The Top Three London Hotspots to Live In

Discover the London high streets with a village-style community vibe that’s highly prized by young professionals and families: Leyton, Stoke Newington and Crystal Palace.

 

Leyton

There are a mixture of Victorian houses and conversions in Leyton, with jazzy new developments found closer to Stratford. Leyton high street has recently been revamped, where Jan Kattein Architects worked with 30 key buildings along the street to tailor designs specifically to each business and help to preserve the high street’s energy. The street will have a “village setting” once the pedestrianised part of the road is finished, and small independent traders will be licensed to sell good-quality produce at a weekly farmers market.

Estate agents Leyton have identified the area as being appealing for first-time buyers, and to young families looking for space and value for money combined with an easy commute into central London via Leyton underground station or the Leyton Midland Road over ground service.

Stoke Newington

The area was bombed heavily during WW2, which has brought a rash of post-war estates. There are also a good number of streets with surviving Victorian terraces, with a “sprinkle” of new build. Stoke Newington Church Street has the longest street name in London and has changed massively in the past 30 years – thanks to a number of good primary and secondary schools, with families moving from all corners of London to take advantage.

There are a number of interesting independent shops, including butchers, lifestyle and clothing stores. The local demographic for this area is families and others aged from mid-twenties to early forties.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace has a blend of Victorian villas, flats and terrace houses, as well as good-quality purpose-built apartment blocks and new housing developments. There are a number of independent cafes and shops on the high street, including vintage shops and furniture stores. The area attracts a mixture of first-time buyers, families and older people with a bit of “bohemian” about them.

Crystal Palace station has trains to London Bridge and Victoria, and it’s also on the overground line, connecting the area with east London and Canary Wharf.