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Crouch End shortlisted for ‘best place to live in London’

The Sunday Times crowned the area the ‘best place to live’ last year

Crouch End best place to live

Crouch End has been shortlisted as the ‘best place to live in London’ according to a guide published annually by the Sunday Times each year.

The area in Haringey was given top honour in the guide last year (2023) as the ‘best place to live in London’ – but Clerkenwell beat Crouch End to the position this year.

The supplement, published today (15th March), praised Crouch End’s “astonishing number of shops, cafes and restaurants” squeezed into a “compact centre”. Judges also mentioned its “parks, sports grounds and handsome Victorian and Edwardian houses”. It was also hailed as a “mini cultural powerhouse” for its Hornsey Town Hall redevelopment, newly launched literary festival, two indie cinemas and long-running comedy club.

It missed out to Clerkenwell however for its embodiment of “all that’s best about life in London”.

Five other London locations have been selected for the guide, amongst 72 UK locations overall.

Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, says: “This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2024, from Dunkeld to Knutsford, Falmouth to Leeds. Wherever you are on the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.  

“These are all places where you can feel grounded as well as upwardly mobile: they have a mature sense of community, lively, supportive high streets and an eye to the future, whether that is eco-friendly measures, transport and regeneration, or imaginative inclusion of new housing.” 

“What makes our guide unique is that we actually visit all the places we choose and talk to locals to find out what life is really like there,” Helen added. “That means we can see what people really love about the places they live. That might be fast commutes and high-achieving schools but also clean water to swim in, lively town centres with useful shops, the possibility of earning a living and being part of a friendly community.

“We do consider affordability, though high house prices are no barrier to inclusion – as long as they provide value for money. Different people may be looking for different things, but what all our best places have in common is that people love living in them and are proud to call them home.”

Disagree with the judges’ choices? Write in at [email protected] and let us know – we might even include your view in our next issue.


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