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Choosing the best neighborhood to stay in London isn’t easy, as the English capital offers many options — it all depends on your preferences, needs, and lifestyle.

Even so, we’ve made a list of neighbourhoods to help you choose your next place to live in London. We based this selection on factors we know are important for your activities. For instance, London has areas more suitable for people who enjoy nightlife and don’t mind too much movement around them.

However, there are also areas in the city where students and digital nomads can feel very comfortable with plenty of cafes, coworking spaces, and a peaceful silence that allows them to focus. So, let’s begin this journey through the capital of England.

Selection of the best neighbourhoods in London to live in.

The 3 best neighbourhoods to live in London

We’ve chosen three neighbourhoods we consider suitable for living in London, due to factors like transportation, proximity to natural areas, tranquility, and the variety of shops and markets that make them comfortable for any individual or family.

Kensington

This is a neighbourhood with all the necessary services for comfortable living, as you’ll find everything from universities and schools to hospitals like St Mary’s Hospital in the north and the luxurious The London Clinic.

Moreover, Kensington has parks and green spaces like Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, where you can exercise, go for a walk, or simply sit and enjoy some peaceful time surrounded by nature.

This neighbourhood is known for being calm and residential. However, rents tend to be high.

Still, other aspects like the transport links to the rest of the city make it worth the cost, as moving to the city centre and other important areas is easy, thanks to the different modes of transport, such as the underground, which offers three key stations: Circle, District, and Piccadilly Lines.

Culturally, Kensington hosts several museums, such as the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, which you can visit at various times.

Camden

Camden is an ideal neighbourhood for those looking for a more alternative place, with a vibrant cultural and youthful scene. If you’re into cultural spaces, where art galleries, theatres like Etcetera Theatre or Camden People’s Theatre meet second-hand shops, in this part of London, you’ll feel at home.

The streets and bars of Camden are full of stories about British rock, having seen iconic bands like The Clash and the Sex Pistols grow, which is reflected in its vintage yet still active venues.

For sports activities, the neighbourhood has several parks spread across its area, including Camden Square Gardens, which is small but very functional for individual workouts, and Regent’s Park, which feels like a club with tennis courts, football fields, and paths for cycling or running.

The transportation in Camden is efficient for getting around the city, especially to the centre, with underground stations like Camden Town, Camden Road, and several bus lines.

While housing isn’t exactly cheap, it’s well-regarded for its cost, services, and quality of life by both locals and foreigners.  

These are the three best neighbourhoods to live in London:
These are the three best neighbourhoods to live in London: Kensington, Camden, and Richmond upon Thames. – Source: Shutterstock.com.

Richmond upon Thames

If you’re looking for a place more connected with nature, your neighbours, and English traditions, Richmond upon Thames is a neighbourhood located south of London, known for its tranquillity and community life.

This London area has one of the largest natural parks in the city: Richmond Park, where you can go for exercise or enjoy a peaceful walk with friends. The calm pace of life in the area makes it attractive for families and couples.

Best of all, although this area is relatively far from the city centre, it’s only 20 to 30 minutes by underground, which allows you to live in a less populated, tranquil, and safe neighbourhood, while still being well-connected to other key parts of London.

The commerce in Richmond is made up of fresh food shops, cafes, bars, and pubs that blend in with the atmosphere of the neighbourhood. The cost of living here is relatively high, but still lower than other areas of the city.

The best neighbourhoods to live as a digital nomad in London

Now, let’s show you the best neighbourhoods for digital nomads. Here, we’ll talk about not only the areas known for their beauty, tranquillity, and comfort but also those that stand out for offering great environments for remote workers, with good internet connections, meeting spaces, and functionality.

Shoreditch

This neighbourhood will not only offer you safety, comfort, and easy mobility to different areas of London but also the chance to find coworking and coliving spaces like WeWork and Huckletree, to name just a few well-known ones in the industry.

These colivings have adapted with high-speed internet and ideal workspaces, such as accommodations, meeting rooms, shared offices, and socialising areas.

Moreover, the atmosphere in Shoreditch is youthful, alternative, and full of nightlife, making it appealing to digital nomads from different countries who want a social life after work, giving the area an international vibe.

But, it’s not just about having a drink or dinner after work. You can also visit museums and urban art galleries that open their doors to locals several days a week.

Regarding transportation, Shoreditch has Liverpool Street Station, which allows you to take trains to other cities in the country or the underground to travel to other parts of the British capital.

Islington

Islington offers a wide variety of places where you can enjoy social life, like bars, museums, independent shops, and restaurants serving various dishes. You can also enjoy parks like Highbury Fields or the Regent’s Canal where you can take a bike ride or enjoy a long walk outdoors.

This neighbourhood is known for its youthful and appealing atmosphere to both tourists and digital nomads, as you’ll find colivings like Techspace Shoreditch, Work.Life Islington, or The Brew here, which are highly rated.

Best of all, there are cafes with fast and secure internet where you can work without any problems, as their spaces are designed to be comfortable, quiet, and provide everything a remote worker needs to focus.

For transportation to other parts of London, you won’t have any issues, as Islington has bus lines and underground stations like Angel and just a few blocks away, King’s Cross, making it easy to move around quickly.

Hackney

This is one of the most bohemian and active neighbourhoods at night in London that we can recommend for digital nomads, as its residents are usually young professionals who find numerous activities to do in Hackney’s peaceful streets.

This neighbourhood is attractive to freelancers, independent workers, or remote workers, as there are many coworking spaces and cafes offering their spaces, like the famous The Trampery, where there are both private and shared offices, and they also host events for professionals of all nationalities and fields to connect.

Hackney is located in north-west London and doesn’t have an underground station, but its Overground network, consisting of trains running in the outskirts, connects Hackney with other neighbourhoods and transport systems like the underground.

Like other London neighbourhoods, it also has some green areas and parks, like London Fields and Victoria Park, where you can work out or take a walk. Rent prices in this area are more affordable than in other neighbourhoods.

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The best neighbourhoods to live as a student in London

Living in London as a student can be a bit tricky due to the large number of neighbourhoods that offer attractive features for students. However, there are factors that make two neighbourhoods more optimal for student living: Bloomsbury and King’s Cross, here’s why:

Bloomsbury

It’s a neighbourhood with many facets, where you can live as a professional, remote worker, or especially as a student. Located in central London, it houses several major universities in the city, such as University College London, University of London, and the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Students from different parts of the world prefer this area due to the variety of activities available on its streets at any time of day. Bloomsbury offers cafes, bookstores, and bars where you can socialise with other students, as well as parks like Russell Square and Bedford Square.

One of the advantages of living in this area is that you can find everything you need for daily life: Supermarkets, clothing stores, shopping centres, and various types of transportation that connect you to the whole city.

The cost of living here is high, but there are shared flats where students can rent a room and only share some areas, which reduces housing and living expenses.

King’s Cross

King’s Cross is a neighbourhood that offers all the mobility options you can imagine, even to travel abroad, as it is very close to airports and the Eurostar train station.

The area has gradually transformed its infrastructure to become a modern and attractive zone for international students, as it is also very close to institutions like University College London and Central Saint Martins.

You’ll also find cafes, bookstores, libraries, and bars where you can combine university life with social activities.

Finally, living in this neighbourhood can be expensive if you opt for a private apartment, but if you want to save money and make friends when settling in London, you can rent a traditional student room at affordable prices.

What’s the best neighbourhood to live in London?

At this point, choosing the best neighbourhood to live in London is a difficult decision to make, as the city offers efficient transport, cultural and commercial diversity, meaning that no matter where you live as a digital nomad, student, or worker, you won’t feel the disadvantages between one neighbourhood and another.

Still, considering the ease of getting around to other areas, the dynamic atmosphere, and the possibility of paying for a more affordable place with all the benefits a London neighbourhood offers, we must highlight the versatility of Bloomsbury.

The best neighbourhood to live in London is Bloomsbury.
The best neighbourhood to live in London is Bloomsbury. – Source: Shutterstock.com.

Moreover, because you can combine different plans throughout the week. You could choose cultural plans at the British Museum or visit the British Library, but you also have the possibility to enjoy natural areas with Russell Square park.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Neighbourhoods to Live in London

What’s the safest neighbourhood in London?

Most neighbourhoods in London are considered safe to live in; however, Richmond upon Thames stands out for its tranquillity and low crime rate.

What’s the most luxurious neighbourhood in London?

Kensington is a neighbourhood known for having a high cost of living, as the British royal family has lived here for at least three centuries, which has led to exclusive, fashionable shops and consumption.

What universities are located in central London?

Several of London’s most important universities are located right in the city centre. These include the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, and University College London.

Which of the mentioned neighbourhoods is the most affordable to live in?

Hackney offers the best rental prices, along with benefits like excellent transport connections to the rest of the city. It’s located near bars, restaurants, cafes, coworking spaces, and universities, meaning you won’t have to invest as much time or money moving around.

Is it easy to find rental accommodation in London?

Finding accommodation in London, especially if you’re an international student, can be challenging as central areas have a high demand for rooms, flats, and apartments due to the reasonable rental prices compared to further areas, which are more expensive to live in.