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London’s hottest postcodes: The places people are moving to in 2026
Whether it’s a cool dive bar, coffee shops dishing out delectable flat whites, a popping leisure centre, or affordable housing, there are various factors that might influence where in London we choose to live.
And when it comes to how cool a local area is, you might care – but you also might not. Perhaps that’s part of the allure of a trendy area; the locals are unbothered about just how trendy it is, because they’re, well, cool.
Now, the numbers have been crunched, and London’s hottest postcodes for 2026 have been named. It’s little surprise that one neighbourhood in East, which was actually named one of the coolest to live in 2024, has been crowned the most desirable hotspot for the next 12 months.
Any guesses? It’s Leyton. It’s somewhat overshadowed by its equally trendy neighbour, Walthamstow, which has previously been named the most popular London area for first-time buyers, as well as the best digs to live in the capital, but it’s been applauded for its unique, village-like appeal.
Nearby Leytonstone was also previously named the capital’s fastest-selling residential area by Rightmove, with homes spending an average of just 34 days on the market. Alright, we get it, it’s like being the popular girl.
It’s not just Leyton that’s on the up. According to property sellers Propcast, the following locations are also the cool girls of 2026:
- Highbury
- Mortlake and East Sheen
- Upper Holloway
- Upper and Lower Clapton
- Islington
- East Dulwich
- Peckham Rye
- Herne Hill
- Lower Holloway
- Totteridge
- Upper Norwood
- Crystal Palace
- Stoke Newington.
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‘It has a slightly shabby aesthetic, but perhaps that’s the point’
Ross McCafferty moved to Leyton about a year ago, but he’s had lifelong connections to E10. So, when a room came up in the area, he jumped at the chance, swapping South London for East.
He tells Metro: ‘The first thing you notice when coming out of Leyton station is that the newly crowned hottest postcode in London doesn’t look particularly special.
‘I moved here last summer, and, given it’s a neighbourhood I have always spent a lot of time in (my parents lived here in the 80s and I support the local football team), I can honestly say the high street doesn’t look massively different from when I first visited years ago.’
Recently, though, he’s noticed a considerable buzz about the place, and when he tells people about his connection to Leyton, he’s now met with questions like ‘what’s it like?’ or ‘I’ve heard it’s really up and coming.’ Beforehand, he’d be asked things like ‘wait, where?’ or ‘isn’t that in Essex?’
‘Like much of East London, the area got a residual boost from the 2012 Olympics in nearby Stratford, but it’s post-Covid that things really seem to have picked up. There are a number of brilliant new food venues, in particular, that have helped make it the place to be,’ he says.
‘The high street still retains that slightly shabby aesthetic, but perhaps that’s the point. Maybe it is because Leyton seems so “in” without actually really trying too hard (looking at you, Walthamstow).’
In Ross’s view, Leyton locals are probably completely unbothered about accolades like this one, and he muses that, because they’re ‘so content with the small improvements and community events that have seen things get subtly better,’ that’s what makes living in E10 so desirable.
He adds: ‘There’s nothing cooler than someone who isn’t bothered about being cool – and that’s what makes Leyton cool.’
Things to do in and around Leyton
In 2022, the London borough of Waltham Forest had not one, but nine pubs which made The Good Beer Guide – a publication that lists the best boozers in the UK.
Along these lines, Leyton boasts the Leyton Orient Supporters Club and the Coach & Horses for an evening tipple, while The Kings Head in Chingford and the Stag & Lantern will also serve you well.
In Walthamstow, The Bell on Forest Road and The Olde Rose & Crown in Hoe Street seem to be the ones to visit.
The Bell was also named one of the top 10 most loved pubs in the capital by Time Out, offering a great selection of craft beer and a secluded beer garden.
The coffee culture is also thriving in Leyton, as spots like Deeney’s dish out beverages from Allpress like there’s no tomorrow. If you’re a bit peckish, the Hamish Macbeth is an imperative. It’s a local legend, consisting of haggis, bacon, cheddar, rocket, caramelised onions, and rocket.
There’s also Perky Blinders and Tamper Grounds, which is just on the border of Wanstead Flats and technically counts as part of Epping Forest, in case you fancy a hearty afternoon walk (with a coffee in hand, no less).
Francis Road is also a particularly buzzy spot, with a popular local haunt being Marmello Kitchen, which focuses on cheffing up seasonal produce based around, well, the fruit and vegetables of the moment. It also prides itself on its wine collection, which is paired with only the best matches.
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