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?

Durand Gardens Stockwell

Very pretty roads in Pimlico around Moreton Street and Moreton Terrace.

@Autumnaltimes - I live near one of the schools you've mentioned. It's absolutely beautiful. Infact we were visiting, totally loved the area and had to move anyways so picked this area.

@Salome61 I think the pretty bits in After Life were filmed in the Old Town in Hemel Hempstead.

Hemel is regularly voted the ugliest town in England,, which is only slightly unfair, and proves the point made by PPs that pretty areas are extremely specific and might be in a sea of ugly.

The housing in After Life was filmed in the Vale of Health, Hampstead.

Margaret Forster wrote about her home in the Vale of Health in My Life in Houses.

St Katherine's Docks is beautiful!

Agree with all the beautiful places mentioned. Two cheaper, but still pretty neighbourhoods in NE London on the Central Line are Wanstead village and the Monkhams Estate in Woodford Green. Lots of big Edwardian houses and tree lined streets in both.

Which roads are you referring to? My DD (24) is looking to buy in this area and I am concerned whether it is safe. What do you think? She will be using public transport to get around.

Rotherhithe & Surry Quays near to Stave Hill seem nice - my DB lives there. Quiet area, not full of high risers, easy commute to Canary Wharf & Jubilee Line etc, views & walks along the river.

It’s up and down just like anywhere in London and depends on how you and your daughter class ‘safe’.

Im alive and haven’t had any trouble, often come home alone late ish, either on tube/bus or walking, and see plenty of women walking around alone at night.

London wide, I personally wouldn’t want to be having to walk more than 10 min from a bus or tube stop late at night. Within that range, the streets are likely to be busy enough 24/7 to be pretty safe, barring the occasional unfortunate event that could really happen anywhere.

If the aim is to never/rarely come across a crack addict or homeless person though, N15/N17 will not be for her.

It really doesn’t matter where you live, some of the ‘top’ neighbourhoods have high rates of crime. I would say that area has a great community spirit, everyone seems very welcoming and friendly and there is a lot going on when I visit my friend. I’ve lived all over London and there were crack addicts and homeless people just like there are in any city. I found South Kensington the worst in terms of feeling safe, west London is probably my least preferred area. North has always felt safest to me.

A fair bit around me is very pretty -- Blackheath, Westcombe Park, West Greenwich. All very leafy with lovely architecture.

That’s helpful, thanks both. She can cope with the usual London issues but the wslk from the tube/bus to flat is the main one and I guess there is no substitute for just doing it at night.

Am surprised at Richmond being included. Is this only if you cover your ears and don’t look up? I am amazed at how the constant air traffic doesn’t impact house prices.

I don’t know Putney well but when my sister lived there, any time I visited, which was usually later in evening, the traffic was horrific.

Maybe I am over-interpreting pretty!

Parts of Ealing are nice but you every inch of every street is filled with parked cars.

There are some lovely streets in central London but the traffic pollution would be unbearable. Your lungs won’t be very pretty!

Which roads are you referring to? My DD (24) is looking to buy in this area and I am concerned whether it is safe. What do you think? She will be using public transport to get around.

I know the area well and I don't consider it unsafe for me. Such violent crime as there is, is normally targeted and drug related. I live in a similar area and have never had a problem.

Barnes Pond
Regents Park those Crescents
Highgate Village
Crouch End
Bits of Greenwich
Dulwich
Holland Park

Sorry for your loss

Tony’s house was in Hampstead but most of the street scenes, the newspaper office, the church, shops etc were all filmed in the old town of Hemel Hempstead.

Totteridge, Monken Hadleigh and Hadleigh Common in north London are very pretty.

The roads round Wandsworth Common have some lovely houses in a variety of styles but ££££.

My favourites:
The old weavers quarter in Spitalfields
Bedford Park in Chiswick
Any garden square in Holland Park/Notting Hill
Barnsbury
While these places are architecturally stunning, they are still rough. Even the most expensive parts of London have smelly bins on the road, crime, anti social behaviour, rough council estates/council housing dotted among them. I am with your friend, OP, no area in London is properly 'nice' and thoroughly charming. Even Buckingham Palace and Westminster Palace are grime if you look closely. I still love London!

Agree with all this. Especially West London - Barnes, Kew, Richmond, and I’d add Petersham and Chiswick.

Teddington
Hampton
Greenwich

Notting hill especially around westbourne grove..super cute (I live there so bias)..but omg the tourists...
Wapping is gorgeous, fro the tube to st Katherine's docks and on to the tower..river views, cobbled streets, old world pubs and really quiet.
Bloomsbury is pretty too.

Winchmore Hill
Muswell Hill
Forest Hill

all hills, all pretty! And not Hampstead prices…