Contrary to what our name may lead you to believe, here at Secret Londonthere are, in fact, a few things that we’re not particularly surreptitious about. One of which being the rather sizeable soft spot that we have for this big, bright, and brilliant city of ours. You’ll often find me (both literally and figurately) shouting from the rooftops about how much I love London. But being such a big fan of every nook and cranny of the capital (and imagining I’d be pretty darn content living in a number of its neighbourhoods) sure does make it tricky to pinpoint the best of the bunch. And so it’s really quite convenient that Muddy Stilettos (and its loyal readers) have done that job for us.
The leading lifestyle publication have recently done some rather thorough research to reveal the best places to live in the UK. Their trusty team scoured the length and breadth of the country, rummaging though spots ranging from big bustling towns to teeny-tiny villages to find – what they believe to be – the loveliest places to live. 300 areas made the shortlistand then Muddy Stilettos handed it over to their readers. Over 30,000 votes were counted to reveal the best places to reside across the UK. And Muddy Stilettos very handily split the results into separate regions, making it ever so easy to discover that the best place to live in London is (drum roll, please…) Islington.
London’s best place to live
Seamlessly blending a hip-and-happening city atmosphere with a quaint-and-quiet village vibe; Islington really does have a little bit of everything. This (once far less desirable) north London locale was originally responsible for keeping a lot of the capital fed and watered. But it’s now one of the most sought-after spots in the city – and it’s not too hard to see why.
Bursting at the seams with things to see and do; living in Islington would certainly never be boring. Home to a plethora of independent shops and cafes, a whole host of restaurants and bars, and an abundance of green space; Islington has something to appeal to everyone. Just a stone’s throw from the Regent’s Canalthere are plenty of walking and cycling routes nearby. And the area also has a pretty impressive cultural offering, boasting the beloved likes of Union Chapel and the King’s Head Theatre.
Islington has fantastic transport links, brilliant schools, and is also home to some pretty gorgeous architecture – including 52-55 Newington Green. This picture-perfect row of terraced houses date all the way back to 1658, making them the oldest of their kind in London. Not bad, hey?
To be quite honest with your, folks, I could sit and wax lyrical about Islington all day. But I won’t. Instead I’ll mildly crush your dreams by telling you how much it would actually set you back to live there. The average house price in the area costs (a rather eye-watering) £1.15 million. The average flat will cost you around £600,000. And renting a two bedroom property in the area will set you back approximately £2300 per month. Blimey.
The best places to live in London (according to Muddy Stilettos readers):
- Islington
- Kensington
- Wandsworth
- East Dulwich
- Wimbledon
- Teddington
- Walthamstow
- Dartmouth Park
- Queen’s Park
If you’re wondering where else in the UK was hailed a pretty great place to reside; you can have a browse of the full list here.
