Best areas to live in London
Rank the below and provide reasons Marylebone Southwark South Kensington Pimlico Camden Canary Wharf
Trending Content - Off Topic Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
June 30, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
Canary Wharf if you work there and it’s not even close.
Proximity to the office over almost everything probably.
I'm in North Pimlico atm and it's pretty great actually. Also lived in Camden for a year and it wasn't bad, very busy/active place.
I'm not going to rank and provide reasons, thanks, but as another user has commented, proximity is a key priority.
I personally like Canary Wharf at least for roles in City and can be great for Mayfair (great cycle lanes and the DLR, as well as the Jubillee line which runs to Green Park). Obviously if you work in the Wharf the decision is a non-event.
It's also safe, has a good range of bars and shops and restaurants, etc.
Good affordability especially in the South Quay area - all the buildings are modern tower block style, so what this is less good for is if you like older style architecture. It's also soulless and has limited green space, but if you're an intern I'd guess these aren't the biggest decision factors (e.g. family, schooling).
Camden has a lot of identity and soul, and is close to Regents Park. The areas further north (e.g. Chalk Farm / Kentish town) are better for families than the centre.
South Kensignton, if you're actually an intern, will likely price you out. Marylebone makes sense for BNP but nothing else that I can think of.
Thank you, much appreciated! I will be working at one of the firms in st James park as an intern. I saw a nice flat in Marylebone at walking distance from the office (c.20-25min) and was wondering what you think of this neighbourhood? I like that it is well connected, close to parks, and Soho. I am European and visited London several times but never actually lived there
I'm sorry but need to confess that I don't know the area super well, and haven't lived there (though I did live in Maida Vale as an AN1 and also lived on Edgware Road for a year as a student a long time ago). I've lived in London for 15 years or so, so I can definitely share some thoughts, but take it with a pinch of salt.
1) It's relatively safe - not known to be a rough or difficult area at all. Kilburn which is further north can be a bit more difficult.
2) As far as I'm aware it's mostly residential at least north of Euston Road and doesn't have a huge restaurant / shopping scene beyond higher end establishments (although closer to Oxford Street you get much more).
3) If you're closer to Edgware Road, that's a very Middle Eastern community. I'd argue quite safe and some of the restaurants there are really authentic and good.
4) Depending on exactly where you are in Marylebone, you're close to Paddington station which has great transport links elsewhere in the UK and has seen a lot of investment.
5) Weather in the UK, as you probably know, can be awful, so I'd make sure you have a backup plan versus walking everyday.
Those are the thoughts that come to mind but happy to comment on anything else (again with the disclaimers at the top)
If you're going to be at St James Park, I would seriously consider Pimlico/Westminster area.
Super close by (I interned close to Green Park and it was ~15 mins from my bedroom door to the office), quite a wide range of restaurants/etc. available, great transport connectivity (Victoria, D&C Line, buses et al), and Pimlico is more up-and-coming so less expensive than Mayfair/Westminster/Belgravia.
Also goes for the mayfair guy below (to a lesser extent).
Marylebone is a very good neighborhood. It's very central, safe and there's lots of great restaurants and bars there. Its great for St. James's if thats where you will be working.
I wouldnt even consider Canary Wharf if you are working in St James. Its way out the way of everything else, its not a good commute and doesn't really feel like london, its a very sterile place. Camden is a bit rough, interesting place to visit but I wouldnt reccomend living there. The other options you listed are pretty good but I'd say the best one is Marylebone .
Where would you recommend an incoming analyst to live (office in mayfair)?
I've never worked in Mayfair so haven't needed to seriously think about it, but anywhere on the Jubillee line line provides great access to Green Park which is close to a lot of the key employers there around Berkeley Square (e.g. Lazard). So Canary Wharf is helpful for that, but of course it depends on your personal preferences (e.g. do you cycle or take the tube, prefer to walk, etc.)
Anywhere close to Mayfair itself I'm afraid is quite pricey, so my honest advice here is to look at your transport preferences and then choose an area based on that. In London, tube is frequent and reliable. Buses are much less so. Cycling is easy if that's your thing.
Sorry to not be more helpful here, but I truly advise the above, and then look into specific areas (which I'm happy to comment on)
Kensal Rise
Marylebone is my favourite neighbourhood in London. It’s beautiful, classy, and chic. It’s super central too. But probably not for analyst years. More for a late 20s / early30s kinda spot.
Vel et soluta mollitia maiores aperiam repudiandae velit. Labore et nisi iste.
Quaerat possimus et quia corrupti voluptas aut commodi qui. Atque dignissimos tenetur officia rem sed earum consequatur sit.
Quaerat ad facilis iusto assumenda. Illum est odit qui tenetur. Culpa sed est mollitia enim reprehenderit fugit illo. Minima earum culpa qui assumenda cupiditate recusandae dolor. Et illo ut ipsam magnam ut. Ipsa sequi neque architecto. Velit aut magni ab est eaque.
Quasi quibusdam illum sed voluptatem. Perspiciatis omnis iste quia ea occaecati ducimus perspiciatis voluptas.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...