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Mark Twain famously once described London as ‘fifty villages massed solidly together’. Indeed, across the city, there are are dozens of little pockets that wouldn’t feel out of place far out in the countryside. They’re full of independent shops and caffs, they’re surrounded by greenery and they all have their own distinct sense of community. Combine all of that with easy access to the exciting bustle of central London and those pockets are some of London’s most desirable places to live.
The Telegraph collaborated with Hamptons estate agents to select the top places to live in each of the city’s 32 boroughs – the places that it says are ‘the golden neighbourhoods that offer the lifestyle most want – without breaking the bank’ (though we might argue with that last bit). According to the paper, that ideal lifestyle includes good schools, ample green spaces and an easy commute into work. One thing that many of the chosen spots have in common is their village-like vibe.
Once the Telegraph had picked out the best neighbourhood in each borough, it then ranked each area based on just how desirable they are.
So, London’s prime place to live according to the Telegraph? Richmond Green. Owned by the Crown Estate, the park is a short walk from the centre of Richmond and is a buzzing community hotspot throughout the year. It probably won’t come as a huge surprise that a Richmond postcode is at the top of the pack. Rightmove has named it the happiest borough in London for several years running, Savills recently declared it the best place in England for state schools and, a few months ago, the Telegraph crowned it London’s best borough to live in.
The paper wrote: ‘Flanked by elegant Georgian town houses and the Richmond Theatre, the 12-acre green itself is a meeting point for various community gatherings over the year, including the annual May Ball, which marks the start of the May Fair weekend and raises money for local charities, and the Victorian Evening at Christmas.’
The popularity of homes on the Green has grown over the last few years, on account of Ted Lasso being filmed in the area. Of course, that means houses and flats don’t come cheap – the average property price here is £739,770. You’ve just got to be able to put up with plane noise every now and again, as the Green is directly under the flight path for Heathrow airport.
In second place on the Telegraph’s list is Marylebone Village which, despite being a short walk from hectic Oxford Street, is a quiet and calm corner of Westminster filled with independent shops. An average property there will set you back a neat £1.35 million.
With top-rated schools, access to the sprawling heath and a ‘strong community spirit’, Hampstead Village landed in third place. Living here certainly isn’t cheap either – the average property sits at around £1.13m.
The 10 best places to live in London 2026
- Richmond Green, Richmond-upon-Thames
- Marylebone Village, Westminster
- Hampstead Village, Camden
- West Greenwich, Greenwich
- East Dulwich, Southwark
- Chislehurst, Bromley
- Victoria Park Village, Hackney
- South Kensington, Kensington and Chelsea
- Bow, Tower Hamlets
- Walthamstow Village, Walthamstow
Read the Telegraph’s list in full here.
ICYMI: The vibrant south London area that is officially one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world.
Plus: Every London borough ranked from happiest to most miserable.
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