Best places to live in London: London's Best Neighborhoods in 2025
Coming up: skeletons, flowers, fancy folks, rugged regions, countless parks, food from around the planet, a vagina museum, more languages than you’ve probably heard of, and the 13 best neighborhoods to live in London.
One of the most moved-to and multicultural cities on the planet, around 41% of London’s residents were born outside the UK—while around 300 languages are spoken in the city. So, it’s clearly an appealing place to live.
Why?
Well… reasons for moving here include:
- A genuinely world-class quality of life, with great healthcare, education and infrastructure
- 6 international airports, which means it’s easy to travel, and visit other parts of the world
- Lots of parks, picnic spaces and outdoor areas—half the city is made up of green space
- A massive calendar of events, festivals and pop-up fun; there’s always something to do
- It’s a very healthy city, with nutritious food, many gyms, and good cycling infrastructure
- A huge international community (as we’ve covered!), so you’ll always feel welcome
- Many types of life—London feels like many little cities all rolled into one big city
- One of the world’s best public-transport networks—you don’t need a car here
- Excellent university life—the city is home to 40 higher education institutions
- Endless art and culture, including 1,500 galleries, and over 200 museums
So, yes… there are many reasons to move to London. And that’s why people from around the world make the big move every day.
But which are the top neighborhoods in London? And even more importantly, which are the top neighborhoods to live in London? Here’s more:
Understanding London's Districts: A Quick Recap
Massive London has a huge population of 9 million people, and is home to 32 different boroughs (in this case, ‘boroughs’ basically means ‘districts’).
Many of these boroughs are further divided into even-smaller neighborhoods—so you have a huge number of options to choose from.
And more than most places, London’s neighborhoods are VASTLY varied—as we already mentioned, England’s capital is like lots of little cities all gathered together into one big city. Some are best for families, some are best for short-term stays and digital nomads, some are very urban, some are very green.
… and knowing where to live can be pretty confusing.
So, in this guide, your relocation-loving pals at Homelike have covered the best of them all. Expect info on these 13 neighborhoods:
- Camden: a kooky canalside market-packed district famous for garish tourist fun
- Shoreditch: brimming with young professionals and shipping containers, and hyper-hip
- Richmond: a fancy, expensive, and super-safe area, famously home to a deer park
- Fitzrovia: a small-town neighborhood nestled between some central well-known areas
- Dalston: partially gentrified, partially rugged, very multicultural, and full of fun
- Battersea: once famous for factories, now a mixture of trendy and family-friendly
- Brixton: a Caribbean hangout with lots of excellent nightlife, and a big musical heritage
- Chelsea: very fancy and upmarket, and one of the city’s most expensive districts
- Kensington: bordering Chelsea, pretty similar, and very archetypally London
- Kentish Town: once neglected, now super-trendy, and very central
- Bloomsbury: campus-heavy, ideal for students, and popular with tourists
- Bethnal Green: another student-heavy option, and home to some curious attractions
- Croydon: a sort-of-outskirt option for people who want to save money
Coming up, much more information on the 13 best neighborhoods in London.
… and because you’ll likely struggle to find a place to live, we’ve also brought you some apartment-hunting life hacks and pro-tips. Let’s go!
1. Camden
Best for: feeling like a tourist in the epicenter of London’s gimmicky fun
Although it doesn’t sit right in the very heart of London (this neighborhood is on the northern edge of what’s considered to be the city’s central area), Camden is probably the most iconic of all of London’s neighborhoods.
Very eclectic and unique, Camden (also known as ‘Camden Town’) is self-consciously tacky, but all the better for it. Here, the market-sellers and cafe owners indulge in the neighborhood’s gimmicky vibe, serving up weird venues, big slices of counterculture, and kooky and quirky stalls in the district’s high-energy market.
Sitting on the banks of Regent’s Canal (which runs right through the heart of the district, and serves up lots of the action), other highlights here include live music, hipster cafes, and the nearby London Zoo.
Must-visit venues inside Camden include:
- Babylon Park: neon and garish, this family-friendly arcade is very Camden in its execution. Wacky and weird, it features rides, bumper cars, and lots of aliens
- Dublin Castle: one of London’s most famous independent live-music venues, this brightly-colored old-school pub is iconic for hosting before-they-were famous big names like Blur, Madness, and Amy Winehouse.
- Roundhouse: once a Victorian railway shed, the Roundhouse is now one of London’s sleekest venues, with world-class lighting, and regular music, circus, DJs, and more.
- Cecil Sharp House: partially a performance venue, partially a community space, this semi-educational venue hosts live classical music, folk music, and dance.
As you’ve probably worked out by now, this is one of the best neighborhoods in London for digital nomads, tourists, and anyone staying short-term. For a few weeks or a couple of months, Camden can be super fun. But any longer, and the gimmicky tourist-heavy atmosphere makes you crave a more normal life.
2. Shoreditch
Best for: hip high earners who like gentrified neighborhoods
One of the city’s most hip, happening, and currently-popular districts, hyper-trendy Shoreditch is brimming with young tech professionals. Highly gentrified, it’s home to pop-up events, endless craft beer, lots of little cafes, and a bunch of repurposed shipping containers. And because there aren’t too many ‘attractions’ here, tourists rarely stumble into this part of the city.
Some of our favorite Shoreditch venues include:
- FAB Thai Street Food, for self-serve options in a laid-back canteen-style setting
- Pizza Pilgrims—one of the city’s best-known pizza places
- Ozone Coffee, for those who like trendy and welcoming work-friendly cafes
- Paper and Cup x SCT, a not-for-profit social enterprise helping the local community, and the people who live here
- BOXPARK, a shipping container funfest with a bunch of stores, bars, cafes, events, and independent hangouts
But, a warning in advance: you might struggle to find a place to live in Shoreditch. One of the city’s most central and popular districts, competition for apartments is VERY high. And because young high earners often move here, they’re happy to outbid other potential tenants to nab the best apartments.
… all of which means lots of waiting in line, lots of negotiating, many unfairly-high prices, and some hefty last-minute disappointments.
To avoid all that, you might want to move into one of our serviced apartments or serviced flats. Our places are ready to move into today, they’re all fully-furnished, they’re comfy and cozy, and all utilities (including internet) are organized for you in advance. And because we advertise all listings with clear prices and photos, you always know exactly what you’re getting. Simple!
3. Richmond
Best for: affluent families, living close to a big park, and making friends with deer
Sitting in west London, far from the very center, Richmond is legendary among locals.
Most well-known for being home to Richmond Park, this big green space fills around half the entire neighborhood. It’s brimming with cycling paths, walking trails, and lots of wild free-roaming deer.
Richmond is also home to some other green spaces, including the iconic Kew Gardens (also known as the ‘Royal Botanic Gardens’). Here, you’ll find massive greenhouses, regular special displays, a giant treetop walkway, and lots of native and non-native plants and flowers.
Richmond also offers big homes, upscale eateries, leafy streets, relaxed bars and cafes, a slightly older population than most parts of London, and some very-peaceful pockets of life.
In short, Richmond is very different to the vast majority of London. Life here is very relaxed and laid-back, and the neighborhood almost feels like a small town of its own.
For young people, it’s a little boring and uninspiring. But for older couples, and people with kids, Richmond is absolutely one of the best neighborhoods in London. As you might have guessed, it’s a pretty pricey place to call home—but it’s totally worth the money.
4. Fitzrovia
Best for: living in the center of the bustle, but inside a quiet neighborhood
Bordered by both Soho and Camden, little Fitzrovia is one of London’s most overlooked and underrated neighborhoods.
But it’s also one of its best. Although it’s central and well-connected, it has a village-like atmosphere, with cute and cozy hangouts, and lots of lovely houses and apartments.
… and because it’s home to many businesses and offices, this is a highly popular choice for young professionals.
In many ways, Fitzrovia is one of London’s most diverse neighborhoods. Some people here live in big pricey 18th-century apartments, while others live in small but welcoming social housing. Some of the district’s dwellers are tourists and digital nomads passing through (as this is a very-central neighborhood), while others are locals who’ve lived here forever.
Though there aren’t a huge number of ‘attractions’ in Fitzrovia, some highlights include:
- Many small and intimate art galleries
- The unique and unusual Cartoon Museum
- The skeleton-clad Grant Museum of Zoology
- The lofty BT Tower, offering what might just be the best-possible views of London
- … and because it’s so central, you’re VERY well-connected to the rest of London here
In short, Fitzrovia is one of the best neighborhoods to live in London for people who like to find peace and quiet in the very center of a city.
5. Dalston
Best for: pockets of gentrification, mixed with people and food from around the planet
Dalston lies just north of Shoreditch… and in many ways, it’s sort of like a grubbier, less-popular version of its nearby neighbor.
Just like Shoreditch, Dalston is trendy with young professionals—it’s close to many of London’s business districts, it has a young gentrified vibe, and there are lots of markets and new-build apartments here.
But compared to Shoreditch, Dalston is more multicultural, a little more rugged, and slightly more residential. You can expect thrift stores, independent hangouts, small hidden-away music venues, lots of pop-up food and drink events, little underground clubs, small Caribbean supermarkets, a bunch of excellent pubs, many low-price international eateries from around the planet, and a gritty-but-friendly vibe.
In many ways, Dalston is sort of like a mini version of the entirety of London, and very few neighborhoods sum up the city’s spirit quite like Dalston does.
Some of our favorite Dalston venues include:
- Korat Thai Cafe, a taste-packed no-frills Thai joint
- Allpress Espresso, home to an on-site roastery, and some of London’s best coffee
- The Jago, an underground-style music venue with unique international performances
- Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, a community project with gardens for local residents
- Rio Cinema, an art-deco venue with a mixture of Hollywood movies, kids’ films, and independent flicks
Overall, for many people and many reasons, Dalston is one of the best neighborhoods in London.
But it’s not all good news: because Dalston is such a popular place to live, finding a home here is TOUGH.
Here, you get a good balance between central(ish), affordable(ish), and very trendy. So: when people move to Dalston, they often spend weeks or months looking for a place to live.
… or, to make their lives easier, others move into one of our short term rentals in London—all of which are ready to move into today. Even better, they’re fully-furnished, comfy and cozy, and all utilities (including internet) are already installed in advance of your arrival. Basically, it’s London’s simplest way to find a homely and reliable place to live.
6. Battersea
Best for: families who want to mix kid-friendly life with lots of fun
Battersea is a compromise of a district in many ways: it has good nightlife, but lots of family-friendly fun. It’s pretty urban, but also pretty green. It’s close to lots of fun for adults, but it also offers many schools. Because it’s rapidly developing, the neighborhood is changing all the time.
… and because of its location (bordering the Thames to the south, slightly west of the city center), it’s a nice balance between central and not-too-central.
So… it’s a good choice for many types of people. And it’s especially good for families who want to prioritize their kids while also being close to plenty of fun and action.
Big Battersea highlights include:
- Battersea Park: one of London’s best green spaces, this park takes up around 20% of the neighborhood. It features a peace pagoda, a boating lake, a kids’ zoo, a top-class Go Ape adventure playground, regular events, and many walkers and runners.
- Battersea Arts Centre: a small arts center with intimate performances and local-interest exhibits and productions, it has a welcoming community vibe.
- Battersea Power Station: once a real power station, and most famous for being on the front cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals album. Battersea Power Station is now a classy and unique attraction home to more than 150 indoor venues (including stores, cafes, and little boutiques).
- Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: one of the UK’s most iconic animal-rescue initiatives, with chances to help, adopt, and meet some animals. And because they have an on-site cafe, it’s a decent half-day out!
Overall, for feeling central without being surrounded by tourists and perpetual bustle, you won’t find many neighborhoods better than Battersea.
And, a nice bonus: because Battersea is central, trendy, and home to many cafes, it’s also one of the best neighborhoods to live in London for digital nomads.
7. Brixton
Best for: live music, Caribbean culture, and a welcoming-but-unpretentious atmosphere
One of London’s most famous south-of-the-river districts, rugged unpretentious Brixton has a big musical heritage, a large Caribbean culture, and a young population.
Friendly and down-to-earth, this is one of London’s most warm and welcoming neighborhoods.
Some of Brixton’s most famous music venues include:
- O2 Academy Brixton: a 5,000-capacity venue offering live gigs from some of the biggest names in rock and indie music.
- Hootananny: a pub, a club, a bar, and a hostel, Hootananny is super eclectic and diverse, serving up any music you can imagine (and some genres you probably haven’t heard of).
- Electric Brixton: a nightclub-style venue with DJs from around the planet, an excellent lighting rig, and one of London’s best sound systems.
… while some of Brixton’s best laid-back no-frills bars include:
- Pop Brixton: a local-led initiative with bright colors, varied food, and a bunch of small bars (all, of course, housed in a cluster of shipping containers)
- Bar Marino: a trendy cocktail bar sitting right beside Brixton station
- Sarava Creperie Bar & Cafe: expect Brazilian tapas, a wide range of crepes, and an atmosphere that shifts from cafe to bar as the day progresses
Other Brixton highlights include Brockwell Lido outdoor swimming pool, the eclectic stalls of big Brixton Market, and good proximity to Peckham (another friendly unpretentious district with street food, affordable canteen-style eats, and unique and unusual late-night hangouts).
Overall, for music-loving young people who like multicultural vibes and multicultural food, this is one of the best neighborhoods in London. Yep, it’s a little gritty and grimy in parts—but for many Brixton residents, that’s part of the appeal.
8. Chelsea
Best for: families and couples who like the high life
One of the priciest parts of the city, Chelsea is a very affluent area, with boutiques, expensive cafes and restaurants, and many high-earning locals. Running right through the heart of the district is the well-known King’s Road, studded with many cocktail bars, high-end eateries, and fancy cafes.
Just west of Westminster and directly over the river from Battersea, Chelsea is more central than most people expect. But because of its quiet lanes and neat streets, it almost feels like a small residential town of its own.
Things to do here include the National Army Museum, the world-renowned contemporary-art-offering Saatchi Gallery, the little Chelsea Physic Garden (founded in 1673!), and some super-scenic views of pretty Battersea. But, typically, people come here for the self-contained high-end residential vibe.
The neighborhood is also well-known for being home to the famous Chelsea Pensioners. These red-clad elderly retirees are British Army veterans, and now live in one of the world’s most prestigious nursing homes. Some of the more mobile pensioners lead tours around London, in one of the city’s most unique and charming experiences.
Overall, one of the best neighborhoods in London if you’re looking for safety, security, and fancy vibes, and don’t mind spending lots of money to get it. But if you’re more interested in having many things to do, or exploring rugged or unpretentious neighborhoods, you won’t like living in Chelsea.
9. Kensington
Best for: living in a big fancy home close to some of the city’s most well-known attractions
Famous as one of the city’s most upmarket districts, sleek and swanky Kensington is super popular among high-earning families.
When you think of London, and imagine the city’s depiction from the movies, this is exactly the type of neighborhood you’re imagining. It features ornate embassies, big Victorian homes, some grand architecture, and many classy antique stores. Directly ordering Chelsea to the north, it’s pretty similar to its nearby neighbor, but a little less pretentious, and a little more touristy.
Largely, the tourists head here to explore the neighborhood’s well-known attractions, which include:
- The Natural History Museum: full of animals, skeletons, and endless interaction, and one of the best natural history museums on the planet
- Kensington Gardens: home to the royal Kensington Palace, featuring many themed well-maintained outdoor areas, and directly attached to the hyper-famous Hyde Park
- Japan House: London’s Japanese cultural center, with exhibitions, events, and ever-changing attractions
- The Victoria and Albert Museum: the biggest decorative arts and design museum on the planet
- Kyoto Garden: designed by a Japanese artist, this languid place of peace offers birds, squirrels, water features, flowers, and themed areas. Super pretty!
Overall, for people seeking a fancy life, Kensington is one of the best neighborhoods to live in London. But if you don’t have a hefty budget, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
10. Kentish Town
Best for: Camden vibes without Camden prices, and some low-priced independent hangouts
Another on-the-up area, Kentish Town is one of London’s most underrated options. Sitting on the northern edge of central London, it’s close to Camden—making it central enough to be fun, but outskirt-y enough to feel ‘real.’
Highlights here include lots of thrift stores, many independent cafes, reasonable prices, and a village-like vibe.
Some of our favorite Kentish Town venues include:
- Rossella: family-managed, these guys serve up generous helpings of authentic Italian food. Super cute and cozy, and exceptionally welcoming
- Troy Cafe Restaurant, for old-school all-day-breakfast eats and treats—and one of the best greasy-spoon-style cafes in all of London
- Rustique Cafe: stripped-back and minimalistic, eating and drinking here feels like eating and drinking in someone’s home
- Parliament Hill Fields Lido, which lies just on the border of the neighborhood
- The Boma Garden Centre: a unique and unusual family-owned garden center, with a homely vibe, a welcoming atmosphere, and some lovely plants and flowers.
- DNA VR: a popular virtual-reality arcade with lots of immersive action.
Overall, Kentish Town is one of the best neighborhoods to live in London for escaping the bulk of the crowds—as you’ve probably noticed, the attractions here aren’t typical touristy stuff. Instead, the whole neighborhood feels a little more homely and wholesome
11. Bloomsbury
Best for: living with students in very-central London
Bloomsbury is home to buildings and campuses from both University College London AND University of London… which (obviously!) makes it one of the best neighborhoods in London for students.
Sitting very centrally, Bloomsbury is a little district located essentially between Westminster and Camden. It’s also surrounded by other well-known neighborhoods, like Marylebone, Soho, and Covent Garden. So, although you’ll find many students here, you’ll also find tourists, lifelong locals, and lots of digital nomads.
Bordering the district to the northwest, you’ll find the massive Regent’s Park, one of London’s best and most famous green spaces. Home to allotments, a rose garden, a Japanese garden, a boating lake, and the world-class London Zoo, it’s also right beside the mega-popular Sherlock Holmes Museum.
Other big Bloomsbury highlights include many quaint cafes, a bunch of cozy bookshops, a residential atmosphere (so you’ll feel like you’re really living in London, even though it’s super-central) and lots of leafy streets.
Tourist attractions here include:
- The British Museum: possibly London’s most famous museum, this place is home to Greek sculptures, Egyptian mummies, Roman statues, and even the iconic Rosetta Stone.
- The Charles Dickens Museum: sitting inside the big guy’s former home (the same place where he wrote Oliver Twist!), this is decorated just like it would have been back when Dickens lived here.
- The Foundling Museum: art and social history in Britain’s first-ever home for orphans. Highlights include clothes, paintings, and home-based relics.
Top tip: for way more student-friendly areas, here’s our complete guide to the best neighborhoods to live in London for students.
12. Bethnal Green
Best for: living with young people, munching on Bangladeshi food, and hipster vibes without too much pretense
Located in London’s east end, often-overlooked Bethnal Green is close to Queen Mary University (one of London’s biggest universities). So, you can expect lots of students here. But you can also expect much more:
Sitting close to both Shoreditch and Dalston, Bethnal Green is a slightly-less-touristy version of both places. So if you want a similar vibe without so many hipsters, it’s a good choice. Here, you’ll find many bars and cafes, lots of young people, a bunch of post-graduates, and relatively-reasonable prices.
A densely-packed and bustling district, you won’t find too many tourists here. But you will find many independent stores, close proximity to the well-known Columbia Road Flower Market, a big Bangladeshi community, and the V&A Museum of Childhood (an interactive nostalgia-fest ideal for families, and kids, and adults who behave like kids).
Although there aren’t many tourist attractions here, Bethnal Green is home to some unusual museums and days out. Highlights include the Vagina Museum, the little Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, and the super-loveable animal-packed Hackney City Farm (which actually lies just outside of the neighborhood, but let’s not get caught up in the details).
Overall, for students, young professionals, and recent graduates, Bethnal Green is one of the best neighborhoods to live in London.
13.Croydon
Best for: people who want to save money, and don’t want to live in the heart of the action
Sitting in the far south of London, around 16km (10 miles) from the Thames River, Croydon admittedly isn’t the most exciting neighborhood in the world.
… but without heading outside London, you won’t find many more affordable places to live here.
Because this is a largely residential area, you get plenty of varied homes, many lifelong locals, all types of residents, and good prices (well, good prices for London standards).
You won’t find any real tourist attractions here. Instead, Croydon offers golf courses, lots of shopping, two hospitals, Beddington Farmlands wildlife park, a big IKEA, many schools, zero tourists, and all the amenities you need for a long-term life. In some ways, although you can reach central London within 18 minutes by train, Croydon almost feels like a little commuter town of its own.
In short, if you want to build a long-term life without spending huge amounts of money, this is one of the best neighborhoods to live in London. But if you’re young and want fun, it’s a terrible choice.
Commuter Towns Near London
If you find London unaffordable or just need more space for your money, there are many commuter towns near London where you can live yet easily access London by train. Here is a great guide on some of the best commuter towns near London.
More about London neighborhoods
If you want to live in specific parts of London, read our guides on best neighborhoods in North London, West London and East London.
