Moving to London can be incredibly overwhelming at first! Navigating the squiggling lines of the tube map and the seemingly endless choices of where to live can definitely be a lot to come to terms with. Especially when going through everything else involved with moving house! Many of London’s neighbourhoods have been well-known by tourists afar for decades, while others are always evolving and becoming the latest ‘Instagrammable’ hotspots. To help you get a clearer picture of both London’s most well-renowned neighbourhoods and some you may not have heard of, we have put together this useful guide!
1. Walthamstow is widely considered to be ‘London’s Best Kept Secret’, particularly the market. The atmosphere and buzz of the market can be felt as soon as you leave Walthamstow Central and it is what makes many Londoners see it as the heart of the East-End. Research by Rightmove has found Walthamstow to be the country’s second most popular location for house hunters! What sets it apart from other parts of London is the amount of beautiful open spaces on offer; including the Walthamstow Marshes and Lloyd park.
Average monthly rent - 1 bed - £806, 2 bed - £1,512, 3 bed - £2,045, 4 bed - £2,510 (As of Foxtons, August 2021)
Transport links - Walthamstow central and Blackhorse Road tube stations (zone 3) are on one end of the Victoria line and you can get to Oxford Street in 19 minutes. You can get National Rail trains to Liverpool Street from Wood Street, Walthamstow Central and St James Street with journey times of 15 and 22 minutes.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops - Walthamstow has a great sense of community and is the last European bastion in this area of London. New restaurants and bars are popping up as the area becomes increasingly popular. Orford road has some amazing bars and eateries, including Eat17 which promises great Sunday roasts and burgers, pasta joint La Ruga and the huge beer garden of The Nag’s Head.
2. Notting Hill is one of London’s most desirable and Instagrammable areas. The beautiful pastel-coloured houses are familiar worldwide. Portobello market is one of the area’s highlights, running across Portobello Road right outside Notting Hill Gate tube station. The main market days are Friday and Saturday, although smaller markets are held on Sunday and Thursday. Be sure to pay a visit to some of the main locations of the iconic 1999 Richard Curtis film ‘Notting Hill’ if you are a big movie fan!
Average monthly rent - 1 bed - £1,972, 2 bed - £2,678, 3 bed - £4,533, 4 bed - £4,647 (As of Foxtons, August 2021)
Transport Links - Notting Hill Gate is the main tube station in the area which is on the Central Line, the District Line, and the Circle Line. Westbourne Park Station or Ladbroke Grove station are on the Hammersmith and City and the Circle line.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops - You will not even know where to start with the amazing range of coffee shops/ bars and restaurants on offer in Notting Hill… you might even spot a celeb while you are dining! Core by Clare Smyth (the first and only female British chef to win 3 Michelin stars) opened in 2017. You can order a tasting menu of 5-7 courses and everything has a twist! Suzi Tros is also well-worth the visit if you are a lover of small plates and Greek food!
3. Battersea is an area on the south bank of the River Thames in the borough of Wandsworth. It is best-known for its riverside park and powerstation. The borough of Kensington and Chelsea is joined to Battersea by road and rail bridges over the Thames.
Average monthly rent - 1 bed - £1,600, 2 bed - £2,140, 3 bed - £2,800, 4 bed - £3,360 (As of Foxtons, August 2021)
Transport links Battersea will soon be on the underground, with new stations on an extension of the Northern Line at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station due to open in autumn 2021. Until then you can commute from Clapham Junction with trains to Waterloo, Vauxhall and Victoria.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops - Despite being more known for its beautiful park, Battersea also has a great range of eateries. The Latchmere is part of a small chain of South London pubs. The building is incredible and you can find some of the best burgers, steak and fish and chips! At Holy Cow you can find one of the best biryanis outside of the north of Delhi!
4. Pimlico is a central London location in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension of Belgravia. It is best-known for its garden squares and Regency architecture. Previous Pimlico residents have included Winston Churchill, designer Laura Ashley and actor Laurence Olivier.
Average monthly rent - 1 bed - £1,708, 2 bed - £2,564, 3 bed - £3,021, 4 bed - £5,360 (As of Foxtons, August 2021)
Transport links - Pimlico tube station is on the Victoria Line and you’ll be able to get to Oxford Circus in 6 minutes.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops - Pimlico has a thriving boutique coffee shop scene and you will find yourself spoilt for choice when you need your daily caffeine hit. Wilton Road is a great spot for both coffee shops and restaurants. Pimlico Fresh, on Wilton Road, is a must-try for coffee and pastries.You might even bump into the Prime Minister on your morning coffee run... Tachbrook Street Market is also a lovely open-air marketplace with vendors selling everything from falafel to fresh smoothies. If you’re looking for a special evening dinner spot you should visit the Michelin Star Lorne Restaurant also on Wilton Road!
5. Muswell Hill was named after the 12th Century discovery of a local stream. The ‘Mossy Well’ was thought to have had wondrous, healing properties. The comfortable north London suburb is known for its beautiful Edwardian architecture and the Broadway. Its great selection of child-friendly cafes and restaurants makes Muswell Hill a perfect location for families.
Average monthly rent - 1 bed - £1,340, 2 bed - £1,646, 3 bed - £2,400, 4 bed - £2,568 (As of Foxtons, August 2021)
Transport links - despite being a popular place for commuters, Muswell Hill does not have its own underground or overground station. There are many stations within a short distance; Highgate and East Finchley on the Northern Line are a 5 minute drive away.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops - Muswell Hill will not disappoint if you are on the hunt for pretty cafes and family-friendly eateries. La Lluna is a Catalan Tapas restaurant popular with locals, specialising in small plates and sharing dishes. Chriskitch is a family-run cafe serving incredible salads which may just look too beautiful to eat. They also pride themselves on having “the best coffee in Muswell Hill”...so why not try it for yourself!
6. Brixton is situated in the centre of South London. It is a hub for clubbers, foodies, artists and rockers alike. It has a great sense of community and has a great variety of live venues including the Brixton Academy and Hootananny.
Average monthly rent - 1 bed - £1,512, 2 bed - £1,733, 3 bed - £2,191, 4 bed - £3,549 (As of Foxtons, August 2021)
Transport Links Brixton tube station is known for having the largest London Underground roundel on the network. It’s on the Victoria Line and you can arrive in Oxford Circus in around 13 minute, with Covent Garden being just 15 minutes away. Alternatively you can get to Hampstead in 25 minutes.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops - Brixton and great food are two things that go together incredibly well. With almost every cuisine in the world on offer... here are some you must try. Booma is a modern eatery serving North Indian sharing plates and craft ales and ciders. Etta’s Seafood Kitchen is a Caribbean-influenced fish restaurant. You must try the delicious scallop salad!
We hope this guide has given you some inspiration for your move to London! To relieve yourself of the often-overwhelming moving workload, consider using a relocation agent, like Simply London. Their comprehensive range of services – rental search, bank account & Internet set up services – are designed to make the entire relocation so much easier. Whether you are moving as an individual or with your family, going through an agency can ensure you find the right area and home for you in the capital!
