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?

Wanstead Village and Aldersbrook
Lloyd Park area Walthamstow
Downhills Park area Tottenham
Houses along Battersea Park
Blackheath
Barnsbury and Canonbury
Stoke Newington High Street
Alexandra Park Road
Highgate
Shad Thames

Honestly there are hundreds of beautiful places all over London!! I’ll never leave!!

Richmond Hill

When DH and I got the inheritance we bought there

Downhills Park area Tottenham this might be the first one (of the areas I know) that I don’t agree with! I have a friend who lives here, and I wouldn’t call it pretty!

When my husband died I had to downsize and remember watching After Life and thinking I wanted to live there - found out it's filmed in Hampstead. Unfortunately didn't have the budget but doesn't hurt to dream!

Another vote for South London (and this is coming from a long term north Londoner who is a SE convert now).There are bits of Peckham and Nunhead that are lovely. Honor Oak Park and Forest Hill have some very pretty streets, as well as Sydenham (e.g. upper Sydenham, and around Maynow Park), Crystal Palace and as @Twizbe mentioned, Penge. I almost don’t want people to know about it, as SE is still reasonably affordable.

A friend of mine used to live in one of those cottages in Choumert Square. They used to do fun garden parties in the street every summer. The only downside is that the cottages are so tiny.

The hilly bit of New Cross is Telegraph Hill and it’s a conservation area. I spent a lot of time in the park there during the lockdowns.

I second all of the above plus the area of Beckenham adjacent to Penge, which still feels like London but also has a high street with a village-like feel. Friend has just moved there and feels very open with wide tree-lined streets and not as claustrophobic as some of the more inner suburbs

Well more Chestnuts Park. Beautiful housing stock, tree lined streets, quiet and green. I have a friend who lives there, I find it relaxing, and his house is beautiful!

sssshhhh we don’t talk about the housing stock and the greenery, keeps the prices down

I used to live on the Isle of Dogs and, while definitely not a pretty village, there were beautiful views over the Thames from our flat, lovely river walks, easy access to Greenwich park through the foot tunnel and very little traffic. Of all the places that we lived in London it was my favourite.

The Thames on the other side of London is pretty too, like Kingston or Hampton Wick, although technically they're outside of London it's still pretty easy access.

Queens Park, Notting Hill, Kensington, Hampstead, Highgate, Chiswick, Putney.

Well, the usuals have all been mentioned but a few highly unusual choices there. i guess it is in the eye of the beholder. I personally like Chiswick and St Margarets

We rented for a while in Fulham. I loved it (except for the aeroplane noise).

my ILs lived in Hampstead in a lovely little flat and my SIL in Belsize park in a much bigger flat (DH in finance). That was glorious. But way way way out of our price brackets!

Oh and Barnes, backing onto the Wetlands if anybody is selling...

Researching conservation areas would probably find some that pretty areas were less expensive.

Ealing has some lovely areas of Victorian housing for example and is less expensive than many of the areas above. Crystal Palace/Forest Hill//Sydenham also have some very pretty bits.

sssshhhh we don’t talk about the housing stock and the greenery, keeps the prices down

In fairness, if you want to keep the prices down you only need to refer to the ugly and deprived estates cheek by jowl with the nice bits. I think that area has a lot going for it in terms of value and potential, but it probably is not what the OP's friend is looking for.

Above was meant to be seconding @MillennialFalconer

yeah fair point, though OPs mate didn’t mention a problem with The Poors, just an aesthetic. Funny how ‘pretty’ in terms of a neighbourhood also assumes a certain level of chintzy shops/naice neighbours etc (not criticising you here, it definitely does).

‘pretty’ is easy in London if you have stacks of money. But pretty without banker salaries is more interesting to think about, I reckon

Another vote for Greenwich - I lived there in my early 20s & loved the vibe. Quite arty. It could be very different now of course but definitely worth checking out.

"chintzy shops" visiting these is optional, obviously. I have never bought anything from them but I have probably forked out for overpriced meals at hip neighbourhood restaurants which would not survive if there was more local competition. I do know a few people who actually buy the overpriced antiques and gift items and I usually don't say anything.

yeah fair point, though OPs mate didn’t mention a problem with The Poors, just an aesthetic. Funny how ‘pretty’ in terms of a neighbourhood also assumes a certain level of chintzy shops/naice neighbours etc

You wouldn't need a problem with poor people or a love of chintzy shops to notice that the Broadwater Farm estate is not pretty, and there are plenty of other eyesores.

I say that as a massive fan of Downhills and especially Lordship Rec, which has it all for a day out with kids.

Wimbledon village is lovely.

Dulwich, Herne Hill, Barnes

My friend lives in a wonderful, affordable place called Willmore End in South Wimbledon. 3 bed houses for less than £600k, in the catchment of the outstanding Merton Park school, which is outstanding on every single criteria. Also Rutlish outstanding secondary. It's next to the national trust Morden Hall Park and has the green flag Abbey Recreation Ground on its doorstep. Near South Wimbledon on Northern line and tram to Wimbledon and district line. Such a nice place that hardly anyone knows exists, I love going to visit her.