Kensington and Chelsea is one of the most desirable areas in London, known as the home of the rich and famous. There's plenty to see and do in the region, with King's Road being the hub of Chelsea.
Kensington and Holland Park: Quintessential West London
High-net-worth individuals choose this area for its luxury boutiques and Michelin-starred restaurants. Meanwhile, Holland Park is loved for its exclusivity, with detached houses surrounded by verdant landscapes.
West London is generally considered the most posh, encompassing prestigious areas like Chelsea, Kensington and Belgravia. These areas are known for their elegant architecture, high-end boutiques and serene garden squares, contributing to their reputation for affluence.
As a rule west London is prettier, as well as richer. Take Portobello Market, which is a beautiful sight all year round. The architecture is different here, too. While east London is full of tower blocks, west London is home to more celebrities and comes with a more glamorous, wealthy capital city feel.
Kensington. A classic choice for renters seeking a prestigious West London location, Kensington offers much more than its regal history and renowned museums. ...
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The North London neighborhoods of Highbury and Islington have long-since been among the capital's most sought-after areas. Spreading out either side of bustling Upper Street, Islington is the lively heart of the area.
Where do billionaires live in London? Billionaires in London often reside in affluent neighbourhoods like Mayfair, Belgravia, and Knightsbridge. These areas are renowned for their luxury properties, exclusive amenities, and proximity to high-end shopping and cultural attractions.
The coveted Kensington Palace Gardens remains Britain's most expensive street, with residencies typically costing 162 times the value of the average home. Owned by the Crown Estate and nicknamed London's Billionaire Row, there is no other street quite like it.
The Bishops Avenue. The Bishops Avenue, London N2, connects the north side of Hampstead Heath at Kenwood (Hampstead Lane), Hampstead to East Finchley and lies near or, at the south end, on the boundary between the London Boroughs of Barnet and Haringey. It is considered to be one of the wealthiest streets in the world.
Encompassing many of London's poshest neighbourhoods as well as superlative restaurants, hotels and shops, the West End should be your first port of call.
The four boroughs with the highest levels of child poverty are all in Inner and East London - Hackney, Islington, Tower Hamlets and Newham. In these boroughs, more than 40% of children are in poverty.
The area with the roughest reputation in London is Westminster, recording the highest crime rate of 432 crimes per 1,000 people in the year ending December 2024—though this is likely skewed by massive daytime footfall from tourists, which inflates the crime-per-resident ratio.
Knightsbridge, South Kensington, Belgravia and Mayfair have long been considered among the most prestigious areas in London, along with village-like Hampstead. Yet the property market is always evolving. For example, in South London, Battersea has entered a new phase of high-rise luxury living.
Mayfair. At the top of the list is Mayfair synonymous with luxury and history. An impressive 93% of homes listed here recently have been priced above £1 million. Past residents include Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill, while the area is known today for its art galleries, private clubs, and peaceful squares.
Richmond upon Thames (including areas like Teddington) consistently ranks as the safest borough in London, thanks to its low crime rates (about 72 crimes per 1000 people as of 2024), riverside parks, strong community vibe, and excellent schools.
As well as the proximity of the centre of government, the West End was long favoured by the rich elite as a place of residence because it was usually upwind of the smoke drifting from the crowded City.
West London has plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, with loads of parks and green spaces to wander around and explore. One of the best ways to immerse yourself in nature is by deer spotting in Richmond Park, the largest royal park in London which is home to more than 600 deer.
Luxury living defines Mayfair, and the area has become a favourite to bed down in for the international elite – billionaire business owners from all over the world love the exquisite properties, the cache of being in the most exclusive zone of London, and the proximity to areas that trip off the tongue for prestige ( ...
While many of the wealthy individuals on the list live in London, there are some exceptions. Gopi Hinduja and his family are number one for both Britain and London, with a collective value of £35 billion. That's despite losing £5.2 million a day over the past 12 months due to a $14 billion family legal feud..
West Hampstead is a chic place to live, thanks to its location on the edge of central London, providing a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life, and yet the transport links into the nearby West End and the City are second to none.
The area around one of London's royal parks is a place many celebrities have purchased homes. The northwest side–an area known as St. John's Wood, attracts the likes of Keith Richards, Kate Moss, Sir Paul McCartney, Ewen McGregor, Sir Richard Branson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and record-producer Mark Ronson.
Typically, North London is more expensive to live in than south of the river. If you can afford it, the most expensive areas of all in the north of the capital are currently Islington and Lambeth, the least expensive being Enfield and Croydon, both within easy commuting distance of the city centre.
It was called the Queen of Suburbs in the 1920s or 30s and it was deeply middle class when I went to school there in the 1970s. It still has some very desirable bits, some slightly more mixed but no dangers IMO. I live in Richmond and it is 17 minutes on a fast train to Waterloo. It is also deeply middle class.
