Camden Town: Atmosphere aplenty in Camden Town

The London borough of Camden has become known internationally as one of the most creative areas of London. Arts, crafts, fashion and accessories - stalls catering for all of these interests can be found in its seven-days a week markets located around the canal.

But while we won't dispute the quality of the shopping, the question we ask ourselves is this: Is Camden a good place to live? Well, it turns out that it is.

The borough as a whole is large, extremely varied and very exciting. Although the town itself is known for its crowded streets and narrow alleyways, the borough has access to wide open spaces in the form of Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, both of which are just a short walk away.

Of course, the area is known as a tourist hotspot, but it doesn't take a genius to avoid the high street at midday on Saturday. Many of the residential areas are much quieter than the initial thronging crowds would have you believe, so don't be put off the second you step out of the Tube station.

The middle of the town also boasts a number of truly excellent pubs that serve a wide variety of food and drink. We recommend The World's End by the Tube station, or Lock 17 over by the market. Both can get pretty packed at the weekends, particularly in the warm weather, but a casual drink after work on a Thursday or Friday should be no problem at either.

Transport-wise the area is very accessible, located within easy reach of both Euston and Kings Cross St Pancras train stations. Buses serve the local boroughs while London's international airports - City, Gatwick and Heathrow - can feasibly be reached within an hour.

But, as we hinted in the title of the piece, it's all about the atmosphere in Camden. Keeping visiting friends or relatives entertained is simply no problem at all when living in this bustling metropolis. A casual stroll along the canal, followed by a light lunch in one of the aforementioned pubs and a perusal of the stalls makes for the ideal day out with no transport required.

Day-to-day living is also likely to be surprisingly pleasant. Around 100,000 people flood to the market every weekend, which has resulted in residents and local businesses complaining of anti-social behaviour, litter and traffic congestion. Following the donation of a £3 million grant to Camden Council in 2005, however, noticeable efforts have been made to keep the streets "safer, cleaner and greener", ensuring that Camden is a nice place to live and not just to visit for a day trip.

Published 19th February, 2013

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