Camden

I've lived near the canal for a while and genuinely like it. There's always something on, the transport is excellent, and the market is fun even after all this time. The tourist crowds are the trade-off you accept.

The Heath is the reason to be here — it genuinely changes how you spend your time. The village is pretty and calm. It is very expensive, and the tube can be slow, but for green space close to central it's hard to match.

I come up for the Heath and a wander round the village whenever I can. Quiet, leafy and a bit of a different pace. Cafés and pubs are on the pricey side, but the setting makes up for it.

Loved it in my twenties for the music venues and the buzz. After a few years the constant crowds and noise near the high street wore me down a bit. Side streets are much calmer than people expect.

Beautiful and peaceful, but reviewers often mention how expensive everything is and how steep some of the streets are. Lovely to visit; whether it suits you to live in depends a lot on budget and pace.

Came for a gig and wandered the market beforehand. Busy and a little chaotic, but the food stalls by the lock were excellent and the canal area was prettier than I'd imagined.