London ‘village’ named one of the city’s best places to live — and A-listers love it

Deciding on a place to live in London can feel like an impossible task.

Each borough has its own unique character and identity with distinctive attractions, landmarks and communities. 

The city is packed with diverse neighbourhoods, each offering a different lifestyle and atmosphere. 

And now, the best 10 areas to live in London have been revealed, with all four corners of the capital getting a mention.

But while you’ll have heard of popular spots like Wandsworth and Islington, one name on the isn’t quite as well known.

Dartmouth Park, in north London, is described as a ‘laid back’ neighbourhood and is popular with families and celebrities. It boasts tree-lined streets, a village-like charm and a great selection of dining options. 

Here’s everything you need to know.

Nestled on the hillside rising from Kentish Town to Highgate, Dartmouth Park offers ‘the best of both worlds’ – a leafy, relaxed village vibe combined with proximity and convenience to central London.

The western edge of the area nudges Parliament Hill Fields and Hampstead Heath – inner London’s biggest and wildest open space.

‘With its Victorian and Edwardian homes, leafy avenues and distinctly laid-back vibe, this neighbourhood feels like a village which is just a stone’s throw away from the city,’ Muddy Stilettos, who released the list, says. 

in Dartmouth Park

Despite its peaceful vibe, Dartmouth Park boasts plenty of ‘delicious’ dining spots.

A favourite among locals is the Dartmouth Arms, a popular boozer that’s somewhat of a sun trap in the summer, but hidden away so its not overcrowded. 

It also has a fun pub quiz, with an enthusiastic quizmaster and great food – a special shout out goes to their cracking sausage rolls and extensive beer selection.

The neighbourhood pub offers ‘great food, drink music and Hi-Fi sound’, according to its website and has a ‘Vinyl-only’ DJ session every Friday. 

‘If you like relaxed dining, good drinking and the crackle of vinyl, then you’ll enjoy what we do,’ its website claims. 

The Lord Palmerston is another cosy spot, towards Tufnell Park, with a fireplace and leather armchairs. 

The pub prides itself on being dog-friendly and hosts plenty of events including a classic pub quiz, and a weekly film club and ‘Sip and Sew’.

You do have to climb a bit of a hill to get there, but you’ll be rewarded with good views. 

There are plenty of fast-food options in the area too. Monsoon Kentish Town, offers authentic Indian food and Yard Sale Pizza, which was declared London’s favourite pizza by Time Out in 2022, is also in the area. Popular café Kalendar and Truffles Deli are also worth a visit.

‘While Dartmouth Park is primarily residential, you’ll find a handful of charming independent shops dotted around,’ Muddy Stilettos notes. 

It’s main shopping area is Swain’s Lane where you’ll find boutique stores and pavement cafes. Popular spots include Fam Greengrocers, Swains Wine Bar, Eatery & Store and On Reflection, an interiors store.

Dartmouth Park Talks also holds speaker events in the area on a range of topics from experts and activists, their most recent event was with film director, Kevin Macdonald.

Every September, there’s also the annual neighbourhood get together, the York Rise Street Party which includes a fancy dress parade, a Dad’s Disco Dance-off, live music and market stalls.

Just up the road in Kentish Town is the Owl Bookshop, an independent book store which offers regular book signings and events. 

Highgate Village is just a 25 minute walk away, which boasts plenty of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. 

Parliament Hill Farmers Market is also 10 minutes away, which has plenty of stalls to peruse every Saturday. 

in Dartmouth Park

Dartmouth Park is just a ten-minute walk from Hampstead Heath, London’s ancient heath sprawling over 800 acres and boasting ‘some of the most spectacular views in the city’. 

‘There are few better ways to spend a Sunday in London than with a lazy ramble on the Heath, followed by a pint, or a roast, at one of our wonderful local pubs,’ its website says. 

Its famous swimming ponds are definitely a highlight. There are three to swim in: the men’s pond, which is the largest of the three and boasts a diving board, the ladies’ pond, which lies within its own ‘enclosed meadow’,  and the mixed pond. 

Highgate Cemetery is also a short stroll away, a historic cemetery with Victorian architecture where famous figures like Karl Marx are buried. 

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If you’re looking for something a bit more upbeat, the Camden Arts Centre, a contemporary art gallery, offers plenty of exhibitions and the Everyman Hampstead, a luxury cinema with plush lounges and sofa seating, perfect for a glimpse of arty films.

And, Waterlow Park, at the summit of Dartmouth Park Hill, includes tree-lined walkways, ponds and the magnificent Lauderdale House, built in 1582 for Sir Richard Martin, a Lord Mayor of London.

After changing hands several times, it was bought by Sir Sidney Waterlow, another Lord Mayor of London. He leased it to St Bartholomew’s Hospital as a convalescent home then, in 1889, gave the house and grounds to London County Council for the enjoyment of Londoners. It now hosts exhibitions, live performances and workshops and has a much-loved café.

If you want to live here, you’ll need a pretty hefty budged. Property prices in Dartmouth Park averaged £929,928 over the last year, according to Rightmove.

The website says: ‘he majority of sales in Dartmouth Park during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £654,969. Terraced properties sold for an average of £1,747,222, with detached properties fetching £2,235,500.’

There are plenty of schools nearby, making it a popular area for families. Yerbury Primary School in Islington, rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, is just 20 minutes away and Acland Burghley School, is a five-minute walk away. 

It’s a favourite among celebrities too, whose notable residents, include celebrated novelist (and Downton creator) Julian Barnes, acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and Ed Miliband. Tom Hiddleston and Damian Lewis have also lived here.

Dartmouth Park’s

Dartmouth Park is in zone 2, with Tufnell Park and Archway stations within walking distance for the Northern Line, making it around 15-20 minutes to reach Central London. 

The area is well connected by buses too. The C1, 4 and 214 routes bus routes serve the area, with journey times to Central London taking between 25-35 minutes. 

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