Anyone else having a rethink on area after this?

[cerealmilk]

I’m sure my local community is pulling together somewhere but, on the London street I live in, everyone is perfectly nice but there is no community spirit. Also there are needles and rubbish pretty much outside my front door right now.

Now thinking when all this is over, I want to live somewhere really villagey.

Any parts of London with that vibe that you recommend? Or even further afield?

Somewhere liberal and arty, but without a dangerous edge

Hanwell in West London is very villagey and close-knit, and runs along the Grand Union canal with fields and woods. Very good schools in Ealing.

SE London has great community spirit and lots of green spaces - woods, parks and a great arty vibe too. My road had a WhatsApp group and everyone’s helping out here they can. Look around East Dulwich, forest hill, Crystal Palace Sydenham

Out past crystal palace (sort of beulah hill way) there are stunning houses also between Crystal palace and gipsy hill. Love the SE you get a lot of bang for your buck. Way more community feel and very green.

Davros surprised re Belsize Park - I stayed nearby a few times, and although beautiful, it seemed a bit empty in the streets when I past by or went imto the 'village' shops (a great deli there, that was down to earth, I admit), and looked like it was full of very expensive flat conversions (transient rich younger renters?). Many wealthy foreigners rent there short term. Though poss you mean Primrose HIll more, or a particular net of streets, with those mews houses...

*I went past, not just 'past'

catandhiskit I don't want to promote my area over others but BP is quiet considering how close it is to central London. Like anywhere, if you live there you find the community side and get to know people. It has become a lot richer than it was in the 70s/80s when it was bedsit land (like Primrose Hill) but it's still surprisingly diverse.
I also like Pinner, Barnet, East Finchley, Ealing and agree with a PP that Hanwell is nice.

@cerealmilk We're in zone 6 south London and the community spirit here has been great. Coordinated mutual aid groups on WhatsApp and Facebook, with lots of people volunteering to help. It's also a very wooded area with lots of secluded woodlands walks. And houses are much more affordable than central! Sounds like it may be just what you're looking for.

DAvros yes I see your point that community isn't neccessarlly obvious, like it tends to be in East/ South London. Good to know it's not all short term/expensive rentals.
I'd still say it's much more a wealthy demographic than the other areas you mentoned don't know Barnet though) - which usually doesn't make for the best community, let's face it, more like an exclusive club.Strangely, Hampstead seemed more community spirited to me when I stayed there briefly around the village itself) - but as I say maybe BP is more of a 'low key, but good, community.

*(don't know Barnet...)

HAmpstead does have a very strong community but so do we, ner!! I think small towns and villages, including London villages, usually have strong communities