Top 10 best places to live in London

Bromley is our top-rated London location, with an average score of 4.69 out of 5 among reviewers in the borough. Bromley is the largest of the 32 London boroughs, stretching from Crystal Palace and Mottingham in the north right down to Biggin Hill in the south. It’s also a borough that transitions dramatically from suburban to rural, with farmland making up around 30% of its total area. The principal town of Bromley offers residents a 20-minute commute into central London and attracts families and young professionals seeking affordable housing and top quality schools.

Richmond Upon Thames takes second place, with an average location score of 4.57. This has been rising over the past year, as even more positive reviews come through. Consistently voted one of Britain’s happiest places to live, Richmond Upon Thames is an affluent residential district. And why wouldn’t its residents be smiling from ear to ear? This Zone 4 London borough connects to hotspots like Clapham Junction and Victoria. But, with its rural, riverside setting and fascinating royal history, it could easily be mistaken for somewhere like Windsor.

Jumping from fifth to third place in recent months, Islington scores 4.56 out of 5 for its location rating. 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.

Another big riser is Lewisham, jumping from 10th all the way up to 4th since our last review, with a score of 4.56 out of 5. Lewisham lies just a few miles south-east of Central London. It’s a borough given a little more than just a fresh coat of paint in recent years. In fact, this area has seen plenty in the way of renovation, including, a transformation of the town centre and a brand-new riverside park. As such, it moved at lightning-speed into the ‘up-and-comer’ category a couple of years back. Then, in the blink of an eye, it became highly sought-after, courtesy of its affordable homes and fantastic transport links.

Sutton takes fifth place with an average score of 4.53. Sutton is a hugely popular commuter spot for young families seeking more space outside central London areas. Excellent schools add to its appeal, alongside plenty of open green spaces and good value homes. The town of Sutton offers a great selection of family homes, from 20s and 30s semis to large detached houses and Edwardian period properties, as well as some very popular new build developments.

Located in North East London, Waltham Forest is our sixth highest-rated London location, with an average rating of 4.52 out of 5. Waltham Forest is one of the largest boroughs in the city. It comprises several distinct areas, each with its own unique charms. The population of the borough is diverse and vibrant, making it a great place to live.

Hackney comes in at number seven in our London location rankings, scoring an average of 4.52 out of 5. Once upon a time, Hackney was topping lists of Britain’s worst places to live. Happily, the borough has had a colossal transformation in recent years and now, E8 is one of the capital’s most fashionable postcodes.

Croydon is close behind Hackney with a score of 4.51 out of 5, but finds itself just below in eighth place. There are two great reasons to live in Croydon, these go hand in hand to make it a compelling choice; its relatively cheap property prices and its excellent transport links into Central London. On top of that, numerous initiatives are transforming Croydon and helping make its once dowdy image a thing of the past.

Harrow takes an average location score of 4.48 out of 5. Chances are, if you’ve never been to Harrow before you’ll have only heard of its famous occupant, Harrow School. And you’d be forgiven. With ex-pupils including Winston Churchill, Richard Curtis and Benedict Cumberbatch, it’s easy to see why the establishment’s been given more column inches than the rest of the area over the years. But Harrow has lots more to offer. For starters, it’s located just 13 miles from Central London, close to sprawling countryside, and neighboured by Stanmore, Hendon, Wembley and Ruislip.

Rounding off our Top 10 list is Kingston Upon Thames’, with a location average score of 4.37 out of 5. Kingston Upon Thames is a vibrant and dynamic town that has something to offer for everyone. It boasts an incredible range of shops, restaurants and pubs in its historic town centre. Meanwhile, the many parks and green spaces provide the perfect backdrop to Kingston’s famous Tudor architecture. With such a diverse range of attractions, it’s no wonder that Kingston Upon Thames continues to attract new residents from all over the country.