The 8 best places to live in London 2026

Every Londoner thinks they know the best place in the city to live. It’s an easy conversation starter – north or south, east or west? The truth is that every quarter of London has an area to match every person’s criteria. Here at Time Out, we reckon Newington Green is the city’s coolest spot right now.

Lifestyle publication Muddy Stilettos has unveiled its guide to the 260 best places to live in the UK in 2027. There are eight London locales on the list, covering the north, south, east and west of the city.

In compiling its list, the website considered things like community vibe, transport links, schools and nurseries alongside the quality of restaurants, culture and shops on offer. It’s quite a family-oriented roundup, so most spots are near lots of greenery and have a friendly feel about them. Let’s get into it. 

The best places to live in London 2026, according to Muddy Stilettos

Chiswick

With its village-like feel, cosy pubs, blissful riverside walks and a world-renowned pizzeria, what’s not to love about Chiswick? Its high street is home to some of Time Out’s favourite independent stores, like antique bookseller Foster Books and labyrinthine vintage furniture store the Old Cinema. Muddy Stilettos added that ‘excellent schools, handsome period homes and easy connections to central London make it a firm family favourite’. 

Explore Time Out’s guide to the best things to do in Chiswick here. 

Clapton

Muddy Stilettos called Clapton ‘leafy, creative and just the right side of edgy’ (whatever that means). Just like Chiswick, it was highlighted for its swathe of independent shops and characterful pubs (Irish pub Moyletts is one of our new favourites). Residents here also get to enjoy the beautiful Lee Valley and the shedloads of cultural stuff going on at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

Crouch End

Pubs, restaurants, indie shops and creative spirit abound in Crouch End. Muddy Stilettos said that this area ‘feels more like a  buzzy market town than a corner of north London’. Grand boozer the Queens reopened in the summer offering the neighbourhood a new and improved place to go for pints and there’s also  Floral Hall for cocktails and small plates, Les 2 Garcons for French fare and Dunn’s Bakery for sweet treats. Alexandra Palace with its fantastic year-round events is just a stone’s throw away. 

Greenwich

All the way down south, Greenwich made Muddy Stilletos’ list for ‘riverside pubs, world-class museums, a glorious Royal Park and one of London’s best markets’. Locals are right next to the O2 Arena, have their pick of glorious pubs, cafes and restos (such as Davy’s Wine Vaults, Kinaara and River Gardens Cafe) and of course Greenwich Market and the sprawling Greenwich Park. Sound up your street? Be prepared to pay around £590,000 for an average house here. 

Take a look at Time Out’s guide to Greenwich’s greatest pubs here. 

Herne Hill

Brockwell Park, Brockwell Lido, the excellent 2210 by NattyCanCook and the well-stocked Florence pub are just a few of the pulls of Herne Hill. It’s a village-like spot between Brixton and Dulwich that people pay handsomely to live in. Over the past year average house prices are £730,694 and flats sold for an average of £499,798. 

Tooting

Tooting offers slightly cheaper properties, with houses selling for an average of £661,008. For that, residents get to make the most of Tooting Lido (the UK’s largest outdoor freshwater swimming pool) and restaurants like Daddy Bao, Watan, Smoke & Salt and The Little Taperia. A ‘serious community spirit’ also adds to the appeal. 

Walthamstow

It’s got a beer mile, it’s got the Soho Theatre, it’s got the William Morris Gallery, it’s got a fine spread of restaurants... we could go on. Muddy Stilettos calls Walthamstow ‘under-the-radar’ but at Time Out we’ve been aware of its brilliance for some time, having named it London’s coolest neighbourhood back in 2022. In the last 12 months, houses have averaged £603,582 and flats £431,843. 

Check out Time Out’s guide to the best things to do in Walthamstow here.

Wimbledon 

‘Countryside charm with city convenience’, is how Muddy Stiletto describes Wimbledon. More than just somewhere tennis greats come every summer, SW19 has the glorious Wimbledon Common for brisk autumn walks, restaurants like Cent Anni and Fire Stables for weekend outings and a whole host of lovely independent shops. You’ll pay a pretty penny to own a property here, with flats sitting at an average of £488,634 and houses costing around £833,600 at the moment. 

Discover the best things to do in Wimbledon here. 

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