A guide to living in Central London

Only a privileged few are lucky enough to call Central London home. This is one of the most famous cities in the world, so naturally, living in its heart doesn’t come cheap. With house prices falling largely into the multi-million pound bracket, residents here tend to be politicians, celebrities and those born into ready-made fortunes. Read on to discover the developments that are rated as the best places to live in Central London. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Central London.

Excellent

70.1%

Very Good

24.4%

Average

5.1%

Disappointing

0.4%

Very poor

0.0%

Best places to live in Central London

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 45

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Dolphin Square, SW1

By Dolphin Square Operator Limited

Award winner 2025

4.45

(95 reviews)

Dolphin Square is a landmark residential estate in the heart of Pimlico, London SW1. Built between 1935 and 1937, it spans 7.5 acres with 1,234 apartments across 13 blocks, set within 3.5 acres of Grade II-listed gardens. Offering studio to four-bedroom homes, each apartment is thoughtfully designed with a range of layouts, finishes and views. Residents benefit from premium amenities including a fitness centre, spa, swimming pool and co-working spaces, all within a pet-friendly environment. Perfectly located in central London, Dolphin Square places you moments from key business districts, Government hubs, and world-class culture and entertainment, delivering a rare balance of tranquillity and vibrant city living.

1st

Ranked 1st out of 10 in Central London

View development

The Eagle, EC1

By Mount Anvil

4.64

(11 reviews)

The Eagle is a Mount Anvil development in the City of London. This high-rise building comprises of both residential units and commercial space. There are 276 apartments here, 70 of which are Family Mosaic affordable housing units. The Eagle is close to Old Street station and an easy walk from the vibrant London neighbourhoods of Shoreditch and Hoxton.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 10 in Central London

View development

Lexicon, EC1

By Mount Anvil

4.41

(14 reviews)

Mount Anvil and Clarion Housing Group partnered to bring Lexicon – also known The Chronicle Tower – to the Islington borough, and its 115 metres and 36 storeys make it the area’s tallest. There are 146 units here – a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, set on City Road by Regent’s Canal, and edged by Angel, Shoreditch, Clerkenwell and Farringdon.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 10 in Central London

View development

Fitzroy Place, W1

By Aviva Investors, Exemplar Properties

4.39

(11 reviews)

Fitzroy Place is a mixed-use development built on the site of the old Middlesex Hospital in the heart of London's West End. It features 200 residential units – one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses – and a number of commercial outlets. Residents enjoy first-class transport links around London, thanks to nearby Goodge Street and Oxford Circus, which provide access to the Northern, Victoria, Central and Bakerloo lines.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 10 in Central London

View development

Canaletto London, EC1V

By Groveworld

4.24

(9 reviews)

Canaletto London is a development by Groveworld, which features 190 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and studios in a 31-storey tower. Situated in City Road in Hoxton, the development is less than a ten-minute walk away from Old Street Underground and rail station, with connections to the Northern line and Great Northern rail services. Victoria Miro gallery is within walking distance to the property.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 10 in Central London

View development

Page 1 of 9

Featured developments in Central London

Latest Reviews in Central London

254 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 253

Lucy Barrett (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Highly recommend

Lucy Barrett (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

I have absolutely loved living at Dolphin Square, I am truly sad to be living. As a single women living alone I really appreciated the security team, they always made me feel safe and always there to help. The facilities are kept to a high standard and all the staff are always incredible calm, patient and helpful. Sadly I’m moving on but after 5 years being at Dolphin Square it will always be a place I called home.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Excellent location! Its very quiet for somewhere so central. Plenty of shops and the tube is a stone throw away.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They respond straight away and without trouble. No issue

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

A few apartments are allowed to smoke. Not great when the corridor smells like smoke but thankfully the smell doesn’t enter the apartment, and if it does then they will see it it immediately. Not ideal for price you pay in rent but I managed to live her for 5 years without it becoming a huge issue.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Natali (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Excellent service and a great place to live

Natali (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

I have had a very positive experience with Dolphin Square. The building and surroundings are very pleasant and well maintained, and the location is excellent. A special thank you to Atikah and Micky for their professionalism, kindness and support. They were always friendly, responsive and ready to help with any questions. They made the whole process, including moving in, much easier and less stressful. I really appreciate their help and excellent service.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The area is very convenient and pleasant. Pimlico Underground station is nearby, and there are shops, cafés and restaurants within walking distance. The neighbourhood feels quiet and comfortable, while central London is very easy to reach.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

I have only recently moved in, so I haven’t had any significant problems yet. However, whenever I have had questions, the team has been very responsive, helpful and professional.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Everything was explained very clearly before I moved in. The team provided all the information I needed, so there were no surprises. Everything has been very good.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Mae Sullivan (Tenant)

Unverified

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Very good safe environment

Mae Sullivan (Tenant)

Unverified

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Very good Parking spaces safe place good scenery.could have more bins close shops close to bus stops

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

each time I call for an inconvenience they sort it

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

There would be quite a lot of building works/noise

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Aaditi Parmar (Tenant)

Unverified

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Dolphin square review

Aaditi Parmar (Tenant)

Unverified

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

We’ve had such a positive experience with Atikah and Mickey throughout the process of finding and moving into our new home. Mickey was our main point of contact when we first viewed the property and was incredibly helpful throughout the process. He was always happy to answer our questions, explain things clearly and help us whenever we needed it. His support made the whole process of viewing the apartment and getting everything arranged feel so much easier. The apartment itself is absolutely beautiful and has been an amazing place to live. We love the space, the quality of the apartment and the overall experience of living here. It really feels like somewhere we can call home. Atikah has also been amazing since we moved in. She has been incredibly friendly, responsive and helpful with all of our questions, always making sure that any issues or queries we have are dealt with. It’s been really reassuring knowing that we can reach out whenever we need help. Both Mickey and Atikah have been lovely to deal with and have made the whole experience, from viewing the apartment to moving in, really positive. We’re so happy with our new home and would definitely recommend the apartment and the team to anyone looking for somewhere to live!

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The area is really convenient, with a great range of shops, restaurants and bars nearby, as well as plenty of open spaces to enjoy. Transport links are excellent and make it easy to get around, with convenient access to public transport. The street itself is generally quiet and pleasant, with good parking availability and no major issues with noise, traffic or anti-social behaviour. Overall, it’s a lovely and convenient area to live in.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management team has been very responsive and helpful whenever we have raised any questions or issues. They are easy to contact, friendly and quick to provide support or arrange assistance when needed.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The apartment is even better once you move in, and the building feels modern, well maintained and welcoming. The facilities and location are a big plus, with plenty of shops, restaurants and transport links nearby. My main tip for a new neighbour would be to take some time to explore the local area because there is so much within easy reach. Overall, it’s a lovely place to live and we’ve really enjoyed our experience so far.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Maya (Tenant)

Unverified

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Super. And unbelievably fast move in!

Maya (Tenant)

Unverified

Dolphin Square, SW1

Sept 2026

Atikah, Mickey, the reception team, the finance team, and literally everyone else from the DSQ office has been absolutely incredible in helping us find a unit and move into it comfortably. Everything was done within a week! They work really hard to ensure you have a smooth experience throughout the process. We’ve also had very good experiences working with them on any questions and clarifications we had since we moved into our new unit. Totally recommend he place and the team.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

This is a great neighborhood - very close to a school, the riverfront, tube stations, the Battersea power station, and Sloane Square. Very safe, yet happening.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Very prompt. Via email, WhatsApp, or in person. If hey are super proactive.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

There’s some active construction work. Not a lot. But some parts of the community are affected for short periods of time with ongoing work. But the team is super active about keeping residents informed.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Page 1 of 51

These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews user and not of HomeViews

Useful articles

Borough of Camden

Few places in the capital ooze cool like Camden. This popular Borough covers a large area but is more recognised for Camden Town. Its gritty, bohemian vibe has long-drawn a mesmerising mix of characters, from free spirits to punks, goths to rockers. And there lies its charm. Read on to find out the best places to live in Camden and also, what it is like to buy or rent in Camden.

Go to article

City of London

If you’re after a home with bags of character in a peaceful neighbourhood, look away now. The City of London or, ‘Square Mile’, made for those who want to work and play hard. The streets given over to glossy high-rise buildings and very little green space; in order to pack in as many offices and luxury apartments as geographically possible. Read on to discover developments that are the best places to live in the City of London. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in the City of London.

Go to article

Borough of Hackney

Once upon a time, Hackney was topping lists of Britain’s worst places to live. But the borough has had a colossal transformation in recent years. and now, E8 is one of the capital’s most fashionable postcodes. Read on to discover developments that are the best places to live in Hackney. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Hackney.

Go to article

Borough of Islington

Islington is a borough of many faces. Its mish-mash of neighbourhoods each have their own distinct personality, from the urban bars and pubs of Angel to the chintzy antique stores of Camden Passage. Its properties have many guises, too – there are in-the-thick-of-it luxury apartments, and period townhouses sitting shoulder to shoulder on sleepy backstreets. Read on to discover more about the Islington area, as well as, quotes from residents living in some of the best places in Islington.

Go to article

Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is up there with the capital’s most affluent areas. It commands top market prices, but its residents can call some of the UK’s most beautiful buildings home. Structures here range from elegant Victorian townhouses, characterised by stepped porches and wrought-iron gates, to lavish Georgian mansions shrouded by London plane trees. Read on to learn the top rated places to live in Kensington and Chelsea.

Go to article

South Bank

Known as London’s Cultural Heart, the riverside neighbourhood of South Bank calls the Thames’ southern shores home, and is sandwiched between Westminster Bridge and London Bridge. It’s a place to move to if you like lots going on and, with its plethora of famous sites, it’s somewhere you can play London tourist as often as you like. Read on to discover developments that are rated the best places to live in South Bank. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in South Bank.

Go to article

Borough of Westminster

You’ll spot scenes of Westminster on most London postcards, and it’s little wonder. After all, this place hosts riverside icons like the House of Lords, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Not to mention the black taxis and scarlet phone boxes synonymous with England’s capital. Some of the country’s best-preserved Georgian mansions can be found in its neighbourhoods, too, sitting pretty in the quiet, leafy streets of Maida Vale and Belgravia. Also, let’s not forget the glittering lights of the West End, the best place to catch dinner and a show. Read on to read reviews from residents living in some of the best places to live in Westminster.

Go to article

Borough of Tower Hamlets

Diverse, vibrant and with its finger well and truly on the pulse – that’s London’s Tower Hamlets. It’s what we like to call the Selfridges of the capital’s boroughs, in that it truly offers something for everyone. Art lover? Foodie? Or Fitness fanatic? Read on to discover developments that are rated the best places to live in Tower Hamlets. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Tower Hamlets.

Go to article