If you've already got children and are looking for more space, or you're thinking about starting a family and are just doing some research, this is our top pick of the best areas for families in London and the reasons why they make the cut.
Crystal Palace
Park rating - 5
Quietness rating - 3
Average property price - £412,929
Best for - Great lunch spots
Crystal Palace Park with its dinosaur residents is a real kids (and big kids) playground. Its family residents can enjoy weekends in the park, followed by an artisan coffee in the 'triangle' - so called because of the connecting roads in the heart of Crystal Palace shaped in a triangle, where there are loads of independent local eateries and cafes.
Teddington
Park rating - 5
Quietness rating - 5
Number of primary schools in the borough - 68
Average property price* - £799,677
Best for - Dog walking
Nestled between the River Thames and Bushy Park, Teddington is the perfect area for families. The roads are quiet, there's a great selection of cafes on the High Street, dog-friendly pubs down by the river and cute period properties big enough for those with children.
Crouch End
Park rating - 3
Quietness rating - 3
Number of primary schools in the borough - 80
Average property price - £771,893
Best for - Coffee shops
Crouch End is well established and loved by London's young families, with plenty of independent cafes, lunch spots and parks for afternoon strolls. There's no underground or train station though, but being in close proximity of Alexandra Park makes up for this.
Ruislip
Park rating - 5
Quietness rating - 5
Number of primary schools in the borough - 81
Average property price - £524,143
Best for - Getting around easily
On the outskirts of London, Ruislip has a countryside, suburban feel mixed with the convenience of out-of-town shopping centres and being able to drive around easily - the perfect combination for those with children. There are great schools and also connections on the Underground.
Streatham
Park rating - 4
Quietness rating - 2
Number of primary schools in the borough - 75
Average property price - £516,227
Best for - Secret green spaces
Busy, but with a good range of transport links, Streatham's popularity with families is on the rise. Couples move here from Clapham and Balham to find larger family homes and settle down, which is unsurprising considering there are really good schools and parks in what is a built-up, urban area.
Fulham
Park rating - 3
Quietness rating - 2
Number of primary schools in the borough - 59
Average property price - £1,200,492
Best for - Riverside walks
It may be a bit on the pricier side, but Fulham will always be popular with families. It's got a large international population thanks to the independent schools, weekend farmers' markets and boutique stores that people travel to from all over London. It's fairly central, got all the amenities you'd need, but all with a community feel.
Willesden Green
Park rating - 2
Quietness rating - 3
Number of primary schools in the borough - 78
Average property price - £734,571
Best for - Large family homes
Willesden Green appears on our list of the best places for families to live in London because of its housing stock. You can find lots of stylish family homes in the areas south of the High Road and you're likely to spot the odd celebrity when you're closer to trendy Queen's Park or Kensal Rise. It's well connected, but elegant and suburban in parts.
Chiswick
Park rating - 4
Quietness rating - 3
Number of primary schools in the borough - 69
Average property price - £1,098,007
Best for - Brunch spots
The cafes and restaurants along Chiswick High Road are filled every day with parents and their babies because the area strikes the right balance between feeling safe and family friendly, while being easy to access from central London. Closer to Turnham Green, you can't move for the number of independent cafes, high-end boutiques and children's stores.
Photo: Halfway House, Earlsfield, SW18 by Ewan Munro | CC BY-SA | Flickr
Earlsfield
Park rating - 4
Quietness rating - 3
Number of primary schools in the borough - 96
Average property price - £667,502
Best for - Affordable family restaurants
Families like Earlsfield because it's a more affordable alternative to nearby Wimbledon and Wandsworth. The houses are big, there's lots of parkland and there are trains every few minutes to London Waterloo. Characteristic of south-west London, the housing market consists of mainly period properties and the roads are typically leafy and quiet. Great pubs too.
*All average prices according to data from the Zoopla Zed-Index as of 3rd April 2019.
If you're moving on a budget, check out the cheapest places to live in London.
