North London Guide 

In general North London is considered desirable as a place to live although, as usual for London, there are some dodgy areas mixed in with the good.

If you were to split North London into areas along the lines of character you could start with the posher, grander, more stately areas around Regent's Park: Belsize Park, St. John's wood, Maida vale, Primrose Hill and Hampstead. These places are conservative and pleasant. They are stupidly expensive. The notable exception to the stately theme in the area is Camden which, while posh in parts, is basically a drug fuelled lunatic asylum (although, as a result, very creative with very good nightlife).

East of Camden (everyone means the town although it's also a borough) is Islington (also a town and a borough - usually people are talking about the borough). Islington is reassuringly expensive and considered somewhat upper market although the nightlife is good and there are lots of (somewhat successful) young professionals here. The area of Islington known as Angel is a particularly popular place with a great high street full of nice pubs, bars and antique shops.

As you continue North-East you come to Holloway. Holloway is nice in parts but begins a somewhat rough theme that continues up the Seven Sisters road to Finsbury Park, Wood Green and Tottenham. Whilst not without their exceptions and charms, these are not really very nice areas.

Ok. Let's go back to the nice areas - what North London is really all about. Let's go to Highgate. This is a lovely place - leafy green, nice shops, great pubs and right on the gorgeous Hampstead Heath. The theme of loveliness is continued, sort of, in Hornsey and to a much greater extent in nearby Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Finchley. These are nice areas, quite quiet and family oriented. They are not cheap.

Golder's Green vies with Hampstead for the greatest concentration of Britain's Millionaires. The millionaires here are quite understated and the area is somewhat unexceptional. Bounds Green is ok. Wood Green is quite a bit more rough around the edges than the surrounding area although much cheaper as a result.

Right. Onwards and, well, Westwards. There is quite a change in feel as you cross the Finchley rd. from Hampstead to West Hampstead, Kilburn and Cricklewood. These areas are much more down to earth than Hampstead or Finchley but nice enough all the same and considerably more affordable.

South of Kilburn - Maida Vale - and you're starting to get somewhat stately again. The houses are large and beautiful, the streets wide and leafy and you're a stone's throw from Central London. This is a pleasant, if expensive part of London.