London’s prettiest neighbourhoods?

[Plantyplantyplant]

My friend and I were talking about this as we have another who wants to come back to London, but says she needs to live somewhere “pretty” and London doesn’t have enough of that unless you’re an oligarch and can afford Hampstead.

But I think London has a lot of pretty places to live!

What do you think London’s prettiest neighbourhoods are?

In central London I like Bloomsbury and Marylebone.

Richmond

I love Dulwich village but then I'm a SE Londoner

well the prettiest places are prohibitively expensive.

Depends on where you draw your line. Some streets in Islington are beautiful, some are absolute hovels!! Same in every borough. Does she want a street to live in that’s beautiful, or a whole borough?

Also some bits of Hampstead are bloody ugly!!

@LulooLemon beat me to it; Richmond

Chelsea

Barnes, Kew, Richmond, some parts of Chelsea/ Kensington/ Notting Hill.

I think my friend has gotten used to living somewhere very charming outside of London, and wants that - plus London.

I don’t think she’ll come back, but I really do think London has the prettiness she claims it doesn’t! But those parts are expensive, I admit.

I wonder if there are any less prohibitively expensive pretty areas anyone can think of? (Or maybe not as all of London is insanely expensive!)

Barnsbury
Primrose Hill
Belsize Park
Little Venice
parts of Marylebone

all expensive though!

Gorgeous areas!

I really like the Docklands. Beautiful walks along the river there sort of a hidden gem as certain parts are so quiet.

Dulwich, Kew, Richmond, Barnes, Chiswick Wandsworth Common, Putney Heath

There are huge tranches of leafy, villagey London, next to less nice areas and intersected by trunk roads!

My favourite is Putney

Belsize park, Teddington , Richmond,

Richmond
Highgate
Muswell Hill
Hampstead

Teddington

Dulwich Village.

Bits of Beckenham are quite pretty, if you are looking for a more affordable suburban area . Otherwise there are little rows of cottages, parks squares etc dotted all over the place, bits of Brixton and Streatham Hill have pretty squares Balham and Wandsworth too, I am a South londoner as you can tell, but I am going to say most areas of London have pretty bits, and ugly bits!!

Crouch End
Stoke Newington

Stay with me on this. Penge.

There are 4 roads that are beautiful Victorian cottages. Very popular roads to live on the the cottages hold their value so well. Real community feel around it. Lovely little garden centre with cafe and pub nearby too.

Then close to beckenham which has some lovely parks.

If she likes art, Penge has loads of street art which is really good. Might be a bit edgy for her though.

Do you mean Dulwich as a while? Dulwich Village is a just a road with a few overpriced cafes, florists and a pizza express. Admittedly pretty and tree-lined but with heavy traffic.
Rest of Dulwich is nice but not much different from many “middle class” London suburbs.
Actual Dulwich area is quite small - perhaps a 1-2 square miles before you get into Herne Hill, East Dulwich.

Prefer the vibe of East Dulwich and Herne Hill, which border Peckham and Brixton, respectively, but not as pretty. Dulwich Village is a very monocultural bubble but some may prefer that.

Fun game!

The non-oligarch pretty bits are smaller, but:

That one pretty street in Bushwood, Leyton
Navarino road in hackney
Osbaldeston road in stokey
Jesus Green
The hilly bit of new cross
A fair bit of greenwich / blackheath
Battersea village
Choumert square or place or whatever it is in peckham - the cottages