Archway is a wonderful place to live. I know it doesn't look like much when you come out of the tube but it has dramatically improved over the last two years and living here is great. The transport is amazing with zone 2 tube and loads of buses to all over London as well as the overland at Upper Holloway. There are also great places to eat and drink, like the St Johns pub, 500 (Italians travel from around London to this restaurant), Spaghi, Harman, Del Parc and Bread and Bean cafe. Easy shopping too with Co-op, Sainsburys and Budgens - and a fab beauty salon called Beautiful! It's a 20 minute walk to Swains Lane and the Parliament Hill side of the Heath and a walk away from Highgate, or if you prefer 2 minutes on the bus. There is also Whittington Park just down the road which has a great kids playground and there is Waterlow Park about 10 minutes walk away which is beautiful. For the kiddies there is the Archway Childrens Centre on Vorley Road which is superb. Activities for babies and toddlers every day, most of which are free. We go to baby yoga and stay and play as often as we can. Not only do the babies love it but it's full of lovely mummies and there is a cafe there for a drink or lunch also. I grew up in Hampstead, and moved to Archway to live with my boyfriend now husband - I never thought we would stay here but we've been here 6 years now and love it. We never want to leave, and have just bought a house in Whitehall Park on the hill between Archway and Highgate. Islington Council has put a large pot of money aside to invest in Archway regeneration and there is a strong agenda to turn the roundabout into a two way system with pedestrian areas to improve public space so Archway is really on the up. There is a wonderful sense of community and people say hello to each other on the street. I couldn't recommend it more.