Best Places to live in London on the River

As part of our Best Places to Live in London series, today we’re looking at 5 of the best places to live next to the River Thames that cuts London in two to form North of the River and South of the River.
The areas mentioned below are not the only places to live in London on the river, but in our opinion they are well worth considering. Interestingly, given their proximity to the waterfront, they’re not all as expensive as you’d imagine either.

Limehouse
In the East End, Limehouse can be found in the postcode area of E14. It’s a lovely area on the River Thames that is sandwiched between Canary Wharf/the Isle of Dogs and Stepney Green. Due to it’s close proximity to both the financial worlds of Canary Wharf and the City, Limehouse is filled with young professionals from the banking world. But don’t hold that against it. There are beautiful riverside pubs available on Narrow Street including Gordon Ramsay’s ‘The Narrow’, ‘The Grapes’ and ‘Booty’s Riverside Bar’. Property-wise, you’re looking at conversion style flats, the odd warehouse conversion or new-build apartment blocks. You can stroll down to West India Quay and Canary Wharf within minutes for further entertainment options including restaurants, the cinema and more bars. You can be in Central London in less than 15 minutes thanks to the DLR and Jubilee lines.

Greenwich
An attractive part of town, Greenwich doesn’t have much in the way of nightlife, but that is it’s only downside. Greenwich is filled with independent shops, a fantastic market, the leisurely Greenwich Park, cultural options such as the Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and the Observatory and you can also enjoy a pint or two on the river at places like the Trafalgar Tavern. The thing about Greenwich though, is that if you don’t live in Central Greenwich, you can easily find yourself living in a less desirable area next to it (Deptford, New Cross, Charlton), which really isn’t the same experience at all, but is much cheaper. If you want to live close to the park in a Georgian or Victorian conversion, you’ll pay a premium compared to East Greenwich. Although this article is about best places on the river, we can’t help but think that one of the nicest streets in Greenwich is actually Royal Hill, so if you find yourself in the area, make sure you visit!

Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe was once the maritime capital of London and was home to the Mayflower Ship, which the oldest pub on the Thames is named after. Rotherhithe also featured in the Dicken’s book of ‘Oliver Twist’ which depicted it with the serious lack of glamour that it possessed at the time.
Rotherhithe is located in the postcode district of SE16 which actually also includes South Bermondsey (nearer London Bridge) and Surrey Quays – home to a shopping centre and cinema. Rotherhithe is quiet compared to it’s neighbours and has some lovely open spaces in the form of Southwark Park, the Russia Dock Woodlands and the Stave Hill Ecology Park. The most popular part of the area is Rotherhithe Village which is quite picturesque – think old Wharf buildings, cobbled streets and great views of Tower Bridge and the City. Property in the area is less expensive than it’s neighbours and usually comes in the form of warehouse conversion flats or new-builds.

Battersea
Battersea has come on leaps and bounds in the last 25 years – it was formerly quite a mess of a place, both industrial and working class. And yet, by looking at a map of London it seems as though it was always inevitable that the area situated directly across the river from Chelsea would become the gentrified location that it is now. Although the hubbub of Battersea can be found down at Clapham Junction and the Northcote Road, the area next to the river is certainly of interest to many too. The beautiful Battersea Park with it’s boating lakes, bandstand, children’s zoo and gardens can be found here as can many riverside apartments with their penthouse views over the Thames. These of course come with a tremendous price tag, much like the the flats in mansion blocks on the luxurious Prince of Wales Drive. Other flats come in the form of ex-council housing on one of the 4 huge council estates in Battersea – these are unglamorous but functional. In summary, Battersea is a large and varied area, but it is a fantastic place to live and it’s closeness to the river makes it well worth a look at.

Putney
First of all let’s talk pubs – what is better than sitting out looking over the river holding a cold glass of wine, or pint in your hand? You can do this at both the Boathouse Putney and the Duke’s Head (a Grade II listed building which is over 150 years old). Putney is a pretty and popular part of town particularly with the Australian and sporting communities (rowing, rugby and cricket). Housing near the river, as you would imagine, is pricey, but if you live nearer the vast Putney Heath which is attached to Wimbledon Common, you’ll find it much more affordable. Putney Pier is home to the start of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race and has the best of Putney’s bars and restaurants. It also has private moorings available if booked in advance.

Best Places to Live in London for Cheap Council Tax

Wandsworth and Westminster are amongst not only the cheapest council tax in London but also the country. In fact the Guardian has recently reported that a house worth roughly £155k in Newark, Nottinghamshire and a house worth £7.5m in Westminster pay almost the same council tax of around £1300 per year. So with this in mind, how can you benefit from the situation? The answer is by finding out the best places to live in London for cheap council tax. Below we list 10 areas that you might consider living in the Wandsworth and Westminster boroughs. It’s worth remembering that certain areas are covered by 2 or more council boroughs, so be sure to choose to live in the part which falls within Wandsworth or Westminster. For details on the current rates of council tax for each band of property within these areas, please view our Council Tax in London page.

In Wandsworth…….

• Balham – a trendy and popular area of South London, near to Clapham and the open spaces of Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common and Tooting Bec Common. The high street is small but offers the basics such as Marks and Spencers Simply Food, Boots and Sainsburys. There are a good selection of pubs and coffee shops in the area. For more information on Balham, please read our Balham Area Guide.
• Battersea – on the South bank of the River Thames, a stones throw from Chelsea on the other side. Battersea is quite a large area, the better parts are the beautiful Battersea Park and the central hub of Clapham Junction and the buzzing Northcote Road which is a popular area for independent shops, bars and restaurants. Battersea is situated in a convenient position for easy access into Central London. For more information on Battersea, please ready our Battersea Area Guide.
• Putney – also located on the River Thames, but a little further West and on the opposite side of the river to Fulham. Putney is a pretty area which for obvious reasons is popular with the rowing community and for less obvious reasons with the Australian community and rugby fans. Putney is also home to the vast open space of Putney Heath. For more information on Putney, please read our Putney Area Guide.
• Wandsworth/Earlsfield – SW18 is a large postcode area in South-West London and contains Wandsworth Town (only a part of Wandsworth Borough), Earlsfield and Southfields. Wandsworth Town is on the Thames and has some great riverside pubs such as the Alma. Wandsworth Common in the east is vast and nearer areas such as the Northcote Road in Clapham Junction or Balham in SW12. They’re all desirable areas with great pubs and restaurants, fast rail journeys into London and a great community spirit. To find out more about Wandsworth, please view our Wandsworth Area Guide.
• Tooting – Tooting is located in South West London and is home to the open space of Tooting Bec Common which contains the famous Tooting lido. Tooting is situated on the Northern line allowing quick journeys into places such as Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road. If you’re into your curries, then you’ll be very pleased about the enormous variety of curry houses on offer in Tooting – it’s second only to Brick Lane in terms of quantity. To find out more about Tooting, please read our Tooting Area Guide.
• Streatham – the area known as Streatham Park only
  Streatham is a large area consisting or Streatham Hill in the north, Streatham Common and Streatham Vale in the south and Streatham Park which is located between Streatham Common and Tooting Bec Common. Make absolutely sure before you sign a tenancy agreement that the property you’re interested in falls into the Wandsworth postcode area rather than Lambeth. Streatham has fast rail connections into London Victoria or London Bridge. The rugged open space of Streatham Common is particularly pleasant for walks – you can also visit the attached formal gardens of the Rookery. The best pubs in the area lie at the Streatham Common end of the high road and on Greyhound Lane. To find out more about Streatham, please view our Streatham Area Guide.

In Westminster ……..

• Bayswater – Bayswater is located in West London on the north side of Hyde Park. Due to it’s particularly central location and proximity to one of the Royal Parks, prices are quite expensive but it’s a good spot if it’s within your range. For entertainment and leisure, Bayswater contains some great pubs (The Cow and Prince Bonaparte are popular), Whiteleys shopping centre and a branch of American-style bowling alley, All-Star Lanes. For more information on Bayswater, please view our Bayswater Area Guide.
• St John’s Wood – St John’s Wood is located in north-west London to the west of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill. It’s a well-to-do area filled with posh but trendy peeps who love the access to excellent pubs, bars and restaurants on the high street. St John’s Wood is on the Jubilee line – you can be at Bond Street within about 6 or 7 minutes. To find out more about St John’s Wood, please view our St John’s Wood
• Pimlico – Pimlico is situated in Central London around the Victoria area and goes all the way down to the River Thames. What makes it an affordable living option for some is the amount of ex-council property available in the area. For entertainment it can be difficult to find pubs and restaurants that aren’t aimed at the faces and wallets of tourists (tip – steer clear of busy roads around Victoria station), but you can find some very decent options off the beaten track. For culture and sightseeing you have the Tate Britain, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey on your doorstep. For leisurely walks you have the options of many nearby parks (Green Park, St James’s Park or even Hyde Park are all within walking distance) and of course beautiful riverside strolls. For more information on Pimlico, please view our Pimlico Area Guide.
• Maida Vale – Maida Vale and Little Venice are situated in West London in the postal district of W9. Little Venice is built on waterways down which you can take a lovely barge tour, or alternatively just relax in a canal-side pub or restaurant. It’s a very pretty part of town which is obviously a good reason to live here, but another would be it’s proximity to Central London along with the great transport links in the area. To find out more about Maida Vale in W9, please view our Maida Vale Area Guide

Where do graduates live in London?

If you’re moving to London in 2012 having just finished your degree and are wondering where graduates live in London, then we’ve picked out 10 areas where you can live alongside people on a similar wavelength to you. These are certainly not the only areas of London that graduates live in (the options are limitless) but these are some of the most popular areas where you’ll find former bookworms living in. You might also be interested in reading our Where do young professionals live in London post as graduates and young professionals often go hand in hand.

Forest Hill
Forest Hill is located in South-East London and has a station on the London Overground line. If you’re a culture vulture, you’ll be a big fan of the Horniman Museum (includes African Worlds exhibition, aquarium and Musical Instruments gallery). Forest Hill is quite a small area, but includes some lovely independent coffee shops and tea rooms, basic high street necessities such as WH Smiths and Boots and popular pubs such as the Dartmouth Arms.

Muswell Hill
Muswell Hill is a fantastic village location situated in North London. Life centres around Muswell Hill Broadway which contains quality restaurants, pubs and shops. It’s got quite a yummy mummy feel to it, which even if that’s not your thing means that it comes across as a safe and reasonably wealthy suburban area.

Greenwich
There are few places in London as appealing as the part of Greenwich which is next to the river in South-East London. It’s worth knowing that the further you get away from the river, the more rundown the area gets, but on the whole Greenwich has heaps of positive points to it. In terms of culture and activities, you can spend your weekends visiting the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum, the Greenwich theatre and the Observatory. The choice of good pubs to drink at is vast – you can choose from riverside supping or excellent ales at the pubs on Royal Hill – chocolate beer anyone?

Putney
Again, Putney is situated on the river, in a pretty part of town, but this time it’s down in South-West London. It is popular with fans of rowing and rugby, but in general it’s a fairly green and quiet part of town. There may not be enough night-life for some of you out there (the pubs are nice rather than crazy), although the Australian live music venue, the Redback Tavern keeps things going until about 3am. In general this is a lovely area to live in.

Shoreditch
Shoreditch is located minutes away from Liverpool Street and the City of London. It’s an achingly trendy area – think clothes that don’t appear to match and asymmetrical haircuts. It attracts fashion students, artists, musicians and many other people with undiscovered talents living in amazing warehouse conversions. There are a plethora of amazing bars and restaurants in the area. This is an extremely international part of town, even by London’s standards. If you love curry (who doesn’t?) then Brick Lane is a great night – finish off with a drink or two at 93 Feet East. Bowling is also available at American style alley – All Star Lanes.

Highbury
Highbury is located at the top of Upper Street, Islington. It’s an expensive area but the properties are phenomenal. Trendy pubs, organic food shops, coffee shops and restaurants dominate the small postcode area. If you’re vaguely sporty, then you’ll enjoy having the Highbury Swimming Pool on your doorstep. Highbury offers excellent access to Islington and to Central London as it’s on the Victoria line – you can also be in Shoreditch within minutes. For open spaces, you have the Highbury Fields which sits right next to the station.

Kennington
Kennington is located in South London, extremely near to the river. In terms of traffic, it is busy! At night-time, a small selection of good pubs and restaurants are scattered around the Kennington Cross area, but for day-time activities you might want to head to Kennington Park or pop down the road to the Imperial War Museum (free). Without a doubt, the best thing about Kennington is it’s amazing transport links and proximity to Central London at affordable prices.

Battersea
Battersea is located on the south bank of the river, straight across the bridge from Chelsea. It’s a large and varied area but most of it is desirable. You may choose to live near Battersea Park, which is next to the river, or further towards the sociable crowds that gather around Clapham Junction and the Northcote Road which is always buzzing.

Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a former maritime area of London – on the south bank of the river, just east of London Bridge and Bermondsey, the area offers excellent converted warehouse spaces at a fraction of the price compared to other river-facing postcodes. Pretty and historic pubs are located around the Rotherhithe village area and modern shopping facilities and a cinema can be found at nearby Surrey Quays.

Limehouse
Limehouse is located in the Docklands, within walking distance of the river and Canary Wharf. The area contains a very pretty street called Narrow Street which has a number of historic riverside pubs (with restaurants) overlooking the river. If you’re looking for shopping, a job in finance, a cinema or a supermarket, then all of these are available down at Canary Wharf. Limehouse offers trains into Tower Hill or Bank on the DLR in under 9 minutes so is perfectly located for both City and Canary Wharf workers.

Residential areas within walking distance of Central London

Most of you who are moving to London will have to rely on the transport system in order to get from A to B. Sometimes our transport system lets us down, for instance if there is a tube or rail strike, bad weather conditions or terrorist threats. On these occasions, London descends into chaos as Londoners do everything they can to get from home to work and back again using as many inventive methods of travel as is humanly possible.

So how can you get around this?

Well many of you will just learn to live with it and not worry yourselves about something that only happens on a few random days of the year. Others will decide that they’d rather live somewhere within walking distance of Central London, so that they can travel to work on foot on either a regular basis (it’s a great way to exercise and to see our great city) or in case of a travel emergency.

Whilst many areas within easy reach of Central London are understandably expensive, there are other more affordable areas that are well worth a look at if you have your heart set on donning a pair of trainers every day.

Here are 10 areas within walking distance of Central London that you might want to consider living in:

Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is situated in East London in the postcode area of E2. Famed for it’s association with the Kray brothers, it’s extremely handy for nearby Shoreditch and of course the City of London. It’s approximately 1.5 miles from Bethnal Green to Liverpool Street making it perfect for those who want to work in the country’s financial capital. If you’re more brave and fancy walking to the West End, then it’s about 4.5 miles away.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate .

Kennington
Kennington is situated in South-East London in the vicinity of the Oval Cricket Ground. It’s a reasonably trendy area to live in with some good local pubs. In terms of walking distances, it’s a brisk 2.5 miles across the river into Victoria where there are plenty of offices located. If you need to get to the West End, then that will take you a further 20 mins.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate.

Islington
Islington needs no introduction. It’s an extremely popular area for graduates and young professionals to live in. The area is centred around Upper Street which is lined from top to toe with trendy shops, bars, restaurants, pubs and cafes.
The distance between Islington and the City is approximately 2 miles.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate.

Bayswater.
Bayswater is situated in West London approximately 2.3 miles from the West End, which is perfect if you happen to work on or near Oxford Street or Soho.
A walk between the two usually involves walking through Hyde Park, so it really is a lovely commute.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate.

Stepney Green
Another area located in the East End of London is Stepney Green. Although it could arguably be described as being historic more than it is glamorous, it is in a perfect location sandwiched between the City and Canary Wharf which are both 2 miles away.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate.

Battersea
Battersea is located in South London. As it’s only a short distance across the river from Sloane Square, parts of the area attract the wealthy, although you can also find some decent, affordable flatshares and property rental here.
The distance from Battersea to Victoria is approximately 2.6 miles, but if you need to go further into the West End, it’s more like 3.5 miles.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate.

Hackney
Hackney is another favourite East End haunt that is probably most famous for the Hackney Empire and it’s market. Hackney is referred to as both a council borough and a town, but in this instance, we’re talking about the town.
Hackney is most appropriately located for those who want to walk to work in the City of London which is approximately 3.2 miles away.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate.

Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is located in North London. Slightly further out than some of the other residential areas mentioned on this page, it is an area that has recently ‘up-and-come’. Stoke Newington is often described as being great for families and has a young atmosphere to it. The popular road to hang out on is Church Street. A journey into the City of London covers approximately 3.5 miles of road.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate..

Peckham
Most people don’t hear ‘Peckham’ without conjuring up images of the Trotters living in Nelson Mandella House. Well it’s a long time since ‘Only Fools and Horses’ was on our screens and in that time, Peckham has moved slowly up the ranks and is now considered a satisfactory place to live, not least because of the fact that some decent watering holes have opened up and that it’s close proximity to Central London. The distance between Peckham and London Bridge is approximately 3.2 miles.
For current rental prices and rooms to rent, please visit Easyroommate.