You’re thinking about moving to the capital. But what are the best areas to live in London? It’s a huge city. Every district has its own distinct personality, vibe and lifestyle. Some are super-smart, only affordable by the super-rich. Other areas are more down to earth, still within reach of the city centre but not so exclusive. Let’s take a look at your choices. Which will suit your personality, lifestyle, and needs most of all?
If you’re loaded, there’s always a wide choice no matter which city you want to live in. In London the districts of Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Kensington, West Brompton, Chelsea, Belgravia and the City of Westminster are all highly desirable places to live, with a price tag to match. But ‘best’ doesn’t necessarily mean the most expensive. In your world, the best area could mean any number of things.
Maybe your take on ‘best’ means the districts with the most public green spaces for the kids to play, and for you to get fresh air and exercise. We’re lucky in the UK since 40% of London is made up of green spaces. The city’s three thousand or so parks total an impressive thirty five thousand acres of open green spaces for the public to enjoy. If that’s your focus, there’s plenty of choice.
Perhaps you need to be close to the centre of London for work, or want to be as close to the middle of things as you possibly can for the entertainment, the attractions, and the tourist destinations. Sports might be your obsession, either playing or as a spectator, in which case you’d maybe base your decision around sports stadiums, gyms, health clubs and athletic tracks.
Some areas of London offer spectacular shopping. You might want to live in a place where retail therapy is the name of the game. Maybe close to a famous mall like Westfield London at White City near Shepherds Bush, One New Change in the City of London itself, or Coal Drops Yard near Kings Cross rail station. And talking about railways… you might want to choose the best place to live in London for mainline rail connections, or somewhere with fast and easy access to one of the capital’s international airports.
Your version of a perfect London location might be all about peace and quiet, a location where it’s easy to forget you’re in one of the world’s busiest places simply because it’s so lovely and chilled. Or the opposite, basing yourself bang in the middle of the hustle and bustle whether it’s vibrant Brixton, or Camden with its massive market and laid-back rebellious feel.
The cost of places to rent or buy affects people’s decisions. If you’re cash-conscious, on a budget and don’t mind being a little bit farther out, the best-value places to live in London include Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Sutton, Havering and Croydon, all of which have excellent transport links into central London. Plenty of people choose Luton property, a lively town within easy reach of London via a 30 minute train journey.
Will you choose somewhere vibrant or peaceful, expensive or good value, close to the centre of London or far from it? Whatever you want out of the capital, there’s a district that will suit you down to the ground.
