There are more young professionals in England’s capital city than anywhere else in the UK and London’s diverse and dynamic boroughs have a lot to offer these people. In this article, we’re sharing our tips on good places to live in London for young professionals in 2024. 

City slickers

A whopping 615,000 people work within the city of London within sectors such as finance, stockbroking and more. The city tends to very much have a ‘work hard, play hard ethic’ and, as such, many of these workers prefer to live reasonably close to work. In this section, we’re looking at some great places to live in London for young professionals working in the city. 

Islington

In the last 30 years, the East End of London has seen a pronounced transformation with greasy spoons replaced by trendy artisan coffee shops and bars and old unused factories and warehouses converted into modern apartments. This regeneration – along with Islington’s easy access to the city – has made Islington one of the top choices for young professionals working in London’s financial hub. 

Marylebone

Once upon a time, Soho was known as the seedy part of Central London; rife with drugs and ladies of the night – but not any more. These days, Soho is filled to the brim with modern businesses including a great many media companies whose employees thrive on working in this buzzy part of the West End. 

While it is possible to live in Soho, rents tend to be astronomical and so many of these media professionals choose to live a little further afield. Marylebone is just a 20 minute walk from Soho and offers some beautiful places to live including the uber-trendy Marylebone Village with its fantastic range of shops, restaurants and bars. While not the cheapest place to live, Marylebone offers the best of both worlds in terms of village life just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of the West End.

Hammersmith

This fantastic part of west London has a lot going for it – including opportunities for work and play. Once home to some major record labels such as Polygram, this riverside haven is home to celebrities such as Lily Allen and Sacha Baron Cohen and young professionals can choose between sleek, smart apartments or picture postcard pretty cottages. 

While Hammersmith is certainly not the cheapest part of London to live in, it is a great place for young professionals. While Hammersmith’s bars and restaurants are busy all year round, during the summer it’s all about the riverside pubs where locals enjoy spending afternoons with a few beers while they watch the frequent boats and watersports. 

Barnes

If you take a walk across Hammersmith Bridge, you’ll find yourself in Barnes; a leafy residential area with all the charm of Hammersmith but a (slightly) lower price tag. Barnes offers a breath of fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of the city with the advantage of easy access to Hammersmith, Richmond and Fulham. 

Barnes is served by Barnes Station and numerous bus routes and Hammersmith tube station is just a 15 minute walk away offering fast routes into the city and the West End.

Ruislip

If you’re looking for good places to live in London for young professionals that won’t break the bank, you’ll usually have to look at some of the higher tube zones; particularly 4 and 5. While areas like Hackney and Hammersmith may have a sexier appeal for young people, there are some great places to live further afield – and with plenty going on. 

Served by the Central and Metropolitan lines, Ruislip is a great deal  more affordable than central London but that certainly doesn’t mean its dull. This underrated area of London has plenty of fantastic restaurants and bars, great transport links and even its own beach ! Opened in the 1930s, Ruislip Lido is a fantastic place to visit in the summer with a sandy beach, miniature railways, kidd and doggie areas and a handy pub. 

Accommodation is widely available in Ruislip and considerably more affordable than central London.

Keeping your options open

London can very much be a playground for young professionals – but it can also be extremely expensive or tight. Because of this, try to keep an open mind in terms of the areas you might consider living in and moving solutions for your wardrobe or jacket storage options to utilize the limited space. While an address in Belgravia might sound cool, the reality is that you’ll be spending so much money on rent that you risk missing out on all the good stuff that London has to offer. 

Instead, charge up your Oyster Card and go exploring – this great city is made up of lots of little towns and villages, all with their own unique charm and, by getting out there and taking a look you might just find your perfect part of London.