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Camden
Camden is a mix of ethnic minorities, rows of council blocks and plenty of sort-after stylish Victorian and Georgian properties. It is located just to the north of the centre of London near Primrose Hill and Regents Park. Twenty per cent of the population here is a mixture of Irish, African, Asian, Turkish and Jewish peoples that add plenty of character to the area. For cheaper properties, head for the Kings Cross area, while those with money to burn looking for sophistication should head for Hampstead and Regent's Park.
Enfield
North of the city and heading for Potters Bar and Cheshunt is Enfield with its split personality. The busy A10 highway divides the borough into an affluent suburbia in the west and rundown council estates to the east. To the south is Palmers Green, an affluent middle class area, while Winchmore Hill and Enfield Town to the north are of the same ilk. The creme de la creme of Enfield is without doubt Hadley Wood, which borders the beautiful fields of Hertfordshire and is a favourite for the rich and famous.
To the southeast, towards King George's Reservoir are the tower block-clad run-down areas of Edmonton and Ponders End. Sat along the River Lea among industrial sites, they are long overdue for renovation.
Hackney
Just east of Camden, Hackney is one of London's most deprived boroughs with high unemployment, rough schools, an overload of council properties and dire transport. There are big plans for the area, however, with the government and the private sector pouring in millions to improve transport and housing.
In stark contrast to the woes of Hackney, just to the south and nearer the city centre are the semi-affluent areas of Shoreditch and Hoxton. These areas still unhappily boast the ubiquitous council tower block, however, North of the Regent's Canal around Victoria Park and De Beauvoir Town can be found some fine examples of Victorian and Georgian houses in London. In the north of the borough is upmarket Stoke Newington, while Stamford Hill and Clapton are favourites with the Jewish.
Islington
Sandwiched in between trendy Camden and Hackney, even trendier Islington transformed itself from doldrums of the 1960's sought after location for City and West End workers. The borough is nowadays loaded to the hilt with upmarket, trendy and hip bars and restaurants coupled with glorious Georgian and Victorian houses. Islington is not all high-so; there are down to earth places here, too.
Barnsbury, Canonbury and Highbury lie to the north of Islington and boast many elegant squares and terraces. Archway is known for its rows of densely packed Victorian terraces and Tufnell Park, to the west of Archway, is a much cheaper area. In the south of the borough of Islington, Clerkenwell is yet another trendy area epitomised by the yuppie apartments in converted warehouses. Finsbury is in stark contrast to this hi living with its council blocks and nearby Kings Cross.
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