Moving to London from Australia: The best neighbourhoods for Aussies and Kiwis

The areas where Australians and New Zealanders in London are choosing to settle is changing, figures show, with more choosing to pass over the traditional enclaves of Clapham, Fulham and Shepherd’s Bush. 

Increasing costs, gentrification, the search for more diverse communities, and distance to workplaces are some of reasons cited by Australians to explain why they are spreading out across the UK capital. 

“It depends where you work,” Elizabeth Caltabiano, from Victoria, said. “I have saved so much money from not having to take public transport.”

The 26-year-old moved to London nine months ago to take advantage of the travel opportunities.

“I just think those well-known Aussie areas feel so disconnected in comparison, and aren’t really that much cheaper any more. My boyfriend also rides to his workplace at London Bridge and loves not having to take the Tube – I think it evens out the fact that we are living in quite an expensive suburb,” she said.

There are, according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, an estimated 41,000 Aussies and 22,000 Kiwis living in London at any one time. This may be less than one per cent of London’s total population of 8.8 million, but Aussies and Kiwis have a big footprint. 

In 2017, the most popular borough, or council area, for those from Oceania was Tower Hamlets, in the city’s east, where roughly 8000 had settled. Camden, in the northwest, and Wandsworth, southwest of the city centre, each held 5000, followed by north-eastern Hackney, west London’s Hammersmith and Fulham, and southwest’s Lambeth, which were each home to 4000. 

But the Antipodean population of Tower Hamlets has grown from 3000 just four years ago, in 2015. In 2014, Lambeth, which covers Clapham, had 5000 and Wandsworth, which covers the Battersea area, had 8000.

The average commute in London, according to official figures, is 46 minutes, but where people choose to live depends on work, friends, lifestyle, price, and other social interests. Likewise, a study several years ago in Canada demonstrated a direct link between better feelings of wellbeing and lower commute times. 

London is an expensive city and a lot of people sublet or live with others. Here are some of the areas Aussies advise each other to live.

Guide to neighbourhoods for the new Aussie or Kiwi in London

Hammersmith / Shepherd’s Bush (Hammersmith and Fulham) 

While the volume of Aussies moving to Shepherd’s Bush may be slowing, it is still heavy a favourite for newcomers.

It has an enormous Westfield shopping centre, the busy Shepherd’s Bush Market, decent bars and shops along Uxbridge Road and Bush Hall for gigs.

It’s also well connected, near the Circle, Hammersmith & City, District and Piccadilly Tube lines. Antipode serves up quality, Antipodean coffee and brunch for those feeling a little homesick. 

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 8.5km

Average price for one-bedroom flat: $A595 or £325 per week (£1408 pcm) 

Highbury & Islington (Islington) 

To the north, Highbury & Islington is a pricier option with no shortage of food and pub options. It has Highbury Fields, a lovely green space, and feels more family-friendly – except when Arsenal is playing at the nearby Emirates Stadium.

“Whenever I hear of new friends moving to London I always pitch Highbury & Islington to them as a place to settle,” Ms Caltabiano said. “It has a little bit of everything that I love about London and is very well connected. Since arriving we have moved five times [we lucked out with a lot of sublets unfortunately], which gave us the opportunity to explore a lot of North London. Highbury & Islington feels safe and familiar, it definitely has a bit of a Melbourne [Parkville/Fitzroy] feel about it.

“It is also a reasonably wealthy area so is quite clean and the properties are well maintained – especially around Canonbury and Highbury. There are some great pubs and cafes off the main street, though – particularly The Albion [delicious Sunday roasts] and Popham’s Bakery [beautiful croissants].”

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 5km 

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £346 per week (£1500pcm)

Camden Town (Camden) 

A renowned hub of alternative culture (it has been described as one of the areas out of which punk music developed), Camden Town hosts the hugely popular Camden markets, souvenir stores and an perennially edgy atmosphere.

It still has popular music venues, including Roundhouse, Electric Ballroom and Koko, and off the main roads it can be a quiet and peaceful place to live. It is well connected, being close to the Overground and Northern lines, has good food and coffee and is close to Regent’s Park.

It is expensive, but one or two stops further out from the city can be a little more affordable. 

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 3.6km

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £375 per week (£1625pcm)

Fulham (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Along the western part of the District Line, Fulham has a straight run into the city.

Once a small village of share houses, increasing costs have driven a lot of the budget accommodation further out and, as a result, the watering holes have moved. The Slug, a pub in Fulham, still shows State of Origin to a packed crowd, though many Australian-centric venues have, in recent years, closed down in west London.

Shot Espresso, a cafe in Fulham, proudly advertises itself as being started by an Italian, an English and an Aussie, and offers Vegemite and Marmite. Nearby Munster Village is seen as one of the areas with the best small town vibe in central London, which can be a big drawcard. 

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 6.1km 

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £340 per week (£1473pcm)

Bethnal Green (Tower Hamlets and Hackney)

In the east, 6.9 kilometres from the city centre, Bethnal Green is a cultural melting pot of alternative and traditional lifestyles. Near Victoria Park, home of the popular All Points East music festival, Victoria Park Village, and wide open spaces, it’s home to a growing community from the southern hemisphere.

Millie Tuppini, 29, moved to London four years ago.

“I adore Bethnal Green,” she said. “It’s so close to the city and really well connected, but feels like you are living in a very different London to what people normally associate. It’s really gritty with loads of hidden bars and restaurants that people haven’t discovered yet. It still has negative connotations with Londoners because of where it was 10 years ago, but the people are so friendly and I’ve never felt unsafe.”

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 6.9km 

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £335 per week (£1450pcm)

Shoreditch and Hackney (Hackney)

To the northeast, trendy Shoreditch and Hackney beyond have a strong vibe similar to that of Sydney’s Newtown. Markets, op shops, quality vegan and vegetarian food options and boutique stores grace the main strips.

Hattie Swinburn, a 28-year-old Australian who moved to London in 2015, lives in Dalston, a suburb in Hackney.

“There’s something for everyone in Hackney,” she said. “From vibrant Dalston gems like Ridley Road and bevs at Broadway Market, there’s also Brunswick East [cafe] for those missing a Melbourne brunch. What keeps me here is the people, parks and, of course, the pubs.”

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 4.5km 

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £359 per week (£1555pcm)

Clapham (Lambeth)

One of the classic places to find a good coffee, a beer or to generally trip over Australians in the street, Clapham has been a popular place for a reason.

Clapham Old Town, near Clapham Common Underground Station, is a village with cobbled streets and beautiful pubs. In recent years, rental price rises have pushed newcomers further out to Balham and other parts of Wandsworth, but Clapham is still a very popular area, well-connected along the busy Northern tube line.

Brickwood, Tart and The Black Lab Coffee House serve quality coffee, and some of the many good pubs often have Aussie beers on tap.

Clapham Common is a large and beautiful green space, and feels like an oasis in the concrete jungle. 

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 6.0km 

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £340 per week (£1473pcm)

Balham (Wandsworth)

Further out than Clapham and a little less expensive, but no less charming, lies Balham, a small haven of cafes, supermarkets, and shops.

Brickwood Coffee & Bread sells some Aussie treats, including Caramello Koalas and Violet Crumbles, as well as decent food, and Milk is well known for its coffee. The Bedford is a popular live music and comedy venue and the area is well furnished with supermarkets – Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. 

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 8.4km 

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £323 per week (£1400pcm)

Battersea (Wandsworth)

Battersea Park is one of London’s many green lungs and is an excellent reason to live in the area. Clapham Junction, a different place to Clapham, is nearby and offers fast trains into the city and around. Many companies have offices in Victoria, not far from Battersea, so cycling or walking to work saves precious pounds.

Nicole Fehlner, 27, moved to London in early April.

“Battersea is great because it’s close to the city with easy access to other areas in London,” she said, “which was important to me when moving to a new city and wanting to explore all over. There are also great pubs and cafes so you can go out locally. And though the Thames isn’t the prettiest of rivers, I love being close to the water. 

“But the best and my favourite part is Battersea Park – it’s massive, super leafy and great for having a picnic or going for a run. It’s also lovely to be surrounded by nature and momentarily forget that you live in a congested city, which you’ll definitely need to do from time to time.”

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 5.4km 

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £325 per week (£1408pcm)

Putney (Wandsworth)

Further along the District Line than Fulham, Putney is an area for young professionals and young families with plenty of outdoor activities and pubs.

It has a big shopping centre – the Putney Exchange – and there are cafes and dining options along the Thames. Like much of southwest London, Putney is green and close to parklands.

Younger Antipodeans would find Putney a bit quiet but for some, it’s exactly what they’re looking for. It connects to the city via train to Waterloo or District Line Tube.

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 8.7km

Average price for a one-bedroom flat: £323 per week (£1400pcm)

Dulwich/East Dulwich (Southwark)

What Dulwich lacks in transport – it is on the Overground, but not the Tube – it makes up for in charm.

Another one of the well-known “villages” in London, East Dulwich’s strip along Lordship Lane is a delightful place to be on a sunny weekend. The East Dulwich Tavern – the EDT – is a pub worth visiting, and the Brickhouse Bakery is a cafe and bakery any Antipodean would be happy to call their local. 

Distance from Trafalgar Square: 9.5km 

Average price for one-bedroom flat: £277 per week (£1200pcm)

Other options: Walthamstow, Stoke Newington, Haggerston, Leytonstone, Hampstead, Bermondsey, Greenwich, Peckham and more. It’s a big city.