Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings

Arguably the most diverse and among the most culturally influential cities on the planet, London defies any attempt to categorize its complexity, to reconcile what is English versus what is international, always thriving on the very contradictions it creates. However, a clue to London's appeal may be that the city is in fact, a collection of essentially autonomous villages that have been amalgamated over time and in the process held on to much of their architectural and cultural identities.

In the 18th century, London experienced rapid expansion and the areas lying to the north and west of the city centre were the first to be colonized by the newly affluent professional classes. Today, these boroughs still exude an air of genteel confidence that is reflected in the many fine examples of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture which make up some of the world's most desirable housing stock.

Due north of the financial district, Islington with close links to both corporate London and trendy Hoxton, attracts young creatives as well as the political classes to its mix of secluded squares, ornate churches and eclectic shops. Travelling north-west from the West End brings you to Hampstead which sits on top of the eponymous Heath which is the world's largest city parkland. Here inhabitants can imagine themselves to be deep in the English countryside despite being only a handful of Tube stops from Oxford Street. The views from Hampstead Heath have long stimulated the minds of London's intellectual elite; so much so, that more than a fair share of famous writers, poets and playwrights have called Hampstead their home. Neighbouring area Highgate is another North London gem with its villagey feel and eclectic High Street. Kenwood House with its notable summer outdoor concerts is nearby and the area is well served by public transport taking you into the City within 20 minutes.

To the immediate West of London's centre lie the seriously upscale neighbourhoods of Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, Kensington, Notting Hill and Chelsea. Here you will find Royal parks, world-class shopping, famous museums and some of the grandest addresses in town. These districts benefit from the proximity of the River Thames which provides not only stunning views but an alternative mode of transport via river bus.

The stimulation of the South Bank has not only provided visitors to the city with a genuinely modern cultural destination, but has turned a neglected part of London into a thriving example of city living. From Borough Market to the London Eye and including the Tate Modern Gallery, the route along the south bank of the River Thames is dotted with gastro pubs, futuristic office space and premium apartments, turning a once dingy waterfront into a spectacular triumph of regeneration.


But surely the most startling example of the new confidant London ushered in by the new millennium must be East London's Docklands. Fuelled by the City's rise to pre-eminence as a global financial centre, a dazzling vision of the future has been built on the site of England's decline as a maritime power. Where there were once empty warehouses there are now gleaming high rise apartments of which Canary Wharf is a fine example. In place of decaying docks there is now a driverless monorail system serving as the lifeblood and symbol of the new culture of optimism that pervades London.

Whereas most visitors regard the main tourist sights – Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral – as central London, for Londoners there is no true centre, except perhaps the high street of their own neighbourhood. There are financial centres (the City) and cultural magnets (the West End), but in the main London is everywhere. The best way to experience everyday London is in its villages.