The Vale Living

The Vale Living Elegant, contemporary, high-spec apartments to rent for retirement living at the Vale. Expertly designed for maximum comfort and easy entertaining.

Secure, gated development. Lounges, bar, restaurant and cinema room. Bespoke support services available.

Autumn Sunshine at The RookeryJust a 10-minute drive from The Vale Living, residents can enjoy the seasonal beauty of Th...
12/09/2025

Autumn Sunshine at The Rookery

Just a 10-minute drive from The Vale Living, residents can enjoy the seasonal beauty of The Rookery in Streatham, a much-loved local landmark with historic roots.

The sunken Victorian garden is a highlight of the visit, with its formal layout and colourful planting. Visitors often pause at the impressive cedar tree before following the lavender-lined steps into the Rookery Gardens. The grounds offer plenty of seating areas, with quiet corners to stop and take in the changing colours of autumn. Among the features is the White Garden, maintained—along with the rest of the site—by a dedicated group of staff and local volunteers along with the friends of Streatham Common.

The Rookery remains an important part of the community, with its gardens providing a calm retreat just moments from the city. For those looking to round off their visit, the Rookery Café is a popular spot to enjoy a coffee and a chat.

With its mix of history, nature and community spirit, The Rookery offers a perfect autumn outing for residents of The Vale.
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A group of talented residents from The Vale have created a vibrant piece of community art that will be part of this year...
07/09/2025

A group of talented residents from The Vale have created a vibrant piece of community art that will be part of this year’s Streatham Festival Art Trail.

The artwork, made up of a series of hand-painted canvases, spells out “STREATHAM” along with much-loved local landmarks or symbols of the area. The colourful collection includes the iconic Streatham skating rink, the historic Tate library, a classic red London bus, and the railway station, alongside a water lily at The Rookery.

Every tile reflects the creativity and pride of the community, with bold colours and imaginative designs capturing the essence of Streatham. The project was a collaboration between The Vale’s artists, bringing people together through a shared love of art and their neighbourhood.

Festival organisers praised the piece as a joyful celebration of Streatham. Visitors to the festival will be able to view the work on display, and the residents hope it inspires more people to get involved in local creative projects.

We are delighted to report that The Vale Living is a finalist in the 2025  # Seniors Housing Awards.These prestigious aw...
26/08/2025

We are delighted to report that The Vale Living is a finalist in the 2025 # Seniors Housing Awards.
These prestigious awards recognise the very best in retirement living and we are proud to be shortlisted alongside four other outstanding finalists. The winners will be decided at an evening of celebration at Grosvenor House, Park Lane on 23 September.
The Vale’s submission featured so many positive comments from our residents about what they love about living here and really, who better to tell our story? We are excited to find out what happens on the night but, win or not, we are proud of the team effort that got us here – a reflection of the hard work and dedication from everyone involved.

Summer Dining at The Vale – Fresh Flavours, Perfect CompanyOur in-house chef has created a seasonal menu brimming with f...
14/08/2025

Summer Dining at The Vale – Fresh Flavours, Perfect Company
Our in-house chef has created a seasonal menu brimming with fresh flavours and comforting classics – perfect for long, lazy days and sociable afternoons.

Whether you’re in the mood for a light bite, such as Soup of the Day, vegetable spring rolls, or a crisp chicken salad, or you’d prefer a hearty favourite like bangers & mash, cottage pie, or pan-fried salmon with crushed potatoes, there’s something to suit every appetite.

The Vale’s dining is open to residents and their guests – so why not join us this week and savour the tastes of the season?

Streatham – From Small Village to Bustling CentreThe Vale residents were treated to a fascinating talk on their surround...
30/07/2025

Streatham – From Small Village to Bustling Centre

The Vale residents were treated to a fascinating talk on their surroundings by Emma from The Streatham Society. Emma, who is a trained guide for Lambeth Walks and also takes people on tours of the London Transport Museum, has a wealth of information on the history, fame and even, infamy of the area

She began by informing her audience about Streatham’s rise from a small village to a bustling part of London over a relatively short period of time. Upper Norwood was built for the ‘upper classes’ and lower Norwood, today known as West Norwood, for the ‘working classes’.

Given Emma’s particular interest in transport, she was able to introduce us to Thomas Tredwell, a railway pioneer and contractor, who lived at Knights Hill in Norwood. Another resident, mentioned briefly but known of by all, judging by the laughter when her name was mentioned, was Cynthia Paine. She certainly put Streatham on the map, although not necessarily for the right reasons, and was the focus of a couple of highly rated films.

The talk passed so quickly and the subject matter was so interesting that The Valees are looking forward to the next lecture. Streatham has such a rich history and scintillating set of celebrities and characters, the planned follow-up can’t come soon enough. What the audience didn’t have to wait for, however, was the delicious two-course lunch that followed the talk and included complimentary strawberries and meringues.

The Streatham Society is a community amenity that exists to raise awareness and appreciation of the local area for those who live or work in Streatham. Membership is some 300-strong and affords access to a regular newsletter, talks, events and an insight into the area’s rich and fascinating heritage. Further information is available at: https://www.streathamsociety.org.uk


Streatham Sunsets- following on from last month’s class where The Vale’s art group learned to paint using palette knives...
23/07/2025

Streatham Sunsets- following on from last month’s class where The Vale’s art group learned to paint using palette knives to create a more textured effect, July’s session afforded a chance to enhance their skills. Instead of waterlilies, which was our previous focus, sunset was the theme this time.
Participants could choose from round or rectangular boards on which to layer their paint. One of our residents, Andrea, brought along her sister, who said she had never painted so freely before.
The group all worked well together, as they usually do, and the results were pretty spectacular. They can all be proud of themselves and have something lovely to look at when the sun goes down.


Anyone for Tennis? Game, Set … Dinner!The Vale Retirement Living residents were truly on the ball this weekend as we ser...
14/07/2025

Anyone for Tennis? Game, Set … Dinner!
The Vale Retirement Living residents were truly on the ball this weekend as we served up a Wimbledon-themed evening that was nothing short of a grand slam!
Centre Court may have its stars, but we had our very own tennis legend gracing the lounge – fully kitted out in tennis whites, racket in hand and clearly ready to volley any canapé that came his way.
We were treated to a truly ace experience with a special Wimbledon-themed dinner, bringing the elegance and summer charm of Centre Court straight to our Bar & Bistro. In honour of the world’s most iconic tennis championship, our inhouse Chef served up a menu that was both fresh and full of flavour - a perfect match for the season.

Starters served with flair included Salmon & Dill Rolls or Grilled Goat Cheese Salad. Main course options that served up a win from Grilled Prawns with Garlic Herb Butter or Chicken Stroganoff with Creamy Mashed Potatoes. For the grand finale – dessert … what else but classic Strawberries & Cream, a Wimbledon must. It was an evening of delightful flavours, great company and nods to tradition - capturing the essence of summer and sport. A big thank you to our Chef and Team for making it a smashing success!

Stay tuned for more themed evenings coming soon to The Vale Living, Streatham.

The Vale’s patio garden is proving to be a real hit in this warm weather. It is a place to relax, connect with nature an...
08/07/2025

The Vale’s patio garden is proving to be a real hit in this warm weather. It is a place to relax, connect with nature and be with friends.

First thing in the morning, the bird spotters are out watching the various species that visit the feeders and water fountain. The sound of the bubbling water and the songs of our avian friends are soothing and simply delightful.

Later, but before the real heat of the day kicks in, residents are out in twos and threes for their daily stroll. Amidst the greenery and flowers, it’s a chance to catch-up with neighbours and clock up some useful steps.

And what better way to round off the morning than with a light lunch from the Bistro, sheltered under a patio umbrella? There can be nothing better than savouring the delights of a plate of tasty food while surrounded by the sounds and scents of summer.

Many of us will have heard of the famous water lilies at Giverny, painted by Monet, but few will be familiar with those ...
02/07/2025

Many of us will have heard of the famous water lilies at Giverny, painted by Monet, but few will be familiar with those at the Rookery, Streatham Common. Not so, for those who attend The Vale art classes, as they have tackled both.

A couple of years ago, our artists studied the work of the famous French impressionist painter. They also produced their own works depicting water lilies using acrylic paints.

At our most recent session, they focused on the water lilies at The Rookery pond, Streatham Common, as their inspiration. There was also a change of technique as they were encouraged to use paint spread with palette knives and blobs of paint to build up the flowers. This effect, known as ‘impasto,’ produces more of a 3-D effect.

Not only did this approach create interesting results but it was also a little easier on the hands, fingers and wrists. As one resident explained to her husband that it was like using a trowel but then admitted that as he was not into DIY, he might have never used one. Another, meanwhile, surprised herself. “I can’t believe such a mess can create something so beautiful,” she said.

The artists were so impressed with their final results that they plan to join them together and frame them.

Keen to pursue this new technique further, the next session at The Vale, at the retirement living in Streatham, will see how they reproduce a sunset.

Whilst the ‘Royals’ and race goers risked heat stroke whilst dressed up to the ‘nines’ at Ascot, our elite, here at The ...
20/06/2025

Whilst the ‘Royals’ and race goers risked heat stroke whilst dressed up to the ‘nines’ at Ascot, our elite, here at The Vale, enjoyed their own stylish event in the cool of the Bar & Bistro.
Formal dress was not obligatory but this did not stop some dusting off their best summer hats. John, meanwhile, who never disappoints, managed to conjure up a jockey outfit.
Everyone enjoyed a lovely, summer lunch and an appropriately themed Ascot quiz. Competitors were quick to identify the trick questions, for example – ‘what are flats and jumps?’ – most knew these were the two racing seasons and not a type of pudding popular at Ascot. And they certainly could identify what goes into a glass of Pimm’s.
It was nice to see one of our residents joined by friends for both lunch and the quiz.
The eventual winners were the ‘cul-de-sacs’ who generously shared their prize of a box of chocolate mints with the rest of the guests.
Unlike The King, whose horse, sadly finished in 9th place out on the race course, everyone left feeling like an Ascot winner.

Dress Like A Druid For Summer CelebrationSome came dressed as Druids, while others donned their party best or were just ...
16/06/2025

Dress Like A Druid For Summer Celebration
Some came dressed as Druids, while others donned their party best or were just ‘smart casually’ attired as residents got together to celebrate the start of summer.
There was a nod to sustainable fashion too with hats made from tin foil and Druid headwear constructed from a box and a bin bag!
The tempting dinner menu, served in the Bistro, more than lived up to the occasion with a choice that included: golden fried prawns with roasted garlic tomato sauce; salmon & monkfish skewers with herb rice; pot roasted beef with pitted apricot and cherry tomato sauce; gnocchi with creamy basil sauce; grilled peaches with ice cream or cheesecake with summer berries.
The conversation – and a few beverages – flowed. The room was full of chatter and laughter. Everyone had a good time and they now look forward to further treats and celebrations as the summer unfolds. And who knows? Come mid-summer day, those Druid costumes might make another appearance.

The Fleming is a stylish, one-bedroom apartment. Relax in the spacious open-plan living area. Cook up a storm in the lux...
11/06/2025

The Fleming is a stylish, one-bedroom apartment. Relax in the spacious open-plan living area. Cook up a storm in the luxury, fully-fitted kitchen. Thoughtfully designed lighting means your workspace is well lit. Savour the fruits of your labours in the adjacent dining zone. At the end of the evening, retire to the comfort of the double bedroom. Hang your clothes in the spacious built-in wardrobes with automatic LED lighting. Soothe away the excitement of the day in the chic sanctuary of the bathroom with its under-floor heating for toasty toes. Or, wake up to an invigorating power shower and a new day at The Vale.

Whatever the time, your security is assured with 24-hour emergency response that is onsite, a CCTV door entry system, fob operated car park gates plus hard-wired smoke and heat detection systems.

Apartment 124 with lovely sunny, south facing windows is now available on the top floor. The building has two lifts.

Address

93 Knollys Road
London
SW162JR

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The Vale Living

The Vale Living. Luxury retirement apartments available to rent in South London.

At The Vale, we've been able to utilise our knowledge and passion that we have gained from building and managing purpose built and bespoke luxury retirement villages and care centres for over 30 years. But our experience in providing high quality accommodation and care for older people goes back much further.

It was in the early 1980s that our chairman, Dr Nick Dhandsa, a trained physician at St Thomas’ Hospital, London founded a company called ANS plc. ANS was an innovator and in the 1990s, offered assisted and independent living in 200 purpose-built units on its care campuses around the UK which are the origins of our sector today.

An apartment at The Vale enables you to live a truly independent life in your very own secure environment and community. Our facilities include a garden bistro bar and restaurant, library, hobby room, wellness suite and on-site hairdresser facilities. If you require additional care in the future, our team is on hand to provide the support you require and to give you security and peace of mind that we are here to help as you need.