North West London

If fuss-free London transport links and masses of greenery are big draws, then living in North West London will certainly appeal. Property developers have been concentrating on this slice of the city more heavily in recent years. The new homes have drawn those seeking everything from a more affordable lifestyle to village-like credentials and reputable schools. Read on to discover developments that are rated the best places to live in North West London. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in North West London.

4.24
Average Location Score

Excellent

50%

Very Good

31%

Average

13%

Disappointing

3%

Very Poor

3%

Best places to live in North West London

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

Colindale from above

Multi-cultural Colindale

Take Colindale, as an example. The up-and-coming NW9 postcode is home to a number of residential developments; which are largely huddled around the area’s namesake tube station. It’s on the Northern line and, from here, commuters are transported to King’s Cross in just over 20 minutes, and into the heart of the West End in half an hour. Road links are worth shouting about, too. The A41 and M1 are right on the doorstep. It’s just a short drive along the former to Brent Cross, best-known for its mammoth shopping centre. It neighbours the North Circular and was actually the country’s first enclosed mall.

Transport props aside, Colindale is a wonderfully diverse part of North West London. With tandoori restaurants sharing space with Chinese medicine shops and an enormous Asian street food market.

Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath’s ancient acres

Move a short distance south-east and there’s Hampstead. A haven with a hamlet feel, brimming with immaculate cafés and quality gastropubs; and tucked among the much-loved (and well-trodden) ancient acres of Hampstead Heath. Sprawling across a massive 320 hectares, this is as close as it gets to countryside living in a London postcode. Discover woodlands and ponds teeming with wildlife, children’s play areas and Parliament Hill; one of London’s best viewpoints and picnic spots.

Attractions in St John’s Wood

Further south we have glamorous St John’s Wood, set just to the east of edgy duo Kilburn and Queen’s Park. NW8 offers a slower pace of life and is wonderfully devoid of tourists. The quiet, spotless streets are full of elegant pavement cafés and expensive clothing boutiques, and family days out come courtesy of London Zoo, Primrose Hill and the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

River with Houses in the background

Live music and markets in Camden

Neighbours Camden & Kentish Town are arguably the most talked-about areas in North West London – largely down to an impeccable live music scene. Long-standing establishments such as The Forum, Koko and The Roundhouse have welcomed stars such as Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Madonna to get the crowds going, so if it’s lively nights out you’re after, you’ll feel right at home here.

Camden Market is just as celebrated as the area’s acoustics and needs little introduction. Whether it’s neon-soaked clubwear or Indonesian street food on the shopping list, you’ll find it in one of its eclectic bazaars, which are characterised by five ‘zones’: The Stables, Buck Street, Electric Ballroom, Inverness Street and Camden Lock. Kentish Town, meanwhile, serves up a more sedate shopping scene. Admittedly, it’s less of an open-air theatre, but its curious book stores and charity shops are not to be sniffed at.

You can find out more about living in the area by reading reviews from residents. Click on the developments below to find out more about residents’ experiences and also, to discover the best places to live and rent in North West London. Moreover, If there’s a property that you can’t see on HomeViews, you can add a new listing and leave your review here.

Reviews in North West London

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The design of the building itself is lovely from an aesthetic point of view

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

Madison has excellent transportation connections with the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines. Situated right next to Wembley Stadium, the neighborhood is always clean and feels safe. One drawback is the lack of green spaces in the neighborhood; we only have a small park. The building is also close to the Designer Outlet, which has been fantastic to have. However, I wish there were more cafes and restaurant options nearby. Additionally, perhaps more major shops within walking distance other than Sainsbury’s would be beneficial.

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The design of the building itself is lovely from an aesthetic point of view. We were impressed when we first visited. The soundproofing on the walls and windows is impeccable; we have been here for more than a year and have had no issues with noise, either from neighbors or stadium events. I wish the same proofing applied to the main door coming into the flats, they transfer every small sound happening in front of your door, whether people walking or another door closing. Yet, my only issue with sound is with the main door coming into the flats; it transfers every small sound happening in front of your door, whether it’s people walking or another door closing. I wish the same level of soundproofing applied to the main door. Additionally, the painting material is very easy to stain and impossible to remove without removing the paint itself. The facilities, such as the working space and terrace, are also very nice, spacious, and useful to have. Unfortunately, the gym is quite small and a bit grim, but it is always kept in tip-top shape. The building management team has always been attentive and very helpful in our inquiries; special thanks to Maria 🙂 The team always has a very positive attitude and makes you feel welcome every day you come into the building.

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

The weekend street market isn’t a regular occurrence, but we were thrilled to see it when we visited the Wembley Park area. It contributed to our immediate decision to rent the place, as it gave off a neighborly feeling. The market gets set up once a month or so once the weather gets better.

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

Building management has been very responsive to our inquiries. However, I believe one of the key issues lies with the maintenance team’s allocation of resources and time for each flat. When they do come, they are always very skilled at what they do and are pleasant to converse with (we have had over 3 minor issues and were visited by different people, from someone dealing with white goods to painting walls to fixing furniture). However, there are times when they are unable to visit us promptly upon our complaint. I think they may be either stretched a bit too thin with staff or that the management of the maintenance team could be improved.

4
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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An excellent place to live-in.

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

The property is in a good location and close proximity to so many restaurants, transportation, shopping centres and sporting facilities.

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The design-layout of the apartment is specious, warm and comfortable. It is a lovely community environment to live in. All management office staff, security and cleaners are professional and helpful in their duties. They are all available to support and assist the residents.

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

The double glazing windows make the apartment warm and reduce noise from outside. This made it suitable for a good home working environment.

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

They management staff are proactive and very helpful.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
User submitted image of  Bradstowe House, HA1
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Good but a few small issues.

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

There are lots of amenities within a 5m walk. Grocery stores, butchers and plenty of restaurants in the area. Bus links are good and very close, and the nearest tube station is a 5-8m walk away.

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The building is nice, fairly clean and easy to navigate inside. The design is a bit plain inside but ok, and the building itself is not very well marked from the outside, the sign is quite small. The lifts work most of the time but the parking barrier in the carpark has been broken more than it works.

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

I wish I’d known there was planning permission on progress to build a hotel next door.

What is the best feature of your home:

The best feature is the high ceilings. The place seems much more spacious than other new build apartments that I saw before purchasing a property.

4
Facilities
3
Design
4
Location
3
Value
2
Management
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Pretty good but some issues.

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

There are lots of restaurants and pubs in the local area as well as grocery stores, pharmacies and butchers.

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The development is ok. The design is quite plain and the white walls can sometimes get dirty. Security sometimes isn’t up to standard as parcels go missing but the building is kept clean and bins empties regularly. The maintenance can be a bit slow and lifts can sometimes be broken for a few days. The car park barrier is always broken.

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

Wish I’d known there was about to be a hotel or other high rise building next door.

What is the best feature of your home:

The best feature is the spacious rooms which make the place feel larger than most new build apartments.

4
Facilities
2
Design
4
Location
4
Value
2
Management
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