In our recent competition we offered Londoners the chance to win an iPad Air 2 just by telling us what they loved most about their part of the capital. The response has been overwhelming and we have absolutely loved reading the numerous `local guides' that were submitted about the best spots in London.
Congratulations to our winner Roger Ewell (pictured above with his new iPad and a member of our Marketing team) who submitted a delightful account of why Barnes is such a fabulous place to live.
Barnes is a wonderful area to live in. It is very close to the Thames, has great rail links to the city, and some of the most charming pubs you will find anywhere. It is close to the A3 and the M4. Barnes pond is very picturesque. There are a number of coffee shops, restaurants and stores, meaning a weekend in Barnes is time well spent.Unfortunately there could only be one winner, but it is clear that the competition captured the imagination of locals all across London and we wanted to share with you some of our favourite submissions:
Alexandra Palace Leafy and peaceful, with the magnificent palace and park at its heart, but just minutes from the shopping options of Muswell Hill and Wood Green, or the plentiful bars and cafés of Crouch End. Enjoy ice skating in the palace, a cake at the Grove Café, or just take in the best view in London from the atmospheric vantage point of the world's first television broadcast. South Kensington Fab area with the museums on your doorstep, continental style cafés and restaurants on Exhibition Road which is pedestrianised, Christie's round the corner and so many garden squares you don't need to walk up to the park to feel you are in nature. Walthamstow It's a friendly, diverse place with everything a young family needs - good parks, playgrounds, loads of groups and activities - as well as independent coffee shops and businesses. It has a genuine community spirit, and is an easy place to call home. Check out the home-grown art trail, or the annual Garden Party in Lloyd Park. Clapham Clapham is filled with nice luscious parks for walks with the kids, a vast green common for the weekend workouts and the cool eateries for a Saturday night out. Why travel any further when there's something for everyone here! Ruislip Ruislip is a great area to live in. It's near enough to London to make day trips and commuting easy and reasonably affordable, yet it's surrounded by lovely green areas and has its own selection of shops and cafés for days when you don't feel like going too far. There's a popular farmers' market every few weeks and a choice of tube lines in the area. It's also got quite an interesting history with numerous buildings dating back to Tudor times or even earlier, and its own medieval barn (where the farmers' market takes place). The community is friendly and there are lots of good schools nearby too. Whitechapel Very affordable area, yet very convenient to reach virtually any part of central London and the east, thanks to its vicinity to the city and the many tube lines that allow you to reach Canary Wharf, the South East, the Olympic Village, the Wapping area, the nightlife of Old Street and Shoreditch in a matter of minutes.Why not view more of our Area Guides and find out what Londoners love about their area, as well as current property prices, average increases, schools, transport and things to do.
Is your area the greatest in London? Tell us why.
