27 MAR 2025

6 MIN READ TIME

Living in Kentish Town: Guide to the North London Neighbourhood

Beautiful multicolored houses

Kentish Town is a popular North London neighbourhood between Camden Town and Hampstead, known for its strong community feel, period homes, and well-connected location. In this guide, we’ll look at housing, local amenities, schools, and transport to help you get a clearer sense of what it’s like to live there.

Key takeaways

  • Kentish Town combines strong transport links with a calmer, more residential feel

  • House prices stay high, though below the page’s current outdated figures

  • Renters pay a premium for Zone 2 access and nearby green space

  • Families have good local school options, but one school listed is closed

Kentish Town is a well-connected Camden neighbourhood in North London, between Camden Town and Hampstead. It offers easy access to central London while keeping a strong neighbourhood feel.

The area has a busy high street, a solid mix of independent shops, cafés, pubs, and restaurants, and a more residential feel than some nearby parts of Camden.

Its history dates back centuries, though most of the area’s growth came in the 19th century. Former residents including Karl Marx and George Orwell add to its long cultural and literary connections.

Housing and renting

Kentish Town offers a diverse property landscape, catering to various preferences and budgets. From charming Victorian terraces to modern apartments, the area provides a range of housing options for potential buyers and renters.

Types of properties

The architectural landscape of Kentish Town is rich and varied:

Victorian terraces – Classic two- to four-bedroom homes, often featuring period details like bay windows and decorative brickwork. Streets such as Leverton Street and Lady Somerset Road are renowned for these properties.​

Converted industrial buildings – Unique living spaces have been created from former industrial sites, such as the Chappell Piano Factory, offering loft-style apartments with contemporary designs.​

Modern apartments – New developments provide sleek, modern flats equipped with the latest amenities, appealing to professionals and small families.​

Average house prices

Kentish Town remains one of North London’s pricier markets, but the current average is well below the figure previously quoted on this page. The average property price is around £862,000, with flats averaging roughly £633,000, and terraced homes around £1.51 million. Prices still vary widely depending on street, size, and property type.

Rental costs

Kentish Town rents remain high, reflecting the area’s Zone 2 location and strong transport links. Current asking rents average around £812 per week, although actual rents can vary significantly depending on size, finish, and proximity to the station.

Things to do and see

Kentish Town is bustling with life and culture, offering a variety of activities and attractions to explore. Whether you’re seeking outdoor spaces, cultural venues, historical charm, or delightful eateries, this North London neighbourhood has something to offer everyone.

Parks and green spaces

Parliament Hills Field

Residents can enjoy numerous green spaces within a short walk. Hampstead Heath provides acres of woodland, hills, and ponds, perfect for leisurely walks, picnics, or outdoor activities. Parliament Hill Fields, known for its panoramic views across the London skyline, is ideal for weekend outings, kite flying, or simply relaxing. Montpelier Gardens offers a quieter spot, popular among locals for its peaceful atmosphere.

Cultural and entertainment venues

Inside the O2 Forum Kentish Town

The O2 Forum Kentish Town is a prominent entertainment spot, hosting live music concerts and events featuring internationally acclaimed artists, bands, and comedians. Meanwhile, nearby Camden Town’s famed Camden Market provides a vibrant shopping and cultural experience, easily accessible from Kentish Town.

Find in maps:

O2 Forum Kentish Town

Camden Market

Historical and unique attractions

Colored houses at Kelly street

Kentish Town has plenty of historical charm, particularly on picturesque Kelly Street with its pastel-coloured houses; perfect for photography enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Kentish Town City Farm is another local gem, offering community-driven experiences and activities for families and young children, allowing a close-up interaction with farm animals and promoting environmental awareness.

Local businesses

Front of the Pineapple Pub

The area's high streets are filled with independent shops and unique boutiques, alongside popular cafés like Saint Espresso and Fields Beneath, ideal for coffee enthusiasts. Dining options are abundant, with Patron Cave à Manger offering exquisite French small plates, Earth Natural Foods providing wholesome organic goods, and traditional pubs like The Pineapple serving craft beers and tasty pub classics.

Kentish Town's community events

Kentish Town has an active local feel, with Queen’s Crescent Market continuing to play an important role in the area’s day-to-day life. Alongside the market, the neighbourhood benefits from a mix of independent shops, community venues, and regular local activity that helps keep the area lively and well used

Check out our comprehensive list of things to do in Kentish Town.

Education in Kentish Town

Kids in an elementary school

Kentish Town offers a variety of educational options, making it an attractive choice for families who value strong academic standards, diverse extracurricular opportunities, and welcoming school communities.

Primary schools

Families living in Kentish Town have several strong primary schools to choose from. Among the most notable are:

Kentish Town Church of England Primary School: A well-established school with a strong reputation, with a recent Ofsted inspection confirming it continues to be an outstanding school.

Torriano Primary School: A highly regarded local primary with a latest Ofsted inspection outcome of Outstanding.

Eleanor Palmer Primary School: Highly regarded for its curriculum and teaching, with an Outstanding inspection outcome.

Rhyl Community Primary School: Popular with local families and currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

Secondary schools

Kentish Town residents have access to respected secondary schools within easy reach:

William Ellis School: A well-known local boys’ secondary with mixed sixth form, offering strong arts, music, and sports provision. Its latest Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated all inspected areas Good.

Acland Burghley School: A popular mixed comprehensive with strong community links and a current Ofsted rating of Good.

Transportation in Kentish Town

Kentish Town station

Kentish Town has excellent transport links for both commuting and day-to-day travel. Kentish Town station is served by the Northern line and National Rail, while nearby Kentish Town West provides London Overground Mildmay line services.

Together, these links make it easy to reach central London as well as destinations across North and East London.

Safety and Crime

Kentish Town has the mixed safety picture you’d expect from a busy inner-London neighbourhood. Current local police data for January 2026 shows that the most commonly reported offences across the Kentish Town North and Kentish Town South wards include anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences, other theft, public order, and burglary.

As with most well-used London neighbourhoods, it’s sensible to stay aware around busy roads, transport hubs, and retail areas, especially after dark.

Final thoughts

Kentish Town is more than just a convenient base for accessing Central London; it’s a vibrant, welcoming neighbourhood filled with history, green spaces, exciting places to explore, and a strong sense of community. For anyone considering moving here, Kentish Town offers an attractive balance between lively city life and residential charm.

Need self storage in Kentish Town? HOLD can help

hold team outside facility

HOLD is a next-gen storage company offering secure, smart and fully accessible storage in the heart of London. With free 24/7 access (on request via PIN) and no fixed-term contracts, we make self storage stress-free.

If you're exploring Kentish Town or living nearby, our flexible units are ideal for students, families, creatives, and businesses alike. We’re not far from Kentish Town station, conveniently located for wherever life takes you in North London.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guide to London

Get a quote

Find out what offers are available with a free quote in 30 seconds.

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

50% Off For 8 Weeks

Get Offer