London’s most walkable / friendly / lovely neighbourhoods?

[Bagggy]

I feel like I live in my car and I live in a popular, expensive London neighbourhood.

Where do you think I’d get all of the above in my title? Walkable (as in, no one drives around really), friendly, lovely, great atmosphere generally?

@Crikeyalmighty I agree with you that some areas, despite having a tube, may not be a place you’d choose to live. However, having a tube does mean you can get elsewhere easily 😹 I lived in shepherds Bush for some years in the late 70s/ early 80s and It was (and still is imo) a dump but I loved it. Suggesting places like Ham and Teddington is a free for all and not anywhere near where the OP lives now. I could equally suggest Hanwell, Ealing, Pinner etc but that maybe won’t help the OP

This is ridiculous. Crouch End has the 41 to get you to archway in ten minutes, or you can walk down the road to Turnpike Lane tube , and Hornsey overground is a great line that hooks up with Victoria Line. London, in any case, is nothing to do with tube stations. It’sLondon because it’s London, even if you are fixated on tube stations as your sole defining criteria….thars actually a you problem rather than a factual statement.

I can get anywhere easily from where I am, 3 mainlines and the Overground. Into central London or out into Kent or Sussex. All from Zone 2, so it really, really is London.

After all, Clapham Junction is one of the busiest stations in the UK - I used to live just behind it and that was great.

Living on the Central line 🤮 🤣. The worst line! (I used to live in Zone 5 on the central line and it was awful!)

@Bagggy I think you're bored and focusing on a non issue

Moving is a lot of hassle. If you need a project, go ahead but it's likely you'll just complain about something else.

Muswell Hill is so nice. I'd just enjoy if I were you.

I think it's a frame of mind. Crouch End feels like its own place and you need a bit of local knowledge to get into some parts of town quickly. It certainly isn't isolated or inaccessible, I agree. I love the way you can walk to Hampstead, Highgate, Muswell Hill or Wood Green via green spaces.

OP, Kentish Town/Gospel Oak sound like they might work.

Kentish Town High Street or South End Green walking distance
The Heath for outside space - including Lido and Ponds
London Overground, direct to Hackney/Dalston/Walthamstow for friends in about 20-30 mins plus connects to South London from Highbury
Thameslink at KT as well as the tube at KT, Chalk Farm, Belsize Park depending on where you live
Very decent bus services into town/city (24, 214, 134 if you don't fancy tube etc)

@Davros OP didn’t put ‘anywhere near where she lives now’ in her criteria and had been thinking of Walthamstow , which isn’t anywhere near where she lives now, so yes by all means do suggest Pinner, Hanwell etc - I like Chiswick too and a lot is walkable on doorstep and has both tube ( several) and rail - there are loads of places- but I still think it isn’t the place ( Muswell Hill) that’s the issue - I think it’s the mindset of using the car if a route isn’t direct and that will be an issue in many places. Suggesting places like Wimbledon, Teddington or Ham really isn’t off the wall - you can be central in 30 minutes or so - Richmond has a lot of trains too as well as tube. Personally if she’s got a nice place in MH I would be tempted to stay and maybe look at why and where I’m driving too so much -another suggestion if she likes the Mill Hill gym is that whetstone area ( is on tube too) - also very nice. Depends how much OP wants on doorstep and whether she wants somewhere a bit leafy or maybe she does crave a bit more ‘urban’ -

I used to live in East London and never used the car. Gorgeous parks and canals, markets, cafes and galleries all within reach. Local supermarket and gym. Got tube or bus to central London - took about 20 mins.

I had family in Islington. Similar local parks, shops etc and very quick tube to Central London.

@BarneyRonson and @Ddakji I admit, I have got a bit of a prejudice against MH and CE, they’re just not for me.
@Crikeyalmighty you're right, OP did not say they want to stay near where they are now and I love the areas you’ve suggested but they are a long way out

Kensal Rise/Queens Park can be really nice. QP has a lovely high street and farmers' market, it's walkable to Notting Hill and Portobello and the overground is great for going east.

Op you drive because you find it convenient. I live not too far away from you and don't have a car. I would walk from the tube (45 mins ok), get buses everywhere, and not dream of going to a gym that wasn't walking distance. It isn't the area you need to change, it's your mindset. Sorry!

I don't get the need for the tube at all. I haven't lived near a tube station for the last 21 years and haven't missed it at all. I went from being within 5 mins walk from both tube and train to just having a train station. It's fine - there are trains to Victoria and London Bridge every 15 mins. We now have the Overground, which is ace but for years we didn't and it was fine. We still went to exhibitions and the theatre and met with friends who lived on the other side of London. I now despise the tube to be honest and avoid it where possible. Walking in London is an amazing way to get around, as is cycling.

I wouldn't go to a gym that I couldn't walk to. I've put up with my local council gym for years because it's convenient. It's not beautiful but it fits my lifestyle and there are also loads of local studios for when I have wanted classes. In fact, they are an excellent way to make friends. Most of my current friends are from either the bootcamp I used to go to, the kettlebell class at a local studio and my local cycling club. The way to expand your friendship group in the local area is to get involved in stuff that happens in the local area. There are tons of people in London who want to make friends and go for drinks, because there are lots of people who are single and / or child-free and want to fill their spare time. But you have to invest in it and make it happen. It won't come to you no matter where you live.

Agree totally!👍👍

@Gekko21 this thread is making me miss living in london , especially round that Highgate, Crouch End, Muswell Hill bit - luckily my son lives in North London so do come up a fair bit -

Haha, I'm leaving London in 2 days for Yorkshire. I still think London is amazing though - I'm just ready for a new adventure! I'm sure I will also miss it.

The OP doesn't like walking OR cycling.

Most of London is 20mph now.

So much so my 6 year old comments on it all the time when I drive.

Absolutely agree with this, it's mindset.

I'm in SW London now but I've lived in various areas of London Zones 1-3 for the last 20 years, north, south, west. Some homes near tubes, some near trains, some nowhere near a tube or train but plenty of buses. Without kids, with kids, sometimes working within ten minutes walk or at one point an hour+ commute on tubes and buses.

Never owned a car, if public transport or walking won't work then we bike - so much easier now with Lime bikes etc - or occasionally use Zipcar.

It's mindset, not location.

@Gekko21 yep we live in Bath which I love too but I think if you’ve always enjoyed living in London and had good times, whatever the reason to move a little bit of you stays there in spirit- good luck in Yorkshire - I’m originally a north Notts girls myself.

Muswell Hill? Are you kidding?! I thought you were going to say somewhere like Potter's Bar! I live very close to MH and I never use my car – it's so well served by buses and walking routes! You're using a car because you want to, not because you have to.

We are moving to Harrogate, which I guess is the Bath of the north 😄. I'm originally from Manchester so hopefully they let me into Yorkshire!!

@Gekko21 oh lucky you- lovely place . Yep it’s Baths Yorkshire cousin

Walthamstow Village is quite chichi these days

@thestudio apparently so, I lived there for 6 weeks in 1994 and it was truly crap , although I did like the pie and mash shop’!! -must visit - my son did say it was massively improved -

@thestudio I’m packing my bags now

I agree - I have definitely got into a driving mindset / habit that I should change first! I would like to ride a bike, but I’m a bit scared!

My partner cycles to work and to socialise and he’s always trying to persuade me!