What would you consider the loveliest neighbourhood in london to live in?

[Londondoll]

And by loveliest I (personally) mean - strong, friendly sense of community, access to green spaces, villagey shops, safe vibe...

Herne hill, Blackheath, Dulwich or Hampstead

Nottinghill or Belsize Park

Crystal Palace

Primrose Hill

Crouch end

Kew

Wim village

Notting Hill (slightly biased.)

Barnes also very nice. And East Sheen.

I'm so glad I found this thread! Can I ask you lovelies to think about if you were now single, in your 50's with most Darlings out of the nest, but back in often enough to require a 3bedroom, NOW where would you recommend with exactly the same criteria as @Londondoll? Contrary to many, I'm now moving IN to London.

@kaelle do you have a budget for your 3 bed?

Hi @ricstar, It always feels tricky to state amounts on mumsnet, though I know I shouldn't feel that way. I have a good budget but I don't want to blow for nothing...I won't pay for Chelsea, even though there are some lovely little mews etc. I want a great neighbourhood where I can establish myself, meet new friends, etc. I need something with a garden because I have my doggies, so I also want a great park to walk them in which will also help me meet people...

A few years back I was supporting a friend in a similar position who was going through a nasty divorce. My advice was to envisage an end goal that she could arrive at once the nightmare was over.

She just could not see it, so I suggested a three bed house in a nice community with book clubs etc, where her student and young adult children could come and go. Putney perhaps. And guess what, she now lives in Putney, with one or two of her kids currently at home but within reach of the two who are married.

She seems happy.

Chiswick, Wimbledon, Kew, perhaps Teddington would also work.

No worries I think Hampstead or st John wood maybe Holland Park for central or Barnes or Wimbledon if you want to be slightly further out. I have always fancied bloomsbury too. Sighs, just need to quadruple our budget.

Parsons Green. Everyone has been friendly, loads of nice places to eat and shop. Parisians Green, Eel Brook Common and South Park all close. Tube and buses into central London. It’s about £1.25 to £1.5m for a small three bed terrace. £1-1.25m in Sands End or Munster Rd but they’re not as nice.
I’m moving back into London too. Love it and want to be able to walk everywhere.

I’ve lived in Fulham (bear Parsons Green), Chiswick, Acton, Islington, Denmark Hill and Primrose Hill. Primrose Hill wins hands down. It’s sort of isolated traffic wise so feels like a proper village. It’s very friendly with a real community feel and dog friendly. Living with Regents Park on the doorstep yet within walking distance of Marylebone, the West End and Hampstead Heath is wonderful.

Traffic in SW and W London is horrendous...

You need to go and spend a day or an afternoon in places you fancy to get a real feel I think.

Thanks all! I agree w west side traffic being ridiculous! I love Richmond and Speen but it's too far out. I currently live in Hampshire so I go through all those lovely areas, Putney, Barnes Wandsworth when I go into town, but they don't seem to be for adult singles like me... either young adults or married w young kids. I like the thought of primrose Hill and st Johns Wood. Any more specific pointers? £1.5 is max max. I might rent first..?

@pipandmum and @ricstar, I don't know Bloomsbury or Parsons Green so I'll check those out. Thanks

For villagey I'd say Barnes or Kew but both have drawbacks. Kew is so noisy and Barnes seriously impacted by Hammersmith Bridge closure. However that might have impacted Barnes prices. What about Ravenscourt Park? The back streets there are lovely and you have Hammersmith on your doorstep.

Tbh though with your budget I would look at some of the mansion flats around S Ken - around Collingham Gardens - very nice locked communal gardens.

Best places I've ever lived ate marylebone and connaught village. People assume being so central they're impersonal. The whole connaught area us do friendly it's fabulous. Perfect transport links to anywhere and Hyde park in front of you. Marylebonewhat more can I say. There's no comparison with Hampstead it's so dull.

I think that the closer you're in, the less community you'll get. There's a high proportion of transient renters and it's pretty impersonal even if you get the cute London villagey look.

If I had the budget it would be Primrose Hill or St Johns Wood.

Wimbledon

East Dulwich.

Another vote for Wimbledon. It's expensive but you can live very close for a bit less. Love the Common, Wimbledon Park and the village. Great transport links as well.