Top Areas to Live in London

Deciding where to live in London can be challenging.

It has 32 boroughs (not including the City of London).

Each has its own unique advantages, from house prices to green spaces.

Below, we’ve made our top 8 places to live in London.

For each area we’ve chosen to include:

Any other relevant information.
How far from London city centre it is (for consistency, defined here as Oxford Street station)
How much properties are to buy and rent.

Camden

If you’re wondering where to live in North London, Camden is an extremely popular choice that you can’t go wrong with.

It is viewed as one of the most vibrant, exciting and trendy parts of London.

Camden market provides an enormous range of cultures – both in clothing and food. And there are lots of live music venues and bars for you to enjoy.

Central London is 1.9 miles away (a 45 minute walk or 20 minute tube journey).

Property prices

As far as housing is concerned, Camden is deemed to be one of the most expensive.

To buy a property in the area, expect to pay an average of around £828,699. (According to government data.)

The average rental property will set you back £755 per week or 3,020 per month.

Islington

Islington is North of Central London and has an estimated population of about 200,000 people.

It’s said to be one of the happiest places in London!

It is well-connected by public transport to every major part of London. And it’s host to an immense selection of world-class restaurants.

Property prices

The average property price in the area is £653,532. As far as renting is concerned.

Expect to pay around £2,000 per month in rent.

Spitalfields

Spitalfields offers its residents some of the most lively atmosphere. There are many buzzy bars, quirky shops and street markets to enjoy during your downtime.

You will also be well-connected to the rest of the city. There are excellent transport links between Spitalfields and the rest of the city.

The city centre is only 3.8 miles away (a 1hr 20 walk or 30 minute tube journey).

Property prices

The average property price in the area is £653,532. As far as renting is concerned, expect to pay around £2,000 per month.

Walthamstow

Walthamstow is a slightly less well-known part of East London. Despite that, the area still has a lot to offer.

One of the most popular activities for locals is visiting the Walthamstow Wetlands. It’s a nature reserve with 10 reservoirs.

There are many great transport links to the city centre.

Located just 9.6 miles to the North East of London. It will take you around 1 hour on public transport to get to central London during peak time.

Property prices

The average property price in the area is currently sitting at around £522,549. Flats costing around £400,000 while semi-detached homes costing an average of £720,062.

If you were to rent, expect to pay around £2,500 per month.

Greenwich

Greenwich is a sought-after part of south London.

And it’s home to many landmarks including:

Cutty Sark
National Maritime Museum
The O2 arena.

And it has the famous Greenwich park which attracts visitors all year around.

It’s just 7.9 miles away from the London city centre.

Property prices

That said, it is hardly a suitable choice for first-time buyers as the average property price in the area is £481,156.

Renting a property can cost you between £1,500 and £2,500 per month.

Brixton

Home of the famous music venue, the O2 Academy Brixton, there is plenty to do and see in this part of South London.

Brixton Markets offers an eclectic mix of fashion, food, drinks and vintage items.

Brixton is one of the most affordable areas in London. It is just 4 miles south of London’s centre.

Property prices

The average property here costs £567,336.

If you were to rent, expect to pay around £2,000 a month.

Kensington & Chelsea

Kensington & Chelsea is renowned for its stunning architecture. It’s also home to Hyde Park.

It even has some of the most popular green spaces in London. And it’s extremely pet-friendly!

If you enjoy sporting occasions, there are also lots of football clubs here, including:

Chelsea
QPR
Fulham.

Kensington Palace is a tourist hotspot, famed as the home of Princess Diana. And on Kensington High Street, there are plenty of upmarket shops to visit.

Property prices

The average property in this part of London will cost you around £1,220,654.

Renting a property can cost you in the tens of thousands.

Ladbroke Grove

Ladbroke Grove combines quirkiness with high-quality and sophisticated builds.

Situated next to Notting Hill, it has the tube station nearest to Portobello Road Market.

Here, there’s an excellent range of street food, vintage goods, and souvenirs to buy.

There are superb transport facilities in here. A tube station and 9 separate bus routes passing through it.

And it’s only about 3.8 miles (a 20 minute drive or 25-minute tube journey) to the centre of London.

Property prices

Property prices in this part of town cost an average of £1,060,000 million.

Renting a property here will set you back around £5,000 per month.

Westminster

Home to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster is a major tourist hotspot in London.

By living here, you will be well-connected by transport to everywhere else in the city. Westminster is right at the heart of it all.

Whether you want to buy or rent in Westminster, prepare to pay quite a decent amount of money.

Westminster is only 1.5 miles from the city centre.

Property prices

The average property in Westminster sold for £899,697.

Renting will set you back around £5,000 – £7,500 per month.

Mayfair

If you’re not quite sure where to live in Central London, Mayfair is arguably your best option. It is home to some of the most glamorous restaurants, hotels, and shops in the city.

If you decide to move to Mayfair, you will need a significant budget – as it is one of the most expensive spots in the city.

By living here, you will have one of Europe’s most famous parks (Hyde Park) on your doorstep.