Are you thinking of moving to the capital, maybe for the first time, or moving to a different area of London? If you’re searching for nice areas to live in London, we’re a reliable source of insight into the various areas of the city that people seem to like best of all. Whether it’s in north London or the south, east or west London, this article takes a good look at the nice areas in London you might want to consider. What’s the area like? What are the landmarks? Who lives there? And what are the transport links like? Read on to discover the nice parts of London we most recommend.
Best places to live in North London?
Camden
As far as nice areas to live in London go, Camden Town itself is a funky, fun district rich in street food, live music and a quirky, rebellious atmosphere. Camden Lock is your destination for oodles of excellent markets. Kentish Town offers a feast of independent shopping, great eateries and a strong community feel. And Primrose Hill comes with loads of green space and luxury at every turn, with a village atmosphere. This is where you’ll find the Grand Union Canal, Koko, The Underworld, Blues Kitchen and an eclectic range of fringe performance venues. As you can imagine it’s home to an equally eclectic range of people, including plenty of celebs. The transport links are great too, with easy access to Chalk Farm and Camden Town tube stations and lots of buses.
Hampstead
Hampstead is known and loved for being a ‘picturesque village’ within the capital, one of the nice parts of London that’s also an exclusive area to live. You’ll find everything from lovely open green spaces to stylish shops, a vibrant and cosmopolitan community that’s sought after by many. There are no big tourist attractions and no famous landmarks but plenty of lower-key attractions: Hampstead Observatory, the Everyman Cinema, Keats House. This cool area is home to many celebrities, artists, writers and more, a place of cobbled streets and beautiful buildings. And, of course, it’s home to Hampstead Heath, where you can easily forget you’re in a city, never mind a capital city. As you’d expect the transport links are excellent. Head for West Hampstead tube for the Jubilee line, the West End and Canary Wharf, or the new West Hampstead Thameslink station for St Pancras, Farringdon and the City.
Highgate
Nice areas in London include Highgate, one of the capital’s most expensive suburbs. Known as Highgate village, this is home to the London Cemetery at Highgate, where numerous celebrities are buried, a beautiful place to wander. History, culture and numerous top class gastro-pubs are yours here, on the fringe of lovely Hampstead Heath and packed with green spaces including Highgate Woods and Highgate Ponds. This is an unusually wealthy district, home to plenty of celebs with a friendly village feel and a strong community. Highgate Tube station is on the Northern line tube and there are plenty of buses in and out of the area.
Best places to live in South London
Brixton
Brixton is lively, vibrant and international, one of the nicest areas in London when you’re into great food, live music and fun, about as central as it gets. The transport links are excellent, with great commuter links right across the city. A cultural highlight for younger people, it’s a very popular choice with the city’s young professionals. Highlights include the enormous food market, low cost entertainment at every turn, green spaces to enjoy like Brixton Windmill at Ashby’s Mill, and Pop Brixton, a community initiative to provide creative space for local independent businesses.
Greenwich
This is where Greenwich Mean Time was born, the place the hemispheres meet and home to the O2 entertainment venue. Here you’ll find the capital’s only cable car and its oldest Royal Park. It’s close to Lewisham station on the National Rail and Docklands Light Railway line with fast access to London Waterloo, London Cannon Street, London Charing Cross and London Bridge. This means it’s a popular commuter district. Greenwich Park dates back to Roman times. And this is where you’ll find the National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Market.
Clapham
Clapham is a very nice area to live in London, home to 220 acre Clapham Common, making it a popular district with dog owners and those with kids. There are plenty of playing fields to keep you entertained. The busy, bustling high street is a great destination for independent shopping, cafes, bars and restaurants. Students and young professionals love Clapham North because of the lower housing costs and Clapham Junction thanks to its proximity to restaurants, bars and transport links. Families choose Clapham South, quieter with bigger houses. Clapham has superb transport links with frequent trains and buses to all areas of the capital. Clapham Junction is Europe’s busiest railway station and it’s easy to travel onwards to mainline rail stations and the airport at Gatwick.
Best places to live in East London
Shoreditch
Shoreditch, in the East End Borough of Hackney, has been the trendiest of the trendy since the ‘90s. It’s packed with creative folk and because it’s just minutes from the City of London, it’s incredibly well connected. Shoreditch High Street Station Overground takes you to Highbury, Islington and onwards to West Croydon. Canary Wharf and Westminster are within reach via the Jubilee Line and Canada Water. You can walk from Shoreditch to Liverpool Street Station and Old Street station. This is home to Spitalfields Market, Old Spitalfields Market, the pop up Mall BoxPark and loads of excellent cocktail bars.
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is squeezed between Hackney, Bow, Whitechapel and Shoreditch, another arty district where creativity comes first and foremost. Just 3 miles east of central London, there’s an underground station and two train stations, and it’s within easy walking distance of Liverpool Street and the City of London itself. Loads of buses complete the picture. This is home to the V&A Museum of Childhood, and there’s plenty of green space in Weavers Field and Victoria Park. There’s boxing at the famous York Hall Leisure Centre and loads of independent shops, eateries and pubs to experience.
Best places to live in West London
Kensington & Chelsea
As far as nice places to live near London central are concerned, this district is super-central, home to oodles of rich and glamorous people. The biggest proportion of high earners than any other area in the whole of England and Wales lives here. This is where financial sector employees love to live, along with numerous celebs and sportspeople. Shop in Harvey Nicks and Harrods. Enjoy the Notting Hill Carnival. Discover Hyde Park, the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum. Wander in Kensington Gardens. This place is affluent every step of the way, bang in the middle of some of the capital’s best-loved and poshest electoral wards. Being so central, the transport links are exceptional, with 12 tube stations scattered across the district.
Notting Hill
The affluent, trendy community feel and atmosphere of Notting Hill blends with great shops, restaurants, and hangout spots to deliver an unusually exciting capital city lifestyle. The houses are colourful, it has a village feel to it, and there’s Kensington Gardens and Holland Park to enjoy. High end shopping and eating out are the name of the game here. The West End’s nightclubs are an easy commute away, as is Chelsea, and everything you need is on the doorstep. The artistic ‘alternative’ culture shines through. The independent shopping on Portobello Road is top class, complete with an excellent market. This place is very popular with celebrities and the wealthy, as well as creative types and those who want an easy commute to the city centre.
Now you know the nice areas to live in London
Everyone’s take on ‘nice’ is different. Which of the above tickles your fancy the most? Somewhere exclusive and expensive or somewhere funky and fun? The team at Strawberry Star offers some wonderful properties in North and South London, giving you the chance to live in a district of the capital that suits your budget and expectations perfectly. Let’s explore!