What is the most fun, quintessentially 'London' part of London to live in?

Question

If I wanted the best, most quintessentially London experience which bit should I live in?

Answer 1

The old London doesn't exist anymore. The communities that seperated individual areas died out perhaps in the 1980s. Things like the division of eastenders and westenders are not as strong anymore as middle class professionals moved to the east end in search of cheap housing. Communities were scattered to the four winds. It probably the loneliest city in the world to live in now.

Answer 2

Loads of different good areas depends on what you want. If you're wanting something very British then living in a nearby commuter town maybe better suited to you.

Answer 3

London is hardly English anymore.

Inner London regions

East End- Bangladeshi & Pakistani communities

West End- Posh English snobs communities

Inner South West- Caribbean communities

Inner South East- African communities

Inner North- Turkish & Jewish communities

If you want some English type of London go to the West End Kensington Fulham Soho them areas

West London is very expensive £1,000 per month 1 bedroom or £4,000 per month 3 bedroom average.

If I were you forget inner London altogether and go for outer London where it is still English big houses in the suburbs which are not that expensive but are boring places well to me they are more like a village out there.

Answer 4

A "quintessentially London experience" these days is more of a foreign experience than anything else.

London is one of the least English parts of England.

Isn't multiculturalism and mass immigration great...

Answer 5

if you want quintessentially London then I'd suggest you look in Tunbridge Wells or Harlow ... London is NOT quintessentially English any more, they all moved out years ago

Answer 6

Well, quintessentially 'London' may not mean quintessentially 'British' . I would look at Soho region (or Soho square). It is touristy, but with a little bit of an edge. Kind of a mix of media types, g*y clubs, tourists, good shopping, and lots of tourists. Most of seediness that defined the area in the 1970's has been pushed out, but there is just enough so that it is not completely sterile tourist.

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If you are too young and too poor for Soho, then try Bloomsbury. The feel is more academic and laid back.

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If you are too old and too rich for Soho, then try Sloane Square or Chelsea.

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The youtube video is a nostalgic look at Carnaby Street which is in the Western part of Soho.

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Source #3 says Highgate is one of the most expensive suburbs

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It sounds like quintessentially 'London' to most people must mean Newham (source #4) which is the most ethnically diverse borough in London.

Answer 7

Maybe try Camden Town, Islington or Shoreditch, which all have loads going on.

For something quieter, try Marleybone (very expensive though)