Which Part of London Should I Live In?
This is a question that many 1-bed to 3-bed London apartment buyer has asked themselves…
“WHERE should I live?”…
It depends on numerous factors, such as what you can afford and what kind of lifestyle you are after.
In a previous article, I explained that central London is not the only place in which to live if you need access to the centre of London.
However, there are parts of London, away from prime central London (prime central London meaning areas such as: Mayfair, Marylebone, Belgravia, Knightsbridge and the like…) in which you can get a beautiful balance between London life and that feeling of a classical British village.
Here are some examples of such villages:
1. Hampstead
Hampstead is a gorgeous area to the north of central London, which includes the ever popular Hampstead Heath.
The Heath gives you a genuine feeling of people deep in the countryside with great trails and walks which are perfect for the summer months.
The high street is full of independent restaurants and shops and is a superb place for young families, if they can afford it.
There are reportedly more millionaires in Hampstead that any other part of the UK (I’m sure that residents in the ‘platinum triangle’ of prime central London which includes Mayfair, Belgravia and Knightsbridge would have something to say about that!) and the properties here are expensive!
The area as a whole gives off classic British vibes and really is a leafy area.
There’s no wonder why it is one of the most sought after areas to live in and is especially popular with families moving out from central London.
2. Highgate
Highgate is similar to Hampstead in that it is a lovely, leafy residential retreat which is also situated in North London.
It also borders Hampstead Heath, making it popular with residents!
Highgate Village is a sanctuary of calm and only a short distance via the tube to central London.
Similarly to Hampstead, it has been ever popular with celebrities (although they will remain unnamed) and is another part of London which is popular with families.
It also has some incredibly popular independent shops which are very popular with the locals.
3. Chiswick
Chiswick offers a slightly different feeling to Hampstead and Highgate…
Chiswick is busier and feels more like living in a city, although still retains a village vibe thanks to the High Street, which is packed with restaurants and bars which could last you years, as well as Chiswick House and Gardens, which is home to a stunning Palladian villa.
The Strand On The Green area of Chiswick is particular popular and is a hidden gem in West London.
Some houses in Strand On The Green back onto the River Thames, which gives residents a truly beautiful view!
4. Harrow-on-the-Hill
Harrow-on-the-Hill has been referred to as ‘London’s forgotten village’ in various articles and it is easy to see why.
‘The Hill’ (as it is often called by locals) is the perfect village like escape from city life and is well known for being home to one of the country's finest boarding schools, Harrow School, which has produced four Prime Ministers, including Winston Churchill.
There are are also a number of superbly rated state schools and private schools in the local area, making it popular with families.
The Hill itself offers beautiful period properties, which in terms of price per sq ft are a genuine steal due to the fact that they offer a 16 minute journey directly to Marylebone from Harrow on the Hill overground as well as an 18 minute journey to Marylebone via Sudbury Hill overground. The most popular roads for families include Orley From Road, Mount Park Road, Mount Park Avenue and South Hill Avenue.
“You can get a beautiful balance between London life and that feeling of a classical British village.”
5. Barnes
Locals call Barnes “the village” for obvious reasons.
It is a quick 30 minutes train journey from the hustle and bustle of central London but gives a genuine feeling of living in the countryside.
Barnes reportedly has the largest number of independent shops in the UK and is very popular with families because it has some of the best schools in the country.
There are roughly 100 acres of Wetland Centre in the village and Barnes is situated close to Richmond Park, offering a huge amount of green space for locals.
The Terrace is one of the most popular roads in Barnes and offers vast Georgian properties that are next to the River Thames.
6. Wimbledon
Wimbledon is famous for the tennis tournament the world over.
However, as a resident, Wimbledon offers far more…
It is expensive for those families looking to move out of the centre of London and upsize, but it offers lots of green space, is like living in a village and offers s great commute to the city.
Historically, people who lived in Chelsea moved to Fulham when they were after more space, but are now focussing more on areas such as Wimbledon because of the size of the houses on offer for similar money.
The high street has lovely cafes and coffee shops and the schooling in the local area is nothing short of superb.
Add to this the vast green space of Wimbledon Common and all in all you can see why Wimbledon is very popular!
7. Little Venice
Little Venice is a calm oasis, which is often forgotten about when talking about village life in London.
It is not your typical village atmosphere, however, it certainly gives off a village like vibe and being able to take a walk along the canal (hence the name ‘Little Venice’) is often a much needed escape from the business of city life.
Little Venice offers a range of properties from period flats that have been converted from houses, red-bricked mansion blocks or grand houses near the canal itself.
The area some lovely waterside cafés and it is easy to forget that you are only a short distance from London’s famous ‘West End’…
It is very popular with professionals as for what it offers as a whole, it is generally good value for money in comparison to areas nearby.
8. Notting Hill
Notting Hill is part of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which makes it even more surprising that it has been included on my list.
There is a wide range of private garden squares and crescents, which bordering flats and homes get access to, which make it a highly sought after area of London.
In Notting Hill there are superb boutiques and independent shops and a stroll down the roads that surround Portobello Road give you an immediate sense of calm.
Portobello Market is a huge attraction as are the Electric Cinema and the nearby restaurants.
There are very highly rated schools in the local area, which makes it really popular with families who are looking to give live near to Central London with a ‘villagey’ atmosphere.
9. Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is a genuine gem in London and is not particularly well known about, in relative terms.
The famous “Primrose Hill set”, which was made up of groups of socialites and celebrities (usually of the artistic/ theatrical persuasion) made it a sought after area to live in in the 1990’s.
The views from Primrose Hill itself are some of the best in all of London and some of the most sought after properties (which are regularly photographed) include roads such as Chalcot Square, Chalcot Crescent and Regent’s Park Road.
Transport in the local area includes access to and from Chalk Farm station and Camden Town station and the high street, although relatively small, is beautiful. I would highly recommend having a coffee in one of the independent cafes or having a browse of the independent shops.
With Regent’s Park literally a stones throw away (if that!) it adds to the village feeling of the area as a whole…
10. Richmond
As a start, at the time of writing this, Richmond Upon Thames has been voted as the best place to live in London for the past 5 years!
It is often described as being the perfect blend between moving out of Central London but not so far so that you are in the Home Counties.
Historically speaking, families who have lived in central London often make the move to an area such as Richmond and would then move further out to The Home Counties or even the countryside beyond!
However, lots of families choose to stay in Richmond because they fall in love with the village atmosphere that is offers.
Richmond Green is gorgeous and Richmond Hill, which is home to some of the most expensive homes in the area, is incredibly sought after because large family homes are in rare supply.
There is a nice mixture of brands and independent shops on the High Street and the views of the River Thames from Richmond Hill are stunning.
Have you ever dreamt of living in a 1-bed to 3-bed property in one of these villages in London?