LONDON AREA GUIDE
WHICH ARE THE "NICE" AREAS TO LIVE IN LONDON?
Students new to London often ask us this question. The following guide to the areas of London is
designed to provide information to help you to make up your mind. London is divided into
boroughs, each made up of several smaller areas which are often grouped and labelled by the
nearest rail or underground station. In this guide we have listed the central boroughs only,
however this is not intended as an exhaustive list. There are 33 London Boroughs in total and
many students find suitable accommodation outside of those listed here.
London is a vast, cultural, diverse and dynamic city sprawling over many miles. Each borough is
made up of several smaller areas called ‘wards’. Inevitably everyone’s opinions on places in
London will vary depending on an individual’s experience. Although you may hear many rumours
about various areas in London, the best way of deciding if you will be happy in an area is to spend
time getting to know it. We recommend that before you choose where you want to live in London,
spend some afternoons wandering and evenings socialising with others around the main high
streets of potential homes. This will help you decide how you feel about the location, how easy it is
to get to and from, and if you feel safe there.
This guide is intended only to give a very brief summary of the more central boroughs. Under each
Borough title is the local council’s website where you can find out much more information on the
borough you are considering as your new home, including further information about the community
there, the wards and services in them as well as other general and specific details.
Students should be aware than Accommodation in central London is very sought after and
therefore expensive. Although in an ideal situation most would choose to be in the heart of
London, the reality is that any student on a budget will live between zones 2 to 4 or seriously
compromise their standard of living. Generally speaking rents are lower to the south of the River
Thames and where over ground rail and buses are the main source of transport.
WHICH ARE THE SAFEST AREAS TO LIVE IN?
London is a large city and has all the problems of crime associated with large inner cities;
particularly unfortunately in the more affordable areas where many students choose to live in. All
areas have potential dangers, but these can be minimised by choosing accommodation close to
public transport. Always keep to well lit routes and avoid taking short cuts. If you have to travel
alone at night, have your keys ready, but not on view, and consider carrying a personal alarm.
For more information please read the ‘Be Safe Be Secure’ booklet published by the Home Office
and available from the Unilet office.
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CITY OF LONDON
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Main stations: Liverpool Street, Blackfriars, Bank, Barbican, Cannon Street, Moorgate, St Paul’s,
Fenchurch Street, Aldgate
Often called ‘The Square Mile’, The City of London is the smallest London borough and mainly
covers the financial and business district. The social scene is very cosmopolitan and while there
are many bars and restaurants, the clientele are mainly working professionals. Being one of
London’s oldest Boroughs, it is home to many sites of heritage such as St Paul’s Cathedral and
Keats House, to name a few. The Barbican Centre, situated on near the edge of the borough, is a
multi-arts and conference venue presenting a year-round programme of art, music, film and
theatre. Under one roof are a concert hall, two theatres, three cinemas, two art galleries,
conservatory and public library, as well as three restaurants, two exhibition halls and the Guildhall
School of Music & Drama. There is also a supply of residential accommodation within the complex.
Accommodation in the City of London is both scarce and very expensive. Due to the small size of
the borough and it’s mainly commercial nature, there isn’t a large residential community.
WESTMINSTER
www.westminster.gov.uk
Main Stations: Victoria, Paddington, Charing Cross, Barker Street, Covent Garden, Embankment,
Oxford Circus, Leicester Square, Regent Street, St Johns Wood, Maida Vale, Hyde Park Corner
The Borough of Westminster covers a large section of Central London, from shopping and
socialising in Oxford Street, Soho and Covent Garden to more residential areas such as Maida
Vale and St Johns wood. Each area of Westminster has a different atmosphere although generally
it’s a hectic, central and social place to live. There is an abundance of bars, restaurants, cinemas,
clubs, theatres, museums and galleries, including a wealth of cultural activities on a daily basis.
Areas such as Soho, China Town, Leicester Square, Covent Garden and surrounding streets are
generally considered by Londoners the place to let your hair down and have a good time.
London’s Royal Parks (Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens, St. James Park, Green Park or Regents
Park) are also within the boundaries of Westminster and are wonderful places to relax in summer.
Areas on the fringe of the Borough are more residential and generally quieter than their
neighbouring lively haunts; however they still have main high streets and local communities.
Westminster is a wonderful place to live if you are studying in London, however due to its locality,
many attractions and social scene it is much sought after by professionals and students alike. If
you are looking to live in this borough, expect to pay extremely high rents. More reasonably priced
accommodation (although still not cheap) can be found on the borders. Westbourne Park,
Warwick Avenue, Maida Vale and St Johns Wood and Paddington are all fairly residential
locations within the borough.
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CAMDEN
www.camden.gov.uk
Main stations: King’s Cross, Euston, Camden, Tottenham Court Road, Warren Street, Kentish
Town, Holborn, Swiss Cottage, Belsize Park, Finchley Road, Hampstead, West Hampstead
The City end of Camden borders with shopping areas such as Covent Garden and the financial
district around Chancery Lane and Holborn and has a similar feel to the aforementioned areas.
The outer side of the borough however, has many communities all offering a different taste of
London. King’s Cross has brilliant transport links and in recent years has been subjected to a
continuing redevelopment scheme that is rapidly changing the area. It is very busy due to the main
roads but has a good nightlife off and around the nearby streets. In the heart of Camden is the
famous Camden Lock. This bright and vibrant area is both funky and creative, bustling with energy
and creativity. You can find a whole range of items in the markets from clothing and accessories,
craft and jewellery to home furnishings and Music. Again there is a wealth of cafes, restaurants,
clubs, bars and art culture. Unlike the slick Westminster scene, Camden has a more bohemian,
eccentric feel to it. Just past Camden town you will find Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage and
Hampstead, all affluent residential areas of London, that can feel quite separate from the rest of
the City. Belsize Park is between Hampstead and Camden Town, and has a pleasant village-like
atmosphere. Hampstead Heath is one of London’s biggest green spaces and because of the leafy
surround and large homes it can be difficult to find accommodation here.
Accommodation costs in Camden vary drastically between the much sought after areas with snob
value to the postcode and more run down areas with a poor reputation. Generally there is a lot of
residential accommodation available and if you’re willing to put the time into looking, good value
accommodation close to the City.
ISLINGTON
www.islington.gov.uk
Main stations: Angel, Highbury & Islington, Archway, Arsenal, Holloway Road, Tufnell Park,
Caledonian Road
In recent years Islington’s main shopping area has become trendy and as such it’s now a popular
location for both living and socialising. Along Upper Street there is a mass of bars, cafés and
restaurants as well as the Angel shopping centre and cinema, accompanied by boutiques, funky
gift shops and the usual high street stores. This continues along Upper Street to the start of the
Holloway Road. Where Essex Road meets Upper Street (opposite Islington Green) there is the
Farmers market selling fresh produce and the Camden Passage Market in there's a myriad of
small shops and stalls selling antiques, silverware and jewellery. Further on you will find Holloway
Road, running up to Archway, which has many everyday shops, supermarkets and has a different,
less glamorous atmosphere. Caledonian Road, closer to King’s Cross, is another long road
through Islington leading onto Holloway. Like King’s Cross this side of Islington has previously
been branded an undesirable part of London, however things are improving.
Throughout the borough of Islington there is plenty of accommodation to be had. Although it is
expensive around Angel and Highbury, much of the rest of the borough has fairly reasonable rents
and good transport links.
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TOWER HAMLETS
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk
Main stations: Canary Wharf, Bethnal Green, Mile End, Tower Hill, White Chapel, Shadwell,
Stepney Green, Bow Road
Tower Hamlets covers the east side of London from the first large bend in the River Thames to the
boarders of Hackney. The boroughs main social hub lies around Shoreditch, with the lively Brick
Lane and surrounding streets. There’s also a good nightlife in the areas Canary Wharf, Stepney
and Wapping. The latter areas are mostly new development and also have good shopping around
Canary Wharf. Spitalfields Market is one of London’s’ most popular markets, with a secured place
at the forefront of interiors, fashion, the arts and food. Bethnal Green is an eclectic neighbourhood,
with a lively mix of cultural diversity, markets, eating places, museums and parks. The hamlet
borders Victoria Park. This huge and beautifully planted open space hosts many festivals, fetes
and events. Another attraction is the colourful Columbia Road Market, in the heart of Bethnal
Green. It is known for its huge selection of house and garden plants, and trees. The Tower of
London and Tower Bridge are also famous landmarks. Just beyond the Tower, a short walk will
take you to St Katharine's Dock. One of the first of London's docks to be restored, its latest
additions includes pubs, shops, restaurants and an attractive marina.
Tower Hamlets has a lot of good accommodation for those studying at the Regent Campus, due to
the Central line running Bethnal Green and Mile End in zone 2. In the last 10 years Canary Wharf
has undergone massive redevelopment. The area around the river bend comprises a blend of
restored warehouses and historic buildings, contemporary housing complexes that have beautiful
but not cheap river view accommodation. Much more reasonable accommodation can be found
however further up in the borough.
HACKNEY
www.hackney.gov.uk
Main stations: Finsbury Park, Manor House, Old Street, Hackney Central, Clapton, Stoke
Newington, Stamford Hill, Dalston Kingsland, Hackney Wick, London Fields
Hackney is a largely residential borough. It is not well served by the underground so students
living in this area use mostly buses and trains. It is within a reasonable commute, being in zones 2
and 3 on the transport map, however it can take longer to travel into zone 1 because of the
transport. Due to lack of development in the area Hackney has had a less favourable reputation
than many other boroughs and is now subject to regeneration. It is however worth considering
when looking for an area to live. There are several markets and shopping areas with plenty of
character as well as venues like the Hackney Empire, hosting a multitude of music, comedy and
other entertainment events. There are also theatres, cinemas and even a city farm. Hackney has a
total of 62 parks, gardens and open spaces, ranging from the largest concentration of football
pitches in Europe at Hackney Marshes to the beautiful and historic settings of Springfield and
Clissold parks.
There is a great deal of reasonable accommodation in Hackney, however students looking in this
area should familiarise themselves with the location and try their travel routes to and from central
London before committing. Many students find very reasonable accommodation here, although if
you are new to London, it is advisable to live in a shared student house.
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KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
www.rbkc.gov.uk
Main stations: Knightsbridge, Notting Hill Gate, Westbourne Park, South Kensington, High street
Kensington, West Kensington, Fulham Broadway, Hyde Park Corner, Bayswater
“To stroll around the Royal Borough is to walk in the footsteps of kings and queens, writers and
revolutionaries, politicians and painters, thinkers and thespians.” The Royal borough of Kensington
and Chelsea, as you may have gathered from the title, is one of London’s up market boroughs.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is an area of great historic and architectural
interest and well known for its handsome residential streets and squares. It covers five square
miles, 70 per cent of which is located in conservation areas. The Royal Borough is home to
numerous embassies and many London landmarks, including Princess Diana’s previous
residence, Kensington Palace. It also has thriving commercial centres such at the Kings Road,
Slone Square and significant cultural attractions. The Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural
History Museum and the Science Museum are all in South Kensington and attract visitors from all
over the world. Like any borough of London there’s also plenty of entertainment in the way of
cinemas, theatres, bars and clubs, however they are generally frequented by London’s richer
occupants and are often out of the student price range.
Due to its snob value accommodation here tends to be very expensive. While there is plenty of it
and in beautiful residences, you pay for the prestigious postcodes. However it is not worth
overlooking altogether. There are many large Victorian homes that have groups of students and
travellers working and living in London, in these larger residences where people share facilities
between 5 or more people, accommodation can be affordable to those on a lower budget.
HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM
www.lbhf.gov.uk
Main stations: Shepherds Bush, Parsons Green, Chiswick, Olympia, Fulham, Earls Court
Hammersmith & Fulham is just west of central London, sitting on the main transport routes into
and out of the capital to the west. Hammersmith is served by several London Underground lines-
the District, Piccadilly, Central and Hammersmith & City. Although it is a quick tube ride to the
West End, the borough is home to some of London’s larger entertainment venues such as
Shepherds Bush Empire and the Hammersmith Apollo as well as several smaller theatres and
entertainment venues such as the usual cinemas, shopping centres and clubs. Like its
neighbouring borough Kensington and Chelsea, the borough carries a good reputation and has a
large population of Antipodeans working professionally in the UK on Visas. Fulham has a fairly
exclusive population of Londoners and whilst not trendy, it is an affluent area. This can make
socialising here expensive. Hammersmith is a socially diverse area with a cosmopolitan population
which includes large Irish, Afro-Caribbean, Asian and Polish communities. Hammersmith has good
shopping; the Broadway is now much improved. In close proximity is the huge Westfield shopping
centre which draws in shoppers from all over London and the South-East of England. There is a
small food market on Hammersmith Grove and some good restaurants and pubs. Culture is
catered for by the Hammersmith Lyric theatre, the Virgin Cinema, Irish Centre and The Polish Arts
Centre.
The property market here is dominated by conversion flats (one of the largest private rented
sectors in London), but there are also attractive corners especially in Brook Green, Brackenbury
and Ravenscourt Park to the north and in the highly-priced riverside areas to the south. Again if
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you’re after very low rents this isn’t the best area to live in, however there is a lot of rented
accommodation here and looking in groups will mean you may find something suitably affordable.
LAMBETH
www.lambeth.gov.uk
Main Stations: Waterloo, Lambeth North, Vauxall, Oval, Stockwell, Brixton, Wandsworth Road,
Clapham North/South/Common, Streatham Hill/Common, West Norwood, Tulse Hill
Lambeth is a very diverse, youthful and culturally buzzing borough to live in. The Northern
parameter lining the Thames River is its commercial and employment centre, while further to the
south it is mainly residential. Around Waterloo and the London eye there is plenty of
entertainment, particularly if you are a fan of Art, as the South Bank complex includes the Hayward
Gallery, National theatre and National Film theatre as well as the BFI London IMAX cinema.
Towards the centre of the Borough there are pockets of commerce surrounded by living space and
The Oval, known to Cricketing fans around the world. For a real taste of urban culture Brixton is
well known for it’s clubs and bars as well as markets surrounding the tube station. It is also home
to one of London’s major music venues, The Brixton Academy. This vibrant social hive extends
along to Streatham. Whilst the tube network becomes scarce further south, Norwood and the
surrounding areas are served by train lines into the city and make much quieter living quarters. It is
worth mentioning that while Lambeth has areas of substantial wealth, it also has areas of
considerable deprivation.
There is plenty of reasonable accommodation to be found here for students on a budget and
generally students living here will find it to be a bustling London experience. Some may be put off
by reports of crime and safety linked with Lambeth but as with any area in London, being sensible
prevents most crime.
SOUTHWARK
www.southwark.gov.uk
Main Stations: London Bridge, Elephant & Castle, Southwark, Borough, Bermondsey, Canada
Water, Rotherhithe, South Bermondsey, East/North/West Dulwich, Queen's Road Peckham
Like it’s neighbouring borough, Lambeth, Southwark spans from the River Thames at London
Bridge across to Rotherhithe then south of London to Dulwich. There are many village-like pockets
of the borough that have a lovely atmosphere. The borough is well served by over ground
railways, however underground stations are not as common. The trains do offer easy access to
London Bridge and Victoria in a short journey. Again Southwark has a lot to offer to those
interested in the arts, here you can find the Tate Modern, the Bankside Gallery, the new South
London Gallery and the classical Dulwich Picture Gallery. It is also home to the Design Museum
and Westminster’s former student, Zandra Rhodes’ Fashion & Textile Museum. Southwark is also
a good borough for Markets, with Borough Market selling fresh produce and foods, Bermondsey
Antiques Market and East Street market selling a variety of items from clothes, electrical goods,
gifts to fruit and vegetables. The borough of Southwark have produced a guide to Southwark
aimed at students living in the area that can be found at:
http://www.visitsouthwark.com/downloads/student_living.pdf
Because of its position south of the River and not being so well served by London Underground,
accommodation tends to be cheaper than many other boroughs to the North. There is plenty of
accommodation to be had here within a reasonable commute to the Centre of town. Many areas
within Southwark have wonderful green spaces and nice high streets meaning living in this
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borough can be a great experience with a less hectic vibe. Accommodation nearer the Thames will
be more costly.
LEWISHAM
www.lewisham.gov.uk
Main Stations: Lewisham, New Cross, New Cross Gate, Brockley, Honor Oak Park, Forest Hill,
Sydenham, Blackheath, Deptford, Beckenham Hill, Catford, Ravensbourne
Lewisham is a mainly residential area and as it spans out of the underground network, it is
serviced mainly by over ground rail services, however it is also connected to the Docklands Light
Railway meaning you can easily get to The City, East London and Greenwich for socialising.
Lewisham has many markets from bric-a-brac, food and flowers in Deptford, to multicultural
produce in Catford and delectable organic wares at the farmers market in Blackheath. Being less
central the borough has a wide range of parks from small local spaces to metropolitan parks like
Blackheath and Beckenham Place Park. Although it’s not regarded as a cosmopolitan place to
live, there are plenty of pockets of activity and social corners throughout. Lewisham’s cinema-
going audiences enjoy a wide range of venues reflecting the diversity of the borough. The newly-
restored Art Deco Broadway Theatre maintains a regular screening programme of the latest art
house films from Bullet Boy to Ladies in Lavender. After extensive refurbishment, the Blackheath
Concert Halls have been open to filmmaking business since 2006. Exciting new programmes
include music-inspired films and seasonal features. The new Downham Film Club – an exciting
screening initiative in the 35-seater, specially commissioned and fully portable Theatre Truck also
tours the borough. For truly experimental and inspiring new works, check out Deptford’s landmark
Albany Theatre.
Lewisham is not the first place, or even the third, that most students new to the University would
look for accommodation because it is not on a direct transport link. There is however a lot of cheap
accommodation here compared to the other boroughs mentioned. If you don’t mind a slightly
longer journey into the City for the benefits of cheaper rents Lewisham is worth looking into.
Further reading: (available in bookstores)
The New London Property Guide: The Only Guide You Need to Buying and Selling, Renting and
Letting Homes in London (Mitchell Beazley Reference S.)
Living and Working in London (Joe Laredo)
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1. 5. 9. 13.
2. 6. 10. 14.
3. 7. 11. 15.
4. 8. 12. 16.
17.
Updated January 2009
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