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When it comes to Britain’s most appealing neighbourhoods, everyone wants to call their corner of the country the best. That’s why there are all sorts of lists and rankings naming the UK’s top locations to live – from the coolest streets (our number one is Blackstock Road), to the trendiest areas (we crowned Camberwell one of the world’s coolest in 2025).
Now the Sunday Times has released its ranking of Britain’s best places to live in 2026. To determine Britain’s top neighbourhoods, the newspaper sent a team of judges to every corner of the country to chat to locals, soak up the atmosphere and try out the amenities. They also considered other stuff like the quality of transport and schools, as well as broadband speeds.
Seven London locations were included in this year’s ranking. Here’s what they were.
Richmond
This leafy southwest London borough is no stranger to accolades. It’s frequently named London’s happiest neighbourhood, and it often tops lists of the best places to live in the city. That’s why it was the Times’ overall winner for London this year. The paper called this area known for its peaceful parks and great schools with easy access into central London the ‘most serene corner of the capital’. The average house price in TW10 is a mega £916,900, so it’s no wonder the residents are all so happy – they’re rich!
Bermondsey to Waterloo
The Times named this stretch of Southwark ‘a hotspot for culture’ thanks to its proximity to Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Theatre and the Tate Modern. The paper also shouted out the area’s great restaurant scene found at the nearby Borough Market – home to restos like Bala Baya, Seabird and Oma. The average house in SE1 will set you back £746,300.
Crouch End
‘Crouch End has all the charms of a quintessential English market town – it just happens to be in Zone 3 of London,’ wrote the Times. The north London enclave was included for its ample green space, vibrant shops and places to eat, good schools and family-sized period homes. It’s also got a recording studio where you might bump into artists like Wolf Alice or the Last Dinner Party. The average price here is a cool £912,000.
Fulham
The Times called this upmarket corner of west London ‘simply to be a jolly nice place to live: unassuming but reassuringly well heeled’. They argued that it’s well known for a reason, thanks to its posh pubs, beautiful streets and proximity to the river. Start saving up: the average house price here is £1,090,600.
Walthamstow
E17 has been firmly on the map for quite a few years now. The north east London borough still has cheaper houses – the average is £542,100 – making it an attractive option to young families who can’t quite face moving out to the commuter belt. For things to do, Stow residents have got loads at their fingertips, including the new Soho Theatre Walthamstow, the Community Sauna Baths and the vast green expanse of the Walthamstow Wetlands, as well as loads of indie restaurants, shops, pubs and breweries.
Bow
One of the cheapest London areas to make the list was Bow, where the average house price is £474,900. Bordering Victoria Park, Bow is still attractive to sourdough-loving Hackneyites, but without the lofty London Fields price tag. For culture, it’s not far from the V&A East Storehouse and V&A East (opening soon), and Sadler’s Wells East. E3 is also packed with history, with Roman remnants and connections to the suffragettes.
Plumstead
Thanks to the Lizzie line, southeast London’s Plumstead is now only 15 minutes from Liverpool Street. It’s also the cheapest London location in the Times’ ranking, with houses averaging £408,700. While the Times acknowledged its inclusion might raise a few eyebrows, it called the area a ‘leafy, long-overlooked corner of southeast London’, saying it was ‘the best place to buy a period house in the capital for £500,000’.
Read the Times’ full lowdown on Britain’s top places to live in 2026 here.
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