Best Areas and Suburbs To Live In London – that will be the topic of today’s article.
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Introduction
What are the best places to live in London as of 2021? This question has been asked by many people that are preparing for their next big move. In spite of this, what may be the best place in London for someone else might not be the right one for you. Guess what! It’s a big decision that requires research.
And that’s one of the reasons we’re here – to walk you through the process and make everything relatively easy for you to do. For families, ambitious young professionals, and those seeking an adventure to travel around the world, we’ve got you covered, as you’ll find it all on our platform. Ready? Let’s go!
London is one of the greatest cities in the world as of today. From historical pomp with shimmering modernity, fusing gritty, world-class culture, fashion-forward shopping, and many others, the benefits of living in London cannot be overemphasized. Also, London’s transit system is one of the best in the world.
However, if you’ve chosen London over the UK’s other great cities, how do you know the right neighborhood? Which part of the city has the best parts that you like? Where can you find the hippest bookstores or all-night eateries? To help you answer all these questions, here’s our guide to the best areas and suburbs to live in London.
In this article, we aim to walk you through the concept of living in London. Aside from this fact, we have compiled the best areas and suburbs to live in London as of today’s 21st century. More so, if you’re moving to London with a young family, there’s, even more, you’ll need to factor in this situation.
Living in London as an Expat
London is a city for people who enjoy limitless options of things to do. In this city, you have virtually everything on your doorstep, with an abundance of green space to enjoy. Although there are high rent prices, but comparatively high salaries help balance this. Without further ado, let’s quickly walk you through the concept of living in London as an expat.
Furthermore, London is considered a very safe place to live. Not only that, but in any other city, bad things can happen. Now, what are the standards of living in London? Well, if you ask me, I’ll tell you life can be very expensive in London. So, you get value for your money by virtually enjoying everything you could want at your doorstep.
Generally, London is cheaper than other all-star hubs, such as New York City and Hong Kong. Moreover, you should be expecting nothing less than 1,580 USD for a one-bedroom apartment in London. To understand this concept better, let’s quickly walk you through the pros and cons of living in London.
Pros and Cons of Living in London
While there are many advantages to live in London, always know that understanding its problem is a crucial factor to live in the city. Of course, it’s no doubt that Londoners live fast-paced lives, and it has been that way for a long time. Below are the pros and cons of living in London as of today’s digital era.
Fashion Place
Although Paris is known to be the capital city of fashion but London has also emerged as one of the fashion capitals of the world. Not only that, but it’s one of the best cities to go to for clothes shopping, with Oxford Street offering many affordable name-brand stores such as Topshop, Primark, and others.
Employment Opportunities
It’s no doubt that London has plenty of employment opportunities to offer the public. People that have great experience and are at the top of their profession will find that there are management roles with major companies in the city. That’s why London is known as a home to many businesses, and it’s a global capital with millions of visitors. So, no matter the employment you’re looking for, you’ll see one.
Architecture and History
Undoubtedly, London has an endlessly modern and historical museum, architecture, galleries, and even the picturesque with various parks to enjoy. If you’re thinking about moving to a home in Tower Hamlets, Bexley, Lewisham, London is a sure place to be.
Center of UK Life
While moving to London, you’ll have the feeling of landing at the center of UK life that can never be ignored. With this in mind, always know that there are a million and one things to do in London, with enough world-famous hotspots. Do you prefer a quiet night at the pub? London is crawling with bars dedicated to serving craft beers. If you prefer a bit of history, you can take a tour of the Tower of London.
Great Housing Facilities
London might be one of the most expensive places you can choose to live, but you can still find an affordable place to live. In particular, you can find attractive homes, and if price tags aren’t so much of an issue, then London should be your oyster. With that being said, you’ll enjoy different housing facilities.
Best European Transport Hub
As of today, most locations in London still benefit from both overground and underground links, with several bus routes and the DLR. More so, the opening of the Elizabeth line saw an additional benefit of a route from Abbey Wood and Whitechapel to Liverpool Street. So, those traveling further afield can make use of London City Airport to domestic and European destinations.
Wages Are Higher
You might have seen thousands of bloggers telling you that the cost of living in London is expensive. Of course, yes! It’s quite expensive, but you should also understand that wages are high, making it easier to cope with the high cost of living. So, given that you’re a hardworking employee live in London is amazing.
Cons of Living in London
As aforementioned, there’s nothing that has an advantage with no few cons. In fact, the benefits of living in London have outweighed its disadvantage, but it would be better to know these factors leading to the disadvantages. Without much talk, below are the cons of living in London as of today’s world.
Competitive Job Market
Don’t be surprised that the job market in this city is incredibly competitive. This is because; they have a highly-educated workforce, and the wages are high. This often means, finding a job in London isn’t as easy as you’ve expected. Again, many European companies have recently elected and are considering relocating their headquarters from London. So, you may expect to see fewer jobs in London.
Expensive Lifestyle in London
We’ve heard so many complaints about the expensive lifestyle in the city, and it’s nothing but the truth. The majority of London’s lifestyle is centered on pubs and restaurant outings. So, if you’re doing this at least three nights a week, each night might cost you nothing less than £50-£150, and that could be expensive with other transport bills, council tax bills, and food bills.
Experience Traffic in London
Have you ever think that the traffic in New York City is bad? Well, maybe you’ve not been to London! It may make your head in Britney Spear fashion to protest the madness. On the other hand, having a car is expensive in London. So, it would be best if you understood these cons before planning your relocation to the city.
It’s nearly impossible to buy a House
Buying a house as a foreigner in London might seem nearly impossible. In fact, this has been a popular point of discussion at home and everywhere around the globe. This is because property in London is crazy expensive, but if you can buy a home, all rental money you’d be paying is going to your wallet.
It’s an Incredibly Crowded City
While you’re moving to London, be aware that this city is always incredibly crowded. Since we explained earlier that it’s the center of the United Kingdom, everyone would love to live here. But, you wouldn’t choose to live in a city if you’re the type that doesn’t want to be close to lots of other people.
Best Areas and Suburbs To Live In London
When some people picture London, they see towering corporate buildings and sidewalks swarmed with suits. However, in reality, London is crammed with colorful neighborhoods, all with their wonderful personalities and behavior. If you’re planning to move to London, below are the best areas you should look out for.
| S/N | Best Areas in London | What Known For |
| 1. | Bexley Area | Known for affordable living |
| 2. | Islington | Best place for students |
| 3. | Camden | Best known for hipsters |
| 4. | Richmond Area | Best known for families |
| 5. | Shoreditch | Best known for foodies |
| 6. | Lewisham | Best known for nature lovers |
Bexley Area (Known for Affordable Living)
While London is a notoriously expensive place to live, Bexley remains one of the best options for an emigrant. On average, you can rent a one-bedroom apartment for £825, and when you compare it with the average price of a one-bedroom apartment in London, you’ll see that it’s an absolutely steal.
Meanwhile, one of the reasons, while Bexley is so wonderfully cheap, is because it sits on the outskirts of London. This means you might want to bear in mind the travel costs, and if you’re planning on commuting to central London from Bexley, you can brace yourself for a £254 monthly train fare.
Islington Area (Known as the Best Place for Students)
Islington is another wonderful city known for student residence. So, if you’re looking for students accommodation in London, your criteria will probably include proximities to university, connection to the city, and affordability. This is why; we have placed this area at the top of the leader board.
In the past years, Islington may not have been considered, but this booming borough is in the middle of a cultural shift. In this area, you can look forward to diverse restaurants, vintage stores, independent shops, and many others, to mention a few. Again, why do we consider it a place for students?
The majority of universities in London lie north of the river, which makes Islington an ideal location. Also, you’ll have amazing connections to most universities, and you can access the fastest line in London. So, what about the cost? Of course, you should be able to bag yourself a houseshare for around £650 a month in Islington.
Camden (Best Place for Hipsters)
If you’ve been craving to move to London for the street food and vibrant vegan shops, Camden is just the right place for you. This hipster hub has held its quirky individuality since the 1960s. Also, the market is jam-packed with vintage treats, while the colorful market is filled with retro clothes and wonderful street food.
Furthermore, if you love jazz, rock, and indie music, Camden is again the right place. Not only that, it’s a haven of counter culture, and the area is popular with tourists, punks, and teenagers. The thriving nightlife scene can also make you fall in love with the city. So, explore this city as an expat as well.
Richmond Area (Best Place for Families)
Despite a sterling effort from Kingston upon Thames, we’ve given the titles of the best place for families to the Richmond area. This decision is based on three contributing factors and they are the amount of green space, crime rates, and schooling. Moreover, London can seem scary at times, but there’s no cause for alarm.
In addition, schooling in Richmond is among the best in the city, with the top grade being awarded to 31 percent of schools. Besides, if you’re looking for high education standards and low crime rates, choosing Richmond is one of the best options. So, get ready to bring your families for a calming stroll.
Shoreditch (Best Place for Foodies)
We’ve concluded that living in Shoreditch can rapid empty your pocket if you’re a foodie. This area of London has something for many foreigners wanting to relocate. Plus, living in Shoreditch means you’ll be just down the road from acclaimed food joints, such as Boxpark and Spitalfields.
However, if you’re familiar with all-things food, you’ll no doubts be familiar with the living expenses in this area. And in Shoreditch, you can be sure to see a constant stream of new pop-ups with awesome benefits throughout the year. Below are some of the must-eat places to eat and drink in this area.
● The Smoking Goat Around – This is a place where you can experience a cool, laid-back restaurant, with quirky dishes inspired by Bangkok’s late-night bars, and canteens
● Redemption Bar in the Area –The redemption bar is self-proclaimed as one of most of London’s healthiest restaurants, vegan-friendly, along an alcohol-free bar.
● Blues Chicken Place – The blues chicken place is a wonderful place to be. So, you can expect atmospheric lighting, electric musical performance, and a wide range of whiskies in this area. Aside from that, you can also tuck into its delicious Southern American-style menu.
Lewisham Area
This is one of the best places for nature lovers. Whether you decide to live in London, you can guarantee that you won’t be very far away from the natural space. But ultimately, if you’re feeling a little out of touch with nature, we suggest that you move to Lewisham to enjoy different outdoor activities.
Cost of Living in London (2021)
At the beginning of 2021, the average monthly living cost for a single person in the UK was around £2000. As of this moment, the cost of living has increased, and you should be expecting another rise in the price of goods and services in the city. Now, let’s analyze the annual average cost of living.
Average Cost of Living in London
At the moment, the cost of living in London for a single person has gone up to £3000 per month. In addition to this, the annual average cost of living in London for a single person is £35,000, or £2900 per month. As you can see, London is an expensive place to live. Below are the main cost types that make London an expensive city.
- Rent and public transport: the average rent in London per month is approximately £2300 while the average public transport monthly ticket is about £150
- Dinner for two in a London pub is £40 while the theatre tickets for 2 is £180
- Taxi fare for a 5-mile journey on a business day is approximately £27
Can Area affect the cost of living in London?
Of course, many people have been asking this question, and we must tell you that the area you live in London can influence the cost of living. While many costs will remain largely the same, certain things like entertainment and rent may be affected significantly. Please take a look at what we’ve heightened as an expensive cost of living and the normal one.
- The monthly rent for 85 square meters of furnished accommodation in a normal area is £1,950
- Monthly rent for the same accommodation type in an expensive area goes for £2,700
What Salary Can I live comfortably within London?
Well, Londoners think you need to earn around £53,000 to live comfortably in the capital of England. However, like every question on average living costs, this depends entirely on your situation and budget. Your taste in food, entertainment, clothes, and others are some of the factors that could influence your equation. To put things in perspective, the average UK salary in 2021 is £40,000.
Can I live in London for £30k?
While you can manage on a £30k annual salary in London, you may find it challenging to cover your costs. This means you’ll need to economize carefully, and flat-sharing will be a near certainty to make rent manageable while living in London. So, after paying bills, taxes, and general expenses, it’s likely that your monthly savings will reduce.
What’s the average price of an apartment?
If you follow what we’ve explained in this article, you’ll have a glimpse of the average price in London. However, the average price of a house in London is average £514,000. Well, it’s no doubt that prices have been rising steadily for more than 40 years, so be informed about the price of houses in London.
Is London a great place to live?
While London is a great place to work, it’s also the perfect place to relax with family and friends. With numerous bars and traditional British pubs to be found on every corner, there’s no shortage of places to socialize. And this capital city is one of the top 20 safest cities to live in the world.
Are there the worst places to live in London?
Of course, the entire area in London isn’t perfect. So, expect to see some worst places in the capital city of London. Some of these worst places include Newham, West Croydon, Tottenham, Harlesden, Peckham, and many others, to mention a few. So, avoid living in the worst places as an expat.
What is London famous for today?
As of today, landmarks, museums, attractions, and London souvenirs are some of the few things that London is famous for. As one of the top European tourist destinations, people travel to this city from all over the globe to watch world-famous theatre shows, take a ride on the London Eye, and of course, snap a few selfies next to Big Ben.
Tips to Living in London Today
- When traveling in London, it’s not acceptable to stand anywhere on an escalator than the right side
- Depending on where you’re from, it would be better to register your contactless bank card with transport to London
- Always avoid talking to strangers unless you want to freak someone out and convince them you belong to an episode of American Horror Story
- Don’t get the tube everywhere but walk where possible
Conclusion
Have you planned to move to London but you don’t know the right place, the answer is right above. And if you’re not sure, we’re here to convince you that there are many areas to live in in London. Nonetheless, check this platform for more updates regarding moving/living in London as an expat.
