The Best Areas to Live in Central London – WC and EC Postcodes

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If you’re thinking of living in London, there are some great areas to choose from in the centre of the city. We’ve highlighted five of the best in postcode areas WC and EC for those who want to live right in the heart of the action.
 

Paddington

Home to one of the busiest train stations in the UK and the famous Peruvian bear, Paddington isn’t often thought of as a residential area. There is, however, a wide range of property options due to investment in the area over the past decade in an effort to shed Paddington’s old reputation as being one of central London’s less desirable areas.

The Paddington Waterside project has seen development in the region surrounding the station, including retail outlets, office spaces, restaurants and apartments. New-build flats in the area are mostly located around Paddington Basin, but if you prefer older buildings, you can also find period properties and terraced houses in Paddington.

Given the area’s proximity to Paddington Station, transport links in the area are excellent, with much of central London also being reachable by foot. Paddington borders Hyde Park, making it a great choice for families and those who enjoy living near green spaces.
 

Finsbury Park

Finsbury Park is a changing area. Previously, it had a reputation as being rough-and-ready, but as more young professionals and families have moved into the area, new coffee shops, restaurants and housing developments have popped up. It’s a largely residential area, with new-build flats sitting alongside Victorian terraces. The City North development created 355 new homes, including one, two, three and four bedroom apartments.

Finsbury Park offers over 110 acres of open green space, drawing in young families to the area, and Finsbury Park station is one of London’s busiest transport hubs, making it a sought-after area for young professionals and commuters. Sitting in zone 2, the tube station covers the Victoria and Piccadilly lines, and the National Rail station has regular trains to Kings Cross, Welwyn Garden City and beyond.
 

Mayfair

Mayfair is the most expensive square on the Monopoly board, and this translates to real life as well. It’s no secret that it’s an expensive area to make your home, with prices starting from around £1 million for a one bedroom flat. But if you do have the cash to splash, Mayfair is a charming area in which to buy a property.

Sitting right in the centre of London, with Oxford Street to the north and Piccadilly to the south, you couldn’t find a better location if you want to be right in the centre of the biggest city in the UK. As you’d expect, transport links are good from Mayfair, with two tube stations in the area: Bond Street and Green Park. Between them, these two stations serve the Central, Jubilee, Victoria and Piccadilly lines. Much of central London is also within walking distance from Mayfair, making this prime commuting territory.

Most of the properties here are Georgian and Victorian terraced houses, although there are also a number of modern developments.
 

Farringdon

Farringdon is centrally located, nestled between Holborn, Barbican, Clerkenwell and the City of London, and it’s technically split into two areas: Farringdon Within and Farringdon Without. These odd names stem back to 1394, and designated which parts of the area fell within the boundaries of the London Wall, and which fell outside.

These days, Farringdon is a blossoming area, which has a buzz around it and a vibe not dissimilar to that of Shoreditch. It’s the perfect place for foodies who want to be within striking distance of a plethora of top-rated places to eat, as well as independent coffee shops and quirky bars.

Thanks to its central location, getting around London is easy with Farringdon as your base. The Farringdon tube station serves the Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines, as well as National Rail services from the train station.
 

Westminster

When thinking of London, some of the first things that come to mind are likely to be Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. You’ll find all of these iconic buildings in Westminster, so if you want to have some famous neighbours, this is the area in which to buy a house.

The majority of properties in Westminster are period houses which have been converted into flats, and there are some developments of modern luxury apartments as well. The council also operates the Westminster Home Ownership Accelerator scheme in partnership with Dolphin Living, allowing lower-income Londoners to buy an affordable home in the area.
 
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