London’s Zone 2 suburbs offer a great mix of benefits for residents. From great transport links in Deptford to uber-cool Camden and the quiet leafy comforts of Hampstead, there’s something for everyone. In this roundup, we reveal the best places to live in Zone 2 London, according to residents reviewing their new developments.
The best new homes in Zone 2 London
Our list of the best Zone 2 locations is made up of the 10 new homes developments with the highest average star rating from our resident reviewers. Click on any of the listed developments below, and you’ll see its overall rating (out of 5 stars), a breakdown of how residents rate it, and the full list of reviews.
With all the listed developments maintaining star averages above 4.6, it’s clear to see that Zone 2 has plenty of top-notch options available. Take a look at what Zone 2 has to offer below. Simply click on the developments to find out more and read everything that the residents have to say about where they live.
Taking the top prize in Zone 2 is Glasshouse Gardens from Lendlease. This residential development near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London features a mix of studios and one, two and three-bedroom apartments, all of which overlook the park. Stratford International station and Westfield Stratford City are both within close proximity.
In second place, The Quarters Swiss Cottage accommodates 102 self-contained spacious units for short-term stays. Guests can enjoy a range of services and amenities, including in house maintenance and housekeeping. Similarly, Finchley Road station is less than a minute’s walk away, meaning easy access to transport links. Likewise, there is a great selection of shops, restaurants, bars and outdoor space close by.
Next up is Anthology Hoxton Press, which routinely impresses its residents with studio, one, two and three-bedroom homes designed by world renowned Karakusevic Carson Architects and David Chipperfield Architects. Its main buildings, Mono and Duo sit between a community café and some beautifully landscaped gardens. The development is located in the regeneration area of the Colville Estate, nestled between Shoreditch Park and the Regent’s Canal.
Taking fourth place, the Quarters Kilburn is located in North West London, and is offering 82 self-contained studios. Additionally, Kilburn Park station is a 5-minute journey away. As a result, residents have access to Central London – Euston is only a 7-minute journey. Furthermore, residents benefit from parking, a concierge service and a communal lounge.
Fifth-placed Arundel Square is a United House Development located in Islington. It comprises 147 apartments and residents have access to a range of amenities, for example a concierge, bike storage, parking and gardens. The development is conveniently situated just a few minutes walk from both Highbury and Islington station and Caledonian Road & Barnsbury station.
In sixth place, we have Dressage Court. This rental-only development by Essential Living has one, two and three-bed apartments, all with access to the gym, communal living room, games area and a rooftop terrace with excellent views of the City and Canary Wharf. Residents also enjoy the easy access to Bethnal Green’s Tube and rail stations.
Taking seventh place in our list of the best new build developments in London’s Zone 2 is Coda. Flying the flag for southwest London, Coda is a new development of apartments by Avanton. The development is situated next to the Thames in Battersea and is home to the Royal Academy of Dance.
30 Harbord Square, from the Canary Wharf Group, offers a selection of affordable studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments in Canary Wharf. Every apartment has been designed to a high-specification and all residents benefit from waterside views of the Thames or westwards towards Canary Wharf. The development is set on Canary Wharf’s latest neighbourhood, Wood Wharf, and the buzzing residential community set within acres of parks, overlooking the O2 and Greenwich.
In ninth place, Greystar’s Sailmakers is a Build to Rent scheme, which comprises 327 apartments. It is within the mixed-use Galliard Homes development, Harbour Central. The site is situated on the Isle of Dogs close to the River Thames, and less than a 10-minute walk from the heart of Canary Wharf. In addition, transport links come courtesy of nearby South Quay DLR and Canary Wharf’s DLR and Underground services. Residents enjoy fast and frequent connections to the likes of Bank and Monument.
Taking the final spot in a competitive list of London’s best Zone 2 new build properties, is Queen’s Park Place. This new-build development from London Newcastle is made up of 116 contemporary apartments and penthouses arranged around private courtyard gardens. It’s neighboured by Queen’s Park station, which offers Bakerloo line services into Paddington Station in less than 10 minutes.
About 700,000 foreign-born London residents left the capital during the pandemic. This exodus saw rental prices fall by nearly 7% across the city. However, since life has returned to normal, rental prices have been on an upward curve yet again. As of December 2023, the median rent for a property in London was £3,012 PCM.
Zone 2 covers a lot of areas that are very different from each other. This means that both house prices and rental rates vary widely across the zone. While the whole zone’s average house price is £998,203, many areas have averaged significantly less.
As we’ve seen in HomeViews reviews, both indoor and outdoor space is more desirable than ever and smaller properties in London could suffer in terms of attracting interest. However, if you can live without a garden or terrace, you may find opportunities to make some savings in Zone 2.
Inspired to start your search for a new place to live in London’s Zone 2? Simply click on any of the developments above or check out our area guides for more details.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.
