Best areas to live in London

Our picks in London for different needs, based on official rents and our area guides. Within each list, cheaper areas come first.

All 33 areas compared on official rents (2025/26): from £1,550 to £3,563 per m², with a city figure of £2,036. Each pick shows what a 75 m² flat costs and what stands out about who lives there.

Most affordable

  1. Havering £
    £1,550 per month · −24% vs city
    65 and over: 17.6% (city 11.9%)
    Families wanting houses and gardens on a budget
  2. Sutton £
    £1,575 per month · −23% vs city
    65 and over: 15.1% (city 11.9%)
    Families on a budget; schools and quiet streets
  3. Croydon £
    £1,593 per month · −22% vs city
    Fast trains to Victoria and London Bridge for less rent
  4. Bexley £
    £1,600 per month · −21% vs city
    65 and over: 16.6% (city 11.9%)
    Houses with gardens at lower London rents
  5. Bromley £
    £1,650 per month · −19% vs city
    65 and over: 17.6% (city 11.9%)
    Families wanting space, parks and good schools

For students

  1. Kingston upon Thames ££
    £1,700 per month · −17% vs city
    65 and over: 14.5% (city 11.9%)
    Families and students; river and Richmond Park nearby
  2. Camden £££££
    £2,650 per month · +30% vs city
    One-person households: 38.7% (city 29.3%)
    Students, young professionals, walking to the West End

For families

  1. Havering £
    £1,550 per month · −24% vs city
    65 and over: 17.6% (city 11.9%)
    Families wanting houses and gardens on a budget
  2. Sutton £
    £1,575 per month · −23% vs city
    65 and over: 15.1% (city 11.9%)
    Families on a budget; schools and quiet streets
  3. Bromley £
    £1,650 per month · −19% vs city
    65 and over: 17.6% (city 11.9%)
    Families wanting space, parks and good schools
  4. Hillingdon £
    £1,650 per month · −19% vs city
    One-person households: 24.4% (city 29.3%)
    Heathrow workers and families wanting space
  5. Barking and Dagenham £
    £1,700 per month · −17% vs city
    Under 15: 24.6% (city 18.1%)
    Families on a budget; space for the money

For nightlife

  1. Lambeth ££££
    £2,250 per month · +11% vs city
    65 and over: 8.6% (city 11.9%)
    Young professionals; nightlife, markets and commons
  2. Hackney £££££
    £2,400 per month · +18% vs city
    65 and over: 7.9% (city 11.9%)
    Young professionals, nightlife, parks and cafés

Quiet & green

  1. Sutton £
    £1,575 per month · −23% vs city
    65 and over: 15.1% (city 11.9%)
    Families on a budget; schools and quiet streets
  2. Bromley £
    £1,650 per month · −19% vs city
    65 and over: 17.6% (city 11.9%)
    Families wanting space, parks and good schools
  3. Kingston upon Thames ££
    £1,700 per month · −17% vs city
    65 and over: 14.5% (city 11.9%)
    Families and students; river and Richmond Park nearby
  4. Redbridge ££
    £1,700 per month · −17% vs city
    One-person households: 23.0% (city 29.3%)
    Families; forest and parks; Elizabeth line
  5. Waltham Forest ££
    £1,700 per month · −17% vs city
    Young families; parks, wetlands and the Victoria line

For commuters

  1. Havering £
    £1,550 per month · −24% vs city
    65 and over: 17.6% (city 11.9%)
    Families wanting houses and gardens on a budget
  2. Sutton £
    £1,575 per month · −23% vs city
    65 and over: 15.1% (city 11.9%)
    Families on a budget; schools and quiet streets
  3. Croydon £
    £1,593 per month · −22% vs city
    Fast trains to Victoria and London Bridge for less rent
  4. Bexley £
    £1,600 per month · −21% vs city
    65 and over: 16.6% (city 11.9%)
    Houses with gardens at lower London rents
  5. Bromley £
    £1,650 per month · −19% vs city
    65 and over: 17.6% (city 11.9%)
    Families wanting space, parks and good schools

Most people living alone

  1. City of London
    £3,100 per month · +52% vs city
    One-person households: 51.0% (city 29.3%)
  2. Kensington and Chelsea
    £3,563 per month · +75% vs city
    One-person households: 43.7% (city 29.3%)
  3. Westminster
    £3,300 per month · +62% vs city
    One-person households: 42.7% (city 29.3%)
  4. Camden
    £2,650 per month · +30% vs city
    One-person households: 38.7% (city 29.3%)
  5. Islington
    £2,650 per month · +30% vs city
    One-person households: 36.1% (city 29.3%)

Most young adults

  1. Tower Hamlets
    £2,300 per month · +13% vs city
    Aged 15–24: 16.2% (city 12.3%)
  2. Camden
    £2,650 per month · +30% vs city
    Aged 15–24: 16.1% (city 12.3%)
  3. Westminster
    £3,300 per month · +62% vs city
    Aged 15–24: 14.7% (city 12.3%)
  4. Newham
    £2,000 per month · −2% vs city
    Aged 15–24: 14.4% (city 12.3%)
  5. City of London
    £3,100 per month · +52% vs city
    Aged 15–24: 13.8% (city 12.3%)

Price level compares this area's rent with the others in the same city (£ = cheapest fifth, £££££ = most expensive fifth). Trend compares the rise since the first year of data with the city as a whole. Tags come from the area guide. Source: ONS – Census 2021 (Nomis: TS007A, TS054, TS003) (2021).

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