North West London Area Guides

Belsize Park is a beautiful and affluent area of North West London. Blessed with diverse, lovely architecture, a huge array of shops and restaurants, and excellent access to green space, Belsize Park is very desirable place to live. Belsize Park is close to Central London and has excellent transport links - in fact, its name derives from the French for 'beautifully situated' - yet has a leafy, village feel. Among those fortunate people who have been able to call this lovely area home are Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton. 

The River Brent runs through the North West London neighbourhood of Brent Cross, which is named for a crossroads that historically existed here. Today, the area is primarily known for being home to the Brent Cross Shopping Centre and the adjacent major bus station, which is served 24/7 by 13 bus lines. 

Brondesbury is a lovely residential area of Kilburn in London where you can find an array of attractive period properties, buildings, local parks and useful amenities. As well as being bordered by Willesden to the north-west, Queen's Park to the South and Kensal Green and Harlesden to the West, Brodesbury is known for the quaint tree-lined streets within its charming location.

Camden Town is known for its vibrant, artistic, and youthful air, as well as its many markets. It also lies on Regent’s Canal, and near Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill. Camden has great shopping, food and drink, and cultural/entertainment draws, and is a diverse and lively central London area. 

Chalk Farm, an area named for its station, is sandwiched between two neighbours with very disparate identities. Camden Town is known for its vibrant, artistic, and youthful air, as well as its many markets. It also lies on Regent’s Canal, and near Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill. Camden has great shopping, food and drink, and cultural/entertainment draws, and is a diverse and lively central London area. Primrose Hill, however, is a pretty neighbourhood is a family-filled, villagey corner of London. You’re also likely to spot a celebrity or two in this posh hub for media people from TV presenters to newspaper editors.

Somewhat overlooked compared to neighbours like Hampstead and Golders Green, Childs Hill is a lovely suburban family area. With good transport links, good schools, and excellent access to green space, it is easy to see what draws families to live here. Much like Golders Green, Childs Hill has a substantial Jewish community, and is otherwise a fairly diverse place with its own array of small businesses. Though by no means an inexpensive place to live, Childs Hill represents a more affordable alternative to its very affluent neighbours, and is experiencing a lot of growth and development. 

Colindale is a leafy Zone 4 area that was designated as a housing growth zone by Boris Johnson, and set to undergo some major improvements. This North West London area, with its abundance of country parks and interwar semi-detached homes with gardens, has been popular with commuting families for a long time - but its easy transport connections are now beginning to draw young professionals priced out of the centre. 

Cricklewood is a North West London suburb with an abundance of fine Victorian and Edwardian family homes, great transport links, and a sense of community. In recent years, funds have been pledged to regenerate the town centre, and there are many new homes being built in this neighbourhood. 

Dartmouth Park is a lovely neighbourhood near Hampstead Heath that has long been known to attract everyone from professional couples and families to famous actors and politicians. It is home to grand Victorian and Georgian properties, many of which have outside space. It is an area with staying power, retaining its residents - who coud choose to live anywhere - with ease. Dartmouth Park also has a sense of community, with residents who are invested in their area coming together to put forth a Neighbourhood Plan and discuss issues that matter to them. 

Dollis Hill is a lovely neighbourhood of North West London with good transport links, tree-lined streets, and stunning views across London from its high vantage point. An exceptionally diverse neighbourhood, and part of a very diverse borough, Dollis Hill is home to people of varied ethnic backgrounds and religions, lending the area a cosmopolitan air. The neighbourhood also attracts families, who find the area's leafy character, good schools, and strong community feel appealing. 

Golders Green is a beautiful North West London suburb that became a popular place to live in the 1930s, resulting in numerous semi-detached and detached homes in styles ranging from Art Deco to Arts & Crafts and everything in between. A leafy, safe area with excellent schools, Golders Green is popular with families. It is also home to a large and established Jewish community, and is considered by many to be the Kosher capital of the country. This Zone 3 area has all of the amenities you would want, from cafes and cinemas to open spaces, and also has excellent transport links into and out of Central London. 

Hampstead is a true village, incorporated into London by the late 19th century, but retaining a semi-rural feel because of the proximity to the wild countryside and open green space of Hampstead Heath. The area is particularly attractive to families, with good schools completing the trifecta of safety, green space, and schooling that makes for a family-friendly neighbourhood. There is a wide range of property available here, but all at a premium - Hampstead has long been, and will remain, one of the loveliest places to live in London. 

Harlesden is one of London's most multicultural neighbourhoods, and attracts a wide range of people. In addition to a truly diverse, cosmopolitan atmosphere, the area has lovely tree-lined Victorian streets, an array of independent shops and restaurants, and good schools. Although it has had a somewhat difficult reputation as far as safety is concerned, there have been recent and ongoing improvements to the town centre intended to improve perceptions of the area and make it a safer and more pleasant place to live. 

Hendon is an area with a lot on offer: good transport links, green and open spaces, and great shopping and leisure facilities. This neighbourhood particularly attracts families, who come in search of family homes and good schools and find them here. Known for its large Jewish community as well as its significant Indian community, this is also a cosmopolitan and diverse suburb. 

Kensal Rise (also known as Kensal Green) is a vibrant urban village in North West London. With a combination of green, open spaces and good transport links, a range of independent shops and good schools, and a variety of property to fit a range of tastes and budgets, it is an appealing area of London for families, young professionals, and everything in between. The area is also known for attracting young, artsy, media types and actors - including Daniel Craig. The area has been called the 'new Portobello', and Vogue named Chamberlayne Road 'London's hippest street'.

Long underrated and neglected, this attractive, well-connected part of London has become increasingly popular in recent years. Kentish Town is situated between two of London's wonderful parks - Regent's Park and Hampstead Heath - and also serves as a perfect middle ground between the lovely but sedate environs of Hampstead and the exciting but sometimes overwhelming liveliness of Camden Town. Kentish Town attracts a real mix of people, from working class Londoners to famous actors, and haas a cosmopolitan array of shops and excellent restaurants in the neighbourhood.

Kilburn has been seen by many as a less posh alternative to Notting Hill for some time now - but this comparison, while reasonable, overlooks some of Kilburn's unique appeal. Kilburn is a very diverse area, and has an edgy, urban vibe - but it is also a desirable family area, with open space, good transport connections, and plenty of shops and bars. Kilburn is up-and-coming, and is benefitting from young professionals and families moving into the area.

A quiet North West London suburb, Kingsbury's appeals are many, but are mainly family-orientated. This area isn't a destination for nightlife, but those looking for a relatively affordable place to settle with loads of green and open space on the doorstep should look no further. Likewise, families searching for good schools will find them in Kinsbury. The area is well connected, though it is Zone 4, and the rate of car ownership in the area is fairly high.

Lisson Grove is an area thathas been overlooked in favour of the neighbours surrounding it - including Marylebone, St John's Wood, Maida Vale, and Regent's Park. Though those places are now synonymous with gentrification, Lisson Grove itself stayed relatively unknown and affordable because of its long-standing reputation for being a slum due to its proximity to the railway tracks and the canals. Much of the property in this area is ex-council homes, and the area itself is somewhat short on amenities like cafes, but there's no shortage of places to go in the nearby areas. 

Mill Hill is a characteristically lovely, leafy village-turned-suburb. Drawing families to its excellent schools, several of which are Jewish state schools, the area has a warm, welcoming community feel. Also popularr with outdoorsy types, the area has many vast expanses of green space, including Arrandene Open Space, an equestrian centre, and a golf centre. There is a range of property to suit any need, and transport connections - by Tube, rail, bus, or car - are good in this Zone 4 suburb. 

Neasden is a vibrant, multicultural London suburb. Though once thought of as a gritty area, it has been the beneficiary of a lot of revitalisation funding from Brent Council in recent years. But aside from that, the neighbourhood has always had some particularly lovely attractions, including large open spaces like the Brent Reservoir and the recreation grounds. Located in Zone 3 and with good transport links - and property prices that count for a bargain in London - Neasden is an appealing area for people of all kinds. 

Park Royal is an industrial area in North West London that is in the middle of being reinvented as a residential area. With the Grand Union Canal running through the area, excellent transport links, and good access to green space, Park Royal has the amenities in place to make this possible. New residential developments are being built alongside the many existing commercial buildings. 

Situated snugly between Camden and the park that is also called Primrose Hill, this pretty neighbourhood is a family-filled, villagey corner of London. You’re also likely to spot a celebrity or two in this posh hub for media people from TV presenters to newspaper editors.

Queen's Park is an increasingly popular Zone 2 area with a lot going for it. Its central location means that it has excellent transport links by Tube, rail, and bus. Period properties can still be picked up at what is, for central London, something of a bargain. There is community spirit and green space enough to offer respite from urban life, as well as a farmer's market featuring local and organic produce. 

Home to beautiful white stuccoed terraces, two of London's loveliest parks, and a canal, Regent's Park is one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in London. The strong community feel and leafy surroundings make this neighbourhood feel like a peaceful enclave in the heart of the capital. Celebrities from the US ambassador to Damien Hirst have chosen this area to call home.

South Hampstead, often conflated with Swiss Cottage, is a lovely neighbourhood of North West London. With conservation status, this area is well-preserved and mainly has attractive red-brick Victorian terraces and semi-detached houses, as well as attractive, leafy streets. Many of the roomy homes here have both front and back gardens, and those without private rear gardens often have access to a communal garden. There is a mix of young professionals and families in this appealing suburb, drawn to everything from the good transport links to the excellent schools. 

St John's Wood is one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in London. With many notable landmarks (including the iconic Beatles street crossing), famous residents, and local amenities, this beautiful and cosmopolitan neighbourhood has something to offer everyone. Despite the small-town charm of friendly locals and independent shops, St John's Wood is centrally located, and impeccably well connected. Schools in this area are excellent, access to green and open space is convenient, and there are places of worship for many faiths. A home in this beautiful, leafy, conservation area would appeal to anyone.

Swiss Cottage, an area often conflated with nearby South Hampstead, is a lovely residential area of North West London that was named for an early 19th century inn built in the style of a Swiss chalet. This area is well-preserved and mainly has attractive red-brick Victorian terraces and semi-detached houses, as well as attractive, leafy streets. Many of the roomy homes here have both front and back gardens, and those without private rear gardens often have access to a communal garden. There is a mix of young professionals and families in this appealing suburb, drawn to everything from the good transport links to the excellent schools. 

West Hampstead is a lovely community area of North West London with a distinctive character and amenities that appeal to a broad range of residents. Families are drawn to the area's safety, green spaces, and good schools, while young professionals may be more drawn by the cafe culture, local amenities, and excellent transport links. A wide range of property styles and sizes is available here, ensuring that the differing needs of the variety of people who wish to call West Hampstead home will find the right house or flat for them here.

West Hendon is a small area of North West London that has recently been targeted for regeneration. The wider Hendon area is multicultural, green, and well-connected. This area particularly attracts families, because in addition to its other amenities, its schools are good, and it is a safe place to live.

Willesden is a family suburb of North West London that is benefitting from a lot of investment and regeneration. This area has the requisite green space and good schools to attract families, but also amenities like good transport links and nightlife. Willesden is a very diverse and characterful area of London. The area has some well-established communities, including a substantial Irish presence. 

Willesden Green is a thriving suburb which is surrounded by Queen's Park, Kilburn, Cricklewood and Dollis Hill. Willesden, meaning ‘hill of the spring’, dates back to 939 AD where the population began to rapidly grow after the arrival of the Metropolitan Railway Station in 1987. With the area undergoing a transformation during the First World War, this meant that the location changed to a working-class demographic and then came a rapid expansion of accommodation.