The Hottest Neighbourhoods in London in 2022
Seen all the top spots of Mayfair and Soho? It’s time to take a leap from the usual tourist trail to check out the destinations that are quickly becoming the new darlings of London cool. Whether you’re travelling for culture, cuisine or to create happy memories with the kids, London’s best neighbourhoods – most of them the result of ambitious regeneration projects – will surprise and delight. Feeling right at home every time you rest your head? Let’s just call it the vermouth-soaked cherry on top.
Best for foodies: Peckham
Peckham is the rock star of the city’s culinary scene. From South African classics to Persian perfection, a plethora of new dining destinations await those who catch the overground to this south-east London neighbourhood.
Raise a pre-dinner Campari at iconic Frank’s Cafe or nab an outdoor table (and a side serve of blue cheese and walnut croquetas) at Peckham Cellars (above), before making a decision between dining at modern Malay eatery Mambow or settling into an Eames lounge chair at the delightfully retro Larry’s. Don’t worry; a walk around the stores of vibrant Rye Lane – plus a well-timed visit to South London Gallery to view its extensive collection of international contemporary art – provide perfect opportunities to work up (yet another) appetite.
Stay: Located just three minutes walk to Peckham Rye station (and another 10 minutes on the tube to London Bridge), this slick studio Airbnb apartment is a mere stone’s throw away from Peckham’s top restaurants and bars.
Best for families: King’s Cross
Unleash your inner kidult; a flurry of new developments has seen this bustling transport hub transform into a firm family favourite, with a Harry Potter train platform to boot. Kick off your second childhood with a walk around the fountains of Granary Square (above) and road test the food trucks at Kerb, a much-loved street food market.
Kids of all ages will love floating barge bookshop Word on the Water (above) – tomes best enjoyed under a tree at Camley Street Natural Park. Enjoy more than 50 shops and restaurants at Coal Drops Yard but save that cocktail for the newly opened The Rooftop at The Standard, a scenic bar which makes the most of the city’s skyline.
Stay: Experience the grandeur of St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, a five-star Victorian property with 245 individually decorated guest rooms and a full range of luxury amenities and facilities, such as a 24-hour fitness centre, indoor swimming pool and onsite designer stores.
Best for day and night fun: Hackney Wick
This east London neighbourhood has the nightclubs, sure, but it’s just as popular for its canalside culture and waterfront bars and restaurants. Get a lay of the land with a Moo Canoes tour before refuelling at Barge East, a floating bar and kitchen renowned for their set menus, or by tucking into a stone-baked pizza at the impossibly hip Crate Brewery.
New open-air live music venue, The Lot, has become the place to go for late-night revellers but catching a theatre production at The Yard or spending a sun-soaked day at Canalside at Here East (above), a development that includes everything from a retro video game bar to locally owned eateries, is high on the list of must-dos.
Keep an eye out for a table at plant-based MOTHER and grab a coffee from Change Please, a community interest specialist coffee company.
Stay: Canalside adventures continue with a stay at Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel in London’s Canary Wharf, located a short distance from Hackney Wick. A 20-metre infinity lap pool and views over the River Thames are just a couple of the highlights.
Best for afternoon drinks: Walthamstow
Nothing cements your reputation as one of East London’s most vibrant drinking locations quite like a walkable craft beer drinking route. Make light work of the six breweries that make up the Blackhorse Beer Mile (not to mention Mother’s Ruin gin distillery and Wild Card Brewery) but be sure to back it up with a little hops-free adventure.
Put on your shades and take in the impressive collection of neon art at God’s Own Junkyard (above), browse your way through more than 350 stalls at Walthamstow Market (Europe’s longest outdoor street market) or observe the wildlife during a free nature walk at the 211-hectare Thames Water reservoir site, Walthamstow Wetlands. Just don’t forget to order a traditional Sunday roast at local favourite, Eat 17.
Stay: Located only seven minutes from King’s Cross St. Pancras station, urban resort and hotel The Gantry London, Curio Collection by Hilton has all of London’s top attractions at its feet. Make a reservation now; its highly anticipated 18th-floor sky bar and restaurant is tipped to be the place to spend summer evenings.
Best for culture vultures: Deptford
Located right by the River Thames, the culturally diverse community of picturesque Deptford is best reflected in its cluster of new and established galleries.
Immerse yourself in contemporary art (best viewed at artist-run Enclave and Goldsmiths CCA) and bookend the viewing process with some share plates at The Watergate, a tipple at Winemakers and weekly jazz sessions at the Royal Albert, a venue which showcases London’s top jazz musicians.
A leisurely Birds Hill Coffee-accompanied stroll along Thames Path (above) (as well as a cheeky rummage through the vintage stalls along Douglas Way at Deptford Market) is not to be missed.
Stay: Hotel facilities and apartment conveniences come together in a vibrant show of sunshine at Staycity Aparthotels Deptford Bridge Station, located a mere five minutes away from top attractions, such as the Royal Observatory and Greenwich Market.
