This neighbourhood, in the northwest borough of Camden, is situated in between lively Camden Town, and the peaceful and affluent area of Hampstead Heath. Residents can therefore enjoy a variety of entertainment options, ranging from the almost countryside pubs towards Gospel Oak, to the restaurants and bars of Kentish Town Road, and the cinemas and nightclubs of Camden. The property in this area is largely made up of Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing, some of which are painted in pastel colours making for vibrant streets reminiscent of Notting Hill. Many of these properties are split up into flats to accommodate the large and diverse population. The tree lined streets, good state schools, and wide-variety of restaurants, including a local favourite Rosella’s, make this neighbourhood an excellent choice for families and young professionals seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of central London, while remaining only a short commute away from town.

One of the most popular and famous institutions in this area is the Bull and Gate. The pub was originally built in the 1800s, but it is best known because of the live music venue that it started in the late 1900s. Timebox was the influential indie night that ran through the 80s to the early 2000s. Numerous bands got their big break on this night, including Coldplay, Nirvana, the Blur, PJ Harvey, and Manic Street Preachers. Sadly, the pub and venue were bought in 2013 and it was converted into a gastropub. Visitors can still see the original Victorian architecture and fixtures, but the music venue has unfortunately been permanently closed and converted. The pub does, however, feature in Taylor Swift’s 2017 music video, ‘End Game’.

Frances Mary Buss was headmistress at the Camden School for Girls in this neighbourhood from 1879-1894. Buss was an English educator, pioneer of women’s education, and founder of the North London Collegiate School for Ladies, now the North London Collegiate School for Girls. Another famous resident of this neighbourhood was Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell. He shared three rooms on the top floor at 50 Lawford Road with his friends, the writers Michael Sayers and Rayner Heppenstall, for a short period of time. Orwell is best known for his books Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

There used to be a South Kentish Town tube station down the road from the Kentish Town station. A strike from the power station supplying the station caused it to shut down, and they simply never re-opened it, even when the power came back on.

Mary Shelley also thought that Kentish Town was “an odious swamp”.

Theft is the highest reported crime in this neighbourhood and the borough of Camden has the second highest crime rate in London. However, residents report feeling relatively safe and enjoy living in the area, especially since this neighbourhood is a little bit away from the Camden Town bar scene.

In 2019, the remodelling and extension of two buildings for the Camden School for Girls were completed. These interventions not only modernise and increase educational facilities for the school’s students, but also provide new landscaping, a flexible gallery space, an extended dinning hall and a more spacious staff facilities. A development on Highgate Road, near Kentish Town Station, may also finally move forward after receiving planning permission in 2014, almost a decade ago! The seven-story development proposed by developer GM London, who owns the site, will include 47 residential units, five affordable assisted living units as well as social enterprise space. There are also numerous home and private property renovations and improvements planned and underway, increasing the value of homes and giving residents new living options. This area should continue to see more development and future projects as London grows and expands.