Which is the best / worst London borough?

[nlogax]

Oh it's nothing against you haha! It just seems to be very out of the way with very little to offer. It feels like it takes too long to get to in contrast to other boroughs from Central London. Most interesting thing there is probably Chessington if you're a fan of theme parks but that either relies on a strike-ridden half hourly train service or the slowest bus ride back to Kingston on the 71.

You're right about the outlying areas of the borough This is why I bought a home near a fifteen minute direct service to Waterloo - being stuck on a 65 or a 71 to get anywhere else can be misery-inducing. Chessington WOA has never been a great theme park and actually right now it makes far better sense as a Covid testing centre. Some parts of the borough do feel a bit 'out there'..Chessington, Malden Rushett and the Kingston bits of Worcester Park for instance. Heading south past the theme park on the A243 you feel as though you already left London long ago even though you're technically in it until you almost bump into the M25.

Had it not been for the current circumstances, I was going to actually try better explore SW London again to try 'give it a second chance'. I am sure there's things I have missed and it could redeem itself. Perhaps as a local you could give a good local guide?

Gladly!

• Good pubs!
• Good walking! (Hampton Court, Wimbledon Common, Richmond and Bushy Parks are under an hour's stroll away from my front door, the river is 20 mins)
• Good / rapid access to zone 1 if you're in the right part of the borough
• Kingston itself is a decent place to shop, well..used to be from what I remember. Let's see how it looks once lockdown eases

 

[Lucan]

This thread reminds me of a book I was once given called "Crap Towns" or something like that. The towns had been nominated by people writing to the publisher, and they fell into two polarised groups. One group was of run down, semi-derelict, former industrial districts of London, Glasgow, Manchester etc, haunted by yobs and druggies; these were typically accompanied by photos of groups of hoodies looking threateningly at the photographer. The other group was of quiet, genteel, predominantly upper middle class and/or retirement towns like Hythe, Aldeburgh and Bourton-on-the-Water; these were typically accompanied by photos of plump middle aged women with permed hair sitting on benches in well-kept parks, and retired colonel types with walking sticks.

It seemed as if every town was nominated for its lack of what was complained about in the opposite group. One typical comment (about Aldeburgh) was that the writer saw a condom dispensing machine in the loo of the pub, but had not seen anyone in the town who could possibly have a use for one.

 

[MotCO]

I suppose it depends on how you define a good or poor borough. In terms of Council services, I'm always pleased with the services Bromley provide - whether it is planning issues, schools, refuse collection, blue badge application - they always provide a quick and efficient service. And the Council Tax is amongst the lowest in London.

Also, there are some nice green and pleasant areas within the borough, but accept that there are some less, shall we say, salubrious areas.

 

[telstarbox]

This thread reminds me of a book I was once given called "Crap Towns" or something like that. The towns had been nominated by people writing to the publisher, and they fell into two polarised groups. One group was of run down, semi-derelict, former industrial districts of London, Glasgow, Manchester etc, haunted by yobs and druggies; these were typically accompanied by photos of groups of hoodies looking threateningly at the photographer. The other group was of quiet, genteel, predominantly upper middle class and/or retirement towns like Hythe, Aldeburgh and Bourton-on-the-Water; these were typically accompanied by photos of plump middle aged women with permed hair sitting on benches in well-kept parks, and retired colonel types with walking sticks.

It seemed as if every town was nominated for its lack of what was complained about in the opposite group. One typical comment (about Aldeburgh) was that the writer saw a condom dispensing machine in the loo of the pub, but had not seen anyone in the town who could possibly have a use for one.

Aldeburgh (and Southwold) are lovely towns but probably dull to grow up in.

 

[TXMISTA]

I like this thread, has me thinking. Each Borough definitely has its good and its bad, some boroughs are just all bad!

Best boroughs:
Islington
Southwark
Greenwich
Hammersmith & Fulham
Ealing - anywhere east of, and including Hanwell, is actually quite nice

Worst boroughs:
Barking & Dagenham
Merton
Barking & Dagenham
Kingston
Barking & Dagenham
Redbridge
Barking & Dagenham
Brent

Did I say Barking & Dagenham?

What’s wrong with Kingston?

 

[700007]

What’s wrong with Kingston?

See post #30

 

[43021HST]

• Good pubs!

Do you have any particular recommendations? Needing a new spot, I have some drinking friends out that way, who always insist on going to the local Wetherspoons. Surbiton Wetherspoons has to be the most boring pub I've been in, even for a Wetherspoons!

 

[nlogax]

Do you have any particular recommendations? Needing a new spot, I have some drinking friends out that way, who always insist on going to the local Wetherspoons. Surbiton Wetherspoons has to be the most boring pub I've been in, even for a Wetherspoons!

Totally agree with you and I never bother with it. If you're drinking in Surbs go directly to The Antelope on Maple Rd. It has about fifty to sixty different beers on the go and actually has a decent atmosphere to go with it. Then move onto Hart's Boatyard. Not atmospheric but sitting out on the terrace overlooking the river on a summer evening can't be beat. Or try The Albany in Thames Ditton - also on the river but it's a fair stroll west and not technically in the borough (or London)..but again it's worthwhile in the summer.

 

[telstarbox]

The Albion is good too!

 

[43021HST]

Totally agree with you and I never bother with it. If you're drinking in Surbs go directly to The Antelope on Maple Rd. It has about fifty to sixty different beers on the go and actually has a decent atmosphere to go with it. Then move onto Hart's Boatyard. Not atmospheric but sitting out on the terrace overlooking the river on a summer evening can't be beat. Or try The Albany in Thames Ditton - also on the river but it's a fair stroll west and not technically in the borough (or London)..but again it's worthwhile in the summer.

Thanks for those I'll add those to my list!
I'm always up for a riverside pub garden, I presumed Kingston itself would be good for riverside pub gardens but a cursory glance on Google maps, didn't really show anywhere, I'm probably not looking hard enough!.

 

[nlogax]

Thanks for those I'll add those to my list!
I'm always up for a riverside pub garden, I presumed Kingston itself would be good for riverside pub gardens but a cursory glance on Google maps, didn't really show anywhere, I'm probably not looking hard enough!.

Yer welcome! There are a couple of pubs ten minutes upriver to the centre of Kingston but I can't really vouch for them - for some reason I get to Hart's and after a few gins don't feel the need to walk any further

Also forgot to mention The Antelope has a loyalty card scheme. Another reason to go there.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Somewhere , I have a very fine 1971 book on "Where to live in London" - suburb by suburb account. How London has changed - when much of Islington -for example - was poor - not just social housing , ditto North Kensington / Ladbroke Grove.

House prices would make you weep - even when factored up to today's values.

2 memorable snippets from memory "Railton Road area Brixton might be worth a punt" (pre 1980 riots of course), "avoid Crayford at all costs , home of people who create havoc in the shopping centre"

When I moved to London in far away 1979 , we were told under no circumstances to go to Bethnal Green , Clapton , Dalston , Hackney. 16 years later I ran train services through 2 of these places. They needed great care at times.

 

[Domh245]

Logo wise at least, the best are Lambeth, Islington, and Hackney (& CoL) and the worst is Newham!

Nb, the linked video is a follow on from the second of Jay Foreman's videos about London Boroughs (part 1) (part 2)- well worth a watch!

 

[telstarbox]

Can I refer you to the Haringey logo!

 

[Jamesrob637]

I'd say Walthamstow was one of the worst, now it's completely gentrified.

 

[387star]

Deptford is a dump, but it's not a borough. Canning Town is even worse

It's so close to upmarket Greenwich

A bit like Finsbury and Crouch End

Most places in London have improved especially Croydon