Where to live in London before you have children

moove2london on 18 Jul 2012

Are you wondering where to live in London that is fun for single people who aren’t yet interested in having children? There are many areas of London that are known as ‘Nappy Valley’, with Bugaboo push chairs taking up the whole pavement and breastfeeding mothers taking over cafes. If this isn’t for you, then you’ll be interested in the results of the following survey carried out by Experian PropertyCheck. They’ve analysed data from all the different areas of London and have come up with the best places in London to live in, based around the stage of family life you’re currently at.
For many of you reading this site who are moving to London or perhaps already living here, kids aren’t necessarily on the agenda yet, so you’ll probably only be interested in the top ten areas to live before you have children. But for those of you who have already started a family, or who are perhaps looking to in the near future, then we’ve included Experian Property Check’s top ten areas of London to live in with young and teenage kids and even after your children have left home.

Here are their findings:

Where to live in London before you have children

1. Kensington and Chelsea
2. Westminster
3. Camden
4. Hammersmith & Fulham
5. Islington
6. Barnet
7. Wandsworth
8. Richmond Upon Thames
9. Tower Hamlets
10. Kingston Upon Thames
Here, areas in Central London are favoured with their proximity to great shops and nightlife. People who have not yet had to fork out for the costs associated with bringing up children are more able to afford swanky central apartments. Even so though, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster are both extremely expensive areas, although council tax in Westminster is very low. Our advice would be to look at Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham and Islington for more affordable yet still fairly central options.

Where to live in London if you have young children

1. Bromley
2. Sutton
3. Bexley
4. Merton
5. Kingston Upon Thames
6. Richmond Upon Thames
7. Croydon
8. Westminster
9. Kensington & Chelsea
10. Harrow
Bromley comes up trumps here due to great schools, healthcare and housing options. You can get a lot of house for your money in this borough. There are also a lot of green spaces and the area feels safe and family friendly.

Where to live in London if you have older children

1. Richmond Upon Thames
2. Kingston Upon Thames
3. Sutton
4. Bromley
5. Bexley
6. Harrow
7. Merton
8. Barnet
9. Hillingdon
10. Westminster
Richmond Upon Thames is a wonderful area to live if you can afford it. Walks around the park and river are beautiful and shopping on the high street is very pleasant and upmarket.

Where to live in London once your children have left home

1. Bexley
2. Bromley
3. Richmond Upon Thames
4. Kingston Upon Thames
5. Sutton
6. Harrow
7. Havering
8. Kensington & Chelsea
9. Merton
10. Barnet
Bexley tops the bill here along with it’s neighbour of Bromley. Both represent large affordable houses which are amongst some of the lowest in London. Bexley is popular with the retired community who are looking to downsize to smaller accommodation to fund their later years.