‘Cool’ artsy south east London neighbourhood named UK’s best place to live

Muddy Stilettos has released the very highly anticipated list of top 300 places to live across the UK, comprising of locations from rural villages to seaside towns and city spots.

The list rates locations on account of their local attractions, schools, travel links and local shopping, providing a comprehensive guide to any would-be buyer looking for a new home.

East Dulwich was one of four south London spots featured in London, alongside Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Teddington, marking the second year in a row this leafy neighbourhood made the list.

It is the second year in a row this leafy neighbourhood made the list. (Image: Contributor) Located next to Forest Hill, Crystal Palace and Peckham, East Dulwich is a popular area for anyone looking for a quiet and relaxed neighbourhood within easy reach of the city, with a train ride to London Victoria from East Dulwich taking just 30 minutes.

But it’s not just convenient travel links that put East Dulwich in the lineup as one of London’s most coveted neighbourhoods to live.

East Dulwich was described by Muddy Stilettos as a “cool” place to live on account of its cultural value and food scene, with food markets and “notable restaurants”.

On average, houses in East Dulwich have sold for £804,686 over the last year according to figures from Rightmove, with the majority of sales being flats which sold for an average of £493,623.

East Dulwich was described by Muddy Stilettos as a “cool” place to live on account of its cultural value and food scene. (Image: Contributor) For art lovers, East Dulwich is known for its mix of street art and galleries, making it a popular neighbourhood for enthusiasts.

Street art fans can find a range of street art from popular artists like Stik with his iconic stick man murals, and Conor Harrington with his striking mural of a suited man, that was created as part of the Dulwich Street Art Festival in 2013.

But if it’s traditional art you prefer, you’ll find an array of 17th and 18th century paintings at Dulwich Picture Gallery, a striking 19th century building built by Sir John Sloane.

​For art lovers, East Dulwich is known for its mix of street art and galleries, making it a popular neighbourhood for enthusiasts. (Image: Contributor) In one of East Dulwich’s terraced houses you’ll find the House of Dreams, which was turned into the personal art museum of former art director Stephen Wright, where you can go and visit his personal collection.

If history is more your thing, you can take advantage of the nearby Horniman Museum in Forest Hill, home to a large collection of natural history, fossils and artefacts from around the world.

If history is more your thing, you can take advantage of the nearby Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. (Image: Andrew Lee) Muddy Stilettos also named local café and restaurant Oru Space as the borough’s ‘best kept secret’, where you can find flexible working spaces, yoga classes and the award-wining vegan Sri Lankan restaurant Trinco, that won the Best Café award at the Good Food Awards 2024.

Located on Lordship Lane, this restaurant is one of many popular food and drinking spots in the area, including East Dulwich Tavern, serving traditional British fare, and Megan’s, a dog-friendly and laptop friendly all-day-dining restaurant serving Mediterranean fare with a seasonally changing menu.

Located on Lordship Lane, the Oru Space restaurant is one of many popular food and drinking spots in the area, (Image: Oru Space) When it comes to schools, East Dulwich has its fair share of options, with 37 Good or Outstanding rated schools within three miles, with four being within one mile of East Dulwich.

These schools include Harris Boys Academy and Harris Girls Academy, which were both rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

If you’re looking for walking spots, East Dulwich is spoilt for choice, with Southwark Council retaining 30 of its Green Flags for its parks and greenspaces.

If you’re looking for walking spots, East Dulwich is spoilt for choice. (Image: Contributor) 30 minutes from East Dulwich Station you’ll find Dulwich Park – a 19th century park that earned a Grade II listing in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens for its “distinctive character”.

The park features a lake with an attractive boardwalk, a newly planted orchard and demonstration vegetable garden.