Contrary to what our name may lead you to believe, here at Secret London, there are actually a number of things that we don’t keep particularly under-wraps. One being the size of the rather hefty soft spot that we have for our big, bright, brilliant city. You’ll frequently find us waxing lyrical about a new neighbourhood that we’ve stumbled across and instantly fallen in love with. But being such devoted fans of every nook and cranny of the capital; it sure is tricky for us to narrow it down to the best of all. So, it’s pretty darn handy that we don’t have to – because the lovely lot over at The Times have done the hard work for us.
Year after year, The Times have us all perched on the edge of our seats in anticipation of their annual ‘Best Places to Live’ guide. And the time has finally come, folks. The trusty team have scoured the length and breadth of the entire country to uncover the best places to live; from hip and happening towns to quaint and quiet villages. So, without further ado, please allow us to point you in the dreamy direction of 2026’s best place to live in London.
The best place to live in London (according to The Times)
The best place to live in London is – drum roll, please… Richmond. No stranger to an accolade; this leafy London neighbourhood is frequently named among Britain’s best places to live. It was also recently named the happiest place to live in the country, too – I mean, I’d also be feeling pretty pleased with myself if I’d managed to snap up a gaff in Richmond.
Praised for its ‘village vibes with city amenities’; it certainly isn’t hard to see why this picture perfect pocket of London nabbed the crown. It boasts a ravishing riverside location, a humongous park (complete with free-roaming deer), a load of jaw-droppingly gorgeous houses (with the average one costing a whopping £916,900), a plethora of excellent schools, and an abundance of celebrity residents. Yep, consider me sold.
Six other London locales earned themselves a comfy seat at the table of the best places to reside, including last year’s winner, Walthamstow.
The best places to live in London (according to The Times):
- Richmond (TW9/TW10)
- Bermondsey to Waterloo, Southwark (SE1)
- Bow (E3)
- Crouch End (N8)
- Fulham (SW6)
- Plumstead (SE18)
- Walthamstow (E17)
You can peruse The Times’ full findings here.
