Best places to live in Zone 2

Where are the best places to live in Zone 2?

Many places within Zone 2 are widely regarded as Central London though they are often leafier and village-like.

For those wanting to get a little more property for their money whilst still being close to the action, Zone 2 might be the perfect place to buy a home.

The most desirable postcodes within Zone 2 London have well-established property markets often meaning they are a safer bet when seeking good potential for capital growth over properties in the outer zones.

It also means that properties are more sought after, there is a steady demand for correctly priced property resulting in competition to secure the best homes.

We’ve conducted many searches on the behalf of clients who wish to live just outside of Zone 1 and have compiled a list of a number of locations which we would suggest considering.

Fulham, SW6

Fulham has three stations within Zone 2; Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway on the District Line and Imperial Wharf for the London Overground.

Properties around Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway are largely period homes, including houses, mansion blocks, buildings converted into apartments and purpose built maisonettes.

Fulham has many amenities including boutique shops, many popular places to eat and drink – it is a very social area, with several gyms and members clubs along with various chain stores.

The Imperial Wharf area of Fulham is a collection of new properties surrounding the Imperial Wharf Overground station.

Residents don’t have to travel far to reach the local amenities with many located in the lower part of the buildings.

On the other side of the railway line is Chelsea Harbour, similarly to Imperial Wharf the area has seen much new development and regeneration in recent years.

Top reasons to live in Fulham

• especially popular with young professionals – thanks to the lively social scene in its bars, pubs, and restaurants;

• leafy streets lined with attractive Edwardian and Victorian properties – with a fair sprinkling of new-build homes, too;

• celebrated and sought-after addresses – particularly around Imperial Wharf and its apartments with marvellous views overlooking the River Thames;

• tucked between the better-known boroughs of Hammersmith and Chelsea, Fulham is often overlooked yet still offers one of the best, most accessible locations in this part of southwest London.

St Johns Wood, NW8

St Johns Wood is a prestigious area in north London, just outside of central London with Regents Park its southern tip, the most exclusive properties here are very sought after and rarely become available to buy.

Property ranges from low-built villas to apartments in modern developments.

Families are attracted to the area for the local schools and professionals enjoy the excellent transport connections in the form of the Jubilee Line at St John’s Wood Station.

The high street has various shops, restaurants, bars and delicatessens, there is also the Wellington Private Hospital, Lord’s Cricket Ground and of course Abbey Road Studio in St Johns Wood.

Top reasons to live in St John’s Wood

• St John’s Wood is probably one of the most expensive parts of London in which to live – your neighbours are almost certain to be successful and well-heeled;

• there is a quiet and relaxed sense of community – almost village-like – yet it is still so close to the very centre of London life;

• the borough’s Regent’s Canal presents a further oasis of calm, offers tree-lined walks along the towpath, and brings a touch of the countryside to this part of the capital.

Wapping, E1W

Wapping in East London is a highly desirable place to live.

Well located for transport to quickly reach the City and Canary Wharf, City airport is also only 6 miles away.

Located along the River Thames, Wapping High Street is largely filled with residential buildings.

The marina at St Katherine’s Docks has a selection of places to eat and drink and St Thomas More Square has a Waitrose and gym.

Many of the properties in Wapping boast impressive views along the river, properties on higher floors often have far reaching views across London.

Top reasons to live in Wapping

• though you’ll be rubbing shoulders with one of the capital’s best-known landmarks, the Tower of London, Wapping itself still retains that sense of an established small community – Wapping Lane boasts a butcher, greengrocer, and bakery, while in nearby Thomas More Street, there is a Waitrose supermarket;

• Wapping is home to two of London’s most iconic pubs – the Prospect of Whitby (a tavern has been on the site since circa 1520) and the Town of Ramsgate (with a history dating back to 1545);

• the leading independent City of London Schools are nearby – the boys’ school just along the river on Queen Victoria Street and the girls’ school in the Barbican.

Hammersmith, W6

Hammersmith, in west London, is within the London borough of Hammersmith & Fulham; Fulham borders Hammersmith to the south of the area.

The transport connections in Hammersmith are excellent, they include the Piccadilly Line, District Line, Circle Line and Hammersmith & City line.  There are also many bus routes running through Hammersmith.

The most desirable places to live in Hammersmith are Brackenbury Village, around Ravenscourt Park and along the river.

There are many shops and restaurants located on and around King Street, which is the main area for shopping, with several popular pubs on the river and in Brackenbury Village.

Hammersmith is popular with families for the excellent schools both state run and independent, and for professionals, the transport connections make commuting to any part of London relatively easy.

Whilst Hammersmith can be very busy there are some peaceful residential pockets in which many exclusive properties are located – St Peter’s Square is an example of such a place.

Top reasons to live in Hammersmith

• because it is such a desirable area in which to live, Hammersmith hosts a stable, and affluent community;

• with its riverside setting and abundance of amenities, Hammersmith boasts a reputation as a place with something for everyone – from young professionals to families and those looking to retire to a leafy and spacious corner of the capital;

• its west London location, at the convergence of several major road networks and the soon to be improved Hammersmith Gyratory system, provides Hammersmith with ideal transport links to the rest of the country.

Clapham, SW4

The Clapham area, which centres around Clapham Common, is a popular place to live in London’s Zone 2, there are several underground stations; Clapham North, Clapham Common and Clapham South all on the Northern Line and Clapham High Street which is on the London Overground.

The property surrounding the common is particularly sought after, as are properties located in the Clapham Old Town area.

Nearer to Clapham South tube station Abbeville Village is also a popular place to live within the Clapham area.

There are several desirable pockets of residential property from which residents can enjoy a village atmosphere and the local boutique shops and eateries.

Clapham high street is never far away from a wider range of places to shop, eat and drink.

Top reasons to live in Clapham

• Clapham Common lies at the heart of this district, providing a large open space serving as the green lungs for the surrounding residential development of impressive mansions and sought-after Victorian terraces;

• it’s a highly cosmopolitan part of the capital that combines the fashionable with more traditional features such as regular farmers’ markets;

• Clapham Picture House is the area’s very own arthouse, cinema club, and café bar;

• there are a several “Outstanding” Ofsted-rated schools in the area and its surrounds.

Islington, N1

The London Borough of Islington lies immediately to the north of the City of London. 

From the centre of the borough to the Bank of England is around two miles, while Highbury and Islington on the Victoria Line and the Angel station on the Northern Line offer immediate access to the whole of the London Underground. 

Highbury and Islington station also provides overground train services.

While there is a definite buzz, with Islington clearly at the forefront of major trends in the capital, it also maintains a more tranquil and secluded atmosphere that gives parts of the borough the appearance of village life – underscored by an abundance of parks, New River Walk, and the Regent’s Canal.

Families moving into the area will welcome the quality and good standing of both state and independent schools (as at February 2023, 31 are rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted).

Top reasons to live in Islington

• underscoring the village feel is Camden passage – a vehicle-free, cobbled lane lined with cafes, antique shops, and independent stores and boutiques;

• a buzzing business community around Old Street (known as Tech City and Silicon Roundabout);

• throughout the borough is a wealth of conservation-protected period homes dating from the Georgian and Victorian eras, some with access to their own private gardens.

Maida Vale, W9

With its mix of European style crescents, period houses, designer homes, and bespoke apartments clustered around the greenery of communal gardens, Maida Vale has some of the most sought-after properties in London. 

Maida Vale is an especially attractive part of the wider City of Westminster, but it is also affluent, with many resident Expats.

With that affluence comes a distinct sense of exclusivity – whether in the luxury of its homes, the leafy tranquillity of the Regent’s Canal, or the multitude of characterful bars, clubs, and restaurants.

The nearby state sector and independent schools are widely recognised as “Outstanding”.

Top reasons to live in Maida Vale 

• great transport links – Maida Vale has its own Underground station, which is on the Bakerloo line;

• a picturesque area of Maida Vale, along the banks of the Regent’s Canal and the Grand Union Canal that run through it, is the historic quarter known as Little Venice;

• Maida Vale sits between two similarly affluent districts of London – Notting Hill and Kensington to the south, and Hampstead and St John’s Wood to the north. Regent’s Park is just a few minutes away.

Holland Park, W11

Homes in Holland Park exude an air of luxury – whether the buildings are grand mansions, period homes, Victorian terraces, or even artisanal studio apartments, with some addresses, such as Oakwood Court or Holland Park Mews, claiming iconic status.

It is a quiet, leafy, and tranquil part of the capital – yet close to the hustle and bustle of major shopping areas and central London. Thanks to its location on the western fringes of the centre, Holland Park boasts excellent transport links both into the city and beyond.

In keeping with its air of affluence, Holland Park boasts many fine dining establishments. Its properties have attracted many celebrity owners who live along the area known unofficially as Millionaire’s Row.

There is an excellent choice of highly rated schools, including the Southbank International School.

Top reasons to live in Holland Park

• there are plenty of open green spaces between the luxurious homes of Holland Park;

• a little piece of the Orient – courtesy of a gift from Japan – is the Kyoto Garden, where you can admire the maple trees, tumbling waterfalls, stone lanterns, and ponds stocked with Koi carp;

• Holland Park is an appealing, upscale and affluent corner of the capital that maintains tranquillity and seclusion from the nearby city, with acres of its own green space.

Canary Wharf, E14

Canary Wharf takes its name from the shipping quay where fruit and vegetables from the Canary Islands used to be unloaded. Today, it is one of the most successful regeneration projects of East London’s historic Docklands.

Redevelopment has transformed the area into a global financial centre but in a way that also makes contemporary Canary Wharf a superb place not just to work but also to work and play.

For families, many of the schools in the area are rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted, offering great educational opportunities. 

The City of London is barely a 15-minute ride away, with Underground connections to both the Jubilee Line and the Elizabeth Line. Already excellent transport links have been made still more attractive thanks to the recent opening of the major east-west Crossrail project.

Top reasons to live in Canary Wharf

• though probably best known as a financial hub, Canary Wharf has also developed into a significant focus for the arts and culture – now hosting one of the largest collections of art in the country to remain free for public enjoyment;

• the concrete and plate glass of its high-rise buildings are liberally interspersed with over 20 acres of open space;

• a veritable banquet of restaurants, cafes, and bars offer plenty of opportunities to unwind after a hard day at the office or in recovery from the readily available retail therapy.

Find a place to live in zone 2

There are many other wonderful places to live in London’s transport Zone 2 if you’d like help decided the best location for your next property purchase our London property finders would be delighted to help.

If you’re looking for a property in London and would like to learn more about our services please contact us for a no obligation discussion.