Where do upper and middle class families live in London now?

[camilr]

Moved out of London ages ago but still enjoy browsing houses online (usually the ones I could never afford, just looking for fun, you know the type) and was wondering with how expensive prices are these days where the posh areas of london are considered to be now?

I know they used to be mainly Kensington and Chelsea, but I feel like I see many families who tend to sway more middle/upper class living in areas like Wandsworth, Fulham, Putney, Shepherd’s Bush, and even as far as Acton. The original Ken&Chelsea bits seem to have mainly the very rich who can afford the homes, this who have inherited passed down family homes, and international families living abroad there now.

Even some of the traditional prep schools that I would hear about being popular seem to have just as many international families there as British ones now too? Has this area just priced out the older more traditional British families, where do they live now?

Islington, Stoke Newington, Walthamstow Wimbledon, Richmond, Twickenham, Chiswick. For younger families, quite a lot of SE London has been rapidly gentrified (places like Beckenham, for example).

Lots of places you wouldn’t have dreamt of visiting 30 years ago are now thriving MC/UMC enclaves.

@ForZanyAquaViewer I think that’s why it’s so surprising to me that these areas have become so popular now because years ago it was middle and upper class families that always seemed to stick to the same areas! I wonder how this will effect the older west/east London divide as housing prices continue to increase?
I’ve know friends who would never have given a thought to living in East London but have had children who have gone on to live in East London after leaving Uni due to the cheaper housing (although haven’t heard of any staying to raise families there yet). Even though as children they’ve had a very nice upbringing going through boarding prep school onto public school etc. that now view East London as a trendy place to live.

East London (inner East, so Shoreditch, Dalston, etc) is a fantastic place to live. Particularly if you’re young. I suspect most twenty somethings (of any background) would much rather live in Shoreditch than Kensington. It’s vibrant, trendy and also not at all cheap. I know people renting two bed flats for £3.5k a month.

The interesting thing is that most young people and young families, unless they are exceedingly well heeled (and even with parental help), simply cannot afford to buy anywhere in zones 1-2 at all. East or West. So, in terms of home ownership, there’s been a gradual exodus further and further out by people who in previous generations would have stayed put. It’ll be really interesting to see what happens over the next 20 years.

Depends on your brand of MC/UMC. The uber-wealthy live in Chelsea or in Highgate. The slightly horsey, probably grew up in Surrey and had a pony set are in Wandsworth, Putney, Chiswick, Richmond. The artsy rich (might pretend to think about sending their children to state school, probably work in a vaguely creative field, hideously expensive but vintage looking bicycles etc) are in Crouch End, Stoke Newington, Islington. The Trustafarian hipsters buying flats outright on Mummy and Daddy’s money but shopping in Aldi because it’s “ironic” are all in Hackney, Dalston, Stoke Newington.

@ForZanyAquaViewer I hope my previous comment did not come off as disparaging East London! When I’ve been back to London over the years East London is definitely a fasntastic place to visit (and live too, I see the appeal that younger people have), mainly was trying to speak to the gentrification which is happening now in the area.
Also didn’t realize how expensive certain areas over there were getting now too! Everything in London seems so unreasonable for young families to afford these days I can see why they’ve moved outwards, but then there’s only so far they can go out at a point too.

This is perfect. 🤣

@TaggieO I think you’ve gotten the different brands of posho londoners pretty spot on!
Guess I was thinking more of the “slightly horsey, probably grew up in Surrey and had a pony” set which likely would have descended from the Sloane rangers of the 80s and where they have gone too now.
Think the artsier ones have always been a bit all over the place trying to push the limits (as they saw it, back then was when they thought moving to Notting Hill was revolutionary, and look at it today!)

Anywhere that locals refer to as a “village” in London is posh but also has an informal vibe.

Marylebone is the classic example. See also Hampstead & Highgate.

In East London, Victoria park village is expensive & trendy (not sure if it could be properly described as posh though houses there can cost millions).