SE16 6AT | - not rated | 654 yd | City technology college | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Stephen Hawking School Brunton Place , E14 7LL | 4out of 4 | 771 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Pier Head Preparatory Montessori School 3-4 Shadwell Pier Head , Glamis Road E1W 3TD | - not rated | 924 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Al-Azhar Primary School Unit 1 , Quebec Wharf E14 7AF | - not rated | 1,246 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bermondsey School Albion Street , Rotherhithe CIVIC Centre SE16 7BS | - not rated | 1,448 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksmiths arms | 257 | 379 yd | |
| Area 51 Limehouse | Unit 3, Adriatic Building, 51 Narrow Street | 432 yd | |
| La Figa Restaurant | Ionian Building, 45 Narrow Street | 451 yd | |
| Yun hai restaurant | Shop Unit 3 To 4 Gwent Court | 457 yd | |
| Marios Cafe | Unit 3a, 139 Three Colt Street | 632 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Grapes PH | The Grapes PH, 76 Narrow Street | 397 yd | |
| Bread Street Kitchen - Limehouse | The Narrow, 44 Narrow Street | 460 yd | |
| The Craft Beer Co Limehouse | 576-578 Commercial Road | 735 yd | |
| White Swan | White Swan, 556 Commercial Road | 735 yd | |
| The Crown | The Crown Public House, 667 Commercial Road | 735 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banzai kitchen | 51 | 265 yd | |
| Sailors Health Club Restaurant | 570-574 Commercial Road | 735 yd | |
| Basilico | Front, 653 Commercial Road | 735 yd | |
| Pasha Peri Peri,Gourmet Burgers & Pizza& Hanys Chicken & Pizza, Choix | 637 Commercial Road | 768 yd | |
| Bubblewrap | 10-12 Ratcliffe Cross Street | 829 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mogul | Shop Unit 2 Gwent Court | 460 yd | |
| Tesco | 657 Commercial Road | 735 yd | |
| Sainsbury's | 516-518 Commercial Road | 833 yd | |
| Lidl | 306 Burdett Road | 987 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| St. Pauls Recreation Ground ROTHERHITHE STREET | artificial grass pitch | 211 yd |
| Peter Hills C Of E Primary School Beatson Walk | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 363 yd |
| Doubletree By Hilton (London - Docklands Riverside) 265A 265A ROTHERHITHE STREET | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 396 yd |
| Fisher Athletic Fc (Closed) Salter Road | grass pitches | 496 yd |
| Ropemakers Field NARROW STREET | tennis courts | 544 yd |
| Redriff Primary Academy SALTER ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 602 yd |
| Bacons College Sports Centre Liddell Liddell Timber Pond Road | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, tennis courts | 649 yd |
| Virgin Active (Canary Riverside) WESTFERRY CIRCUS | health and fitness suite, swimming pool, tennis courts | 657 yd |
| Limehouse Marina Elite (Closed) Commercial Road | health and fitness suite | 677 yd |
| Pure Gym (London Limehouse) Commercial Road | health and fitness suite | 689 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 150 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 319 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 900 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 900 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 150 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 308.1 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 900 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.