Seven of the Best Areas to Live in London for Families

When it comes to buying a home in London, choosing the right area for you and your family means considering a lot of different factors. Fortunately, London has many fantastic family-friendly areas to offer, with excellent schools, transport, parks, and attractions. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best areas to live in London for families, helping you find the perfect place for you and your family to call home.

Woolwich offers the perfect blend of riverside living and modern convenience, making it one of the best areas for families to live in London. Once home to the 18th-century weapons factory, the site is now occupied by the innovative home and community development, Royal Arsenal Riverside. 

These state-of-the-art apartments in London provide everything a family needs, from luxury onsite amenities to excellent transport links into the Capital. Woolwich also has plenty of outdoor space for the whole family to enjoy, including stunning riverside walks, making it easy to stay active! Children will especially love splashing around at Wet N Wild Waterfront Leisure Centre.

Families in Woolwich also benefit from an excellent selection of schools, with a mix of popular state-run and independent primary and secondary schools, many boasting ‘outstanding’ Ofsted ratings.

When it comes to transport connections, Woolwich is second to none. The Thames Clipper riverboat service and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) quickly connects you to Greenwich, Canary Wharf, and London Bridge. London City Airport is also just seven minutes away, perfect for business or leisure travel!

The London borough of Enfield is a top choice for families seeking an active outdoor lifestyle, while also being close to the city.

With a wide selection of excellent primary, secondary, and independent schools and great transport links— just 26 minutes to Kings Cross St Pancras via the tube and easy access to the M25—Enfield offers the perfect balance of convenience and green space.

For those seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of inner-city London, Trent Country Park provides 413 acres of open space, woodlands, and lakes—ideal for walking, running, cycling, or spotting wildlife. Sports-loving children will also enjoy Enfield’s variety of activities, from horse riding at the local equestrian centre to track and field at the athletics club.

If you want to live somewhere that encourages an active and sustainable lifestyle for the entire family, the properties at Trent Park are a must-see. Not only do they have an on-site residents’ tennis court and swimming pool, but they’ve also recently planted over 400 new trees to help encourage biodiversity. With great schools, vast green spaces, and superb transport links, Enfield stands out as one of the best areas to live in London for families.

For families seeking green spaces, outdoor activities, and top-tier amenities, Ealing is an ideal area to call home. Blending city convenience with countryside charm, this vibrant borough offers everything from National Trust sites to biodiverse developments and excellent transport links.

Ealing provides a perfect mix of city and country life. Wander around the National Trust site of Osterley Park and House to be amazed at the tranquil park and farmland it has to offer. Or take the family for a walk or cycle ride around nearby Gunnersbury Park with over 75 hectares of land to explore. 

If you dream of living a more sustainable lifestyle, The Green Quarter is one of the most biodiverse developments in the UK, with remarkable wetlands and 13 acres of new parkland.

For family-friendly days out, young children will love petting the rabbits, guinea pigs and reptiles at Hanwell Zoo. For football fans, visit the neighbouring borough of Hounslow to visit the home of Premier League football team Brentford. If music is more for you, head to the Musical Museum, where you can have fun playing with instruments and learning about music history.

Education is another highlight, with 91 state-run nurseries and schools providing exceptional options for families. Plus, with the Westfield shopping centre nearby and fast transport links—just 17 minutes to central London and 30 minutes to the West End—Ealing truly offers the best of both worlds.

With its green spaces, thriving community, and excellent connectivity, Ealing stands out as one of the best places to live in London for families.

One of the Royal Boroughs of London, the medieval town of Kingston upon Thames is a stylish and vibrant area for families.

The area boasts a mix of high street shops and designer boutiques, cafes, and restaurants for adults. Or, if culture and history are more your thing, you have the stunning Rose Theatre and the many exhibitions at both the Kingston Museum and Dorich House Museum. Near the centre of town you’ll also find our Royal Exchange development, ideally located to make the most of this fantastic area, with resident-only facilities including courtyard gardens, gym, and cinema room.

For families who love the outdoors, Kingston’s green spaces are a major draw. Enjoy riverside walks along the Thames, or let the kids run free in Bushy Park, one of London’s most beautiful open spaces. Commuters benefit from excellent transport links, with frequent bus services and rail connections getting you to Waterloo in just 30 minutes. For business travellers or family getaways, you'll be pleased to know that Heathrow Airport is also only a half an hour drive away.

With its rich history, vibrant lifestyle, and fantastic connectivity, Kingston upon Thames is one of the best places to live in London for families.

Located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Plumstead offers families wide-open green spaces on an idyllic riverside location. 

Unwind from the stresses of day-to-day life as you take the kids for a stroll through the numerous delightful parks in the local area, including Plumstead Common, Broadwater Green, and Winn’s Common. Stay active by jogging the miles of footpaths that run alongside the Thames and be rewarded with stunning views over London.

The borough has a high population of under-15s, which will make it easy for your children to make new friends. Choosing a school might be difficult, thanks to the vast selection of high achieving schools in the area.

If a sense of community is essential to you, Lombard Square provides onsite spaces for residents to connect and even boasts a 1.8-acre, four seasons park, which is ideal for playing with the kids or walking the dog. 

One of the big attractions to living in Plumstead is its railway station. With handy links to the city, you can be at London Bridge in twenty-six minutes! The area also has frequent local buses and convenient road links for commuting and days out

While West Ham may be more commonly known for its Premier League football team, this hidden gem is a fantastic location for families.

If your kids love rollercoasters, they'll love living so close to The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit. At 178m, it's the tallest and longest tunnel slide in the world! However, if you prefer for your feet to touch the earth, then take the opportunity to visit the outdoor space at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (also home to West Ham United) to play outdoor games in the summer. 

Education in the area is a major highlight, with over 50 primary and 25 secondary schools, many rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. For commuting, transport couldn’t be more accessible. With five major transport links to all prominent London locations, you can be at Canary Wharf in under 10 minutes!

If you’re a food-lover, you’ll also love the diverse cuisines West Ham offers, from traditional pub food to mouth-watering flavours of India and the Caribbean.

The outstanding homes at TwelveTrees Park offer families the opportunity to live in a community-centred development, with a range of hospitality venues, 12 acres of green space, and a four-and-a-half-acre park with Wi-Fi connectivity, which means even the teens will love it!

Top-tier schools, excellent transport links, and a vibrant community make West Ham one of London’s best-kept secrets for family living.

Named after its famous park, Finsbury Park is an excellent area for families to live.

The area has fast become known as one of the most biodiverse districts of London to live in, thanks to the award-winning regeneration project of Woodberry Down. The development offers residents 15 acres of landscaped parkland and 42 acres of tranquil open water to canoe or kayak through.

Ofsted has rated numerous schools in the area as ‘outstanding’. What’s more, transport could not be easier, with the Victoria and Piccadilly lines getting you to Leicester Square and Kings Cross in less than 10 minutes!

Families will love exploring Finsbury Park’s 46 hectares, featuring a boating lake, sports ground, and lush green spaces—ideal for dog walks, picnics, and outdoor fun. Parents can also enjoy the area’s thriving cafe culture, with a variety of top-quality coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants to discover.

For a change of scenery, you could even catch the train from the local station to take you directly to Brighton for a day by the seaside.

Find Your Perfect Family Home in London

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