This characterful neighbourhood is located in the northwest borough of Camden and is centred around the small commuter hub of Kentish Town West station, making it an ideal location for commuters who wish to escape the hustle and bustle, while remaining well-connected. The area is situated below the rural landscape of Hampstead Heath and above well-to-do Primrose Hill and energetic Camden Town, giving residents a wide variety of entertainment options that include trendy live music venues and nightclubs. The neighbourhood has an almost village-like atmosphere with its leafy tree-lined streets, numerous cafes, locals’ pubs, small independent shops, and the now famous Camden Town Brewery. The locality offers a reprieve from the intensity and business of central London, while still providing many activities for families and single professionals alike.

The entirety of Kentish Town was originally a small settlement on the River Fleet. It was first recorded in 1207 during the reign of King John as ‘Kentisston’ and by 1456 Kentish Town was a thriving village. The 17th and 18th century saw highwaymen make this area increasingly dangerous for travellers, leading to the formation of a local vigilante group, which remained until the area’s urbanisation in the early-19th century. This era brought modernisation to the village, causing much of the area’s rural qualities, the 18th-century buildings and the River Fleet to vanish. The River Fleet is now one of London’s underground rivers, but pockets of older buildings still remain and can be seen today.

The Roots, the celebrated American hip-hop band, shared a flat on Queen’s Crescent between the summers of 1994 and 1995. During this time, the band went out visiting clubs such as central London’s Iceni, and developed tastes for eclectic musical nights out, especially those that played different music on different floors. The band took this inspiration back to Philadelphia and implemented similar nights and festivals there.

The Kentish Town Baths, which were originally built in the early 1900s, have been saved and converted into the public Willes Pool. The original architecture was restored making it one of the most historic swimming pools in London!

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 away from the bar scene of Camden Town where a lot of the reported crime originates from.

In 2022, a masterplan proposal was submitted to Camden Council for delivering a £565 million investment for the West Kentish Town Estate that intends to build larger, modern homes for residents. The initiative aims to deliver 885 new homes over eight phases including at least 276 council homes and 78 homes for Camden Living rent. The first phase of construction could begin in late 2023 and the first two phases would deliver 218 new homes, of which 81 would be ringfenced for families on the estate - allowing them to make one direct move into a new home. Due to the scale of the scheme, it is also expected that development would not be completed until 2038. That same year, another proposal, this time by private developer Folgate Estates, was submitted for the Murphy’s Yard project near Gospel Oak Station. The proposal was for 825 homes and up to 95,000sqm of employment and other non-residential space on the site, but it was highly criticised for its scale, the height of the towers that would constitute it, as well as its impact on views and local character. The proposal received nearly 1500 objections and the developer eventually withdrew the application. This neighbourhood should continue to see more growth and development in the coming years, as well as continued engagement from its communities.