REVEALED: The Best London Boroughs For Creatives

London is renowned as a cultural capital and a highly creative city. It offers plenty of opportunities for aspiring creatives to enter industries focused on artistry and innovation. From prestigious art schools and creative job prospects to numerous art galleries and museums, London’s boroughs are perfect for those seeking to immerse themselves in the world of creativity.

To help those who are searching for the perfect student accommodation location to let their creativity shine, we analysed data from Yelp, Yell, and Indeed to identify the best London boroughs for creatives.

Let’s take a look at our findings to discover the ideal spots for ambitious creators!

Creative Borough Index: The Best London Boroughs For Creatives 

Rank	Borough	Number of art schools	Number of creative jobs	Number of cultural attractions (museums and art galleries combined)	Total/96
1	Islington	44	1,043	312	91
2	Hackney	19	1,061	266	90
3	Westminster	38	1,023	333	89
4	Tower Hamlets	18	1,034	261	85
5	Southwark	13	1,175	78	82
6	Wandsworth	15	476	109	79
6	Haringey	13	1,187	24	79
7	Camden	6	1,057	53	76
8	Lambeth	13	122	99	71
8	Waltham Forest	4	1,187	15	71
9	Lewisham	7	236	49	69
10	Richmond upon Thames	2	144	245	60

According to our findings, Islington is revealed as London’s best borough for creatives. With an impressive score of 91 out of 96. The borough’s 44 art schools, 1,043 creative jobs, and 312 museums and art galleries secure it the top spot. Islington’s proximity to university campuses makes it a suitable option for artistic devotees, with our Kentish Town student accommodation close to this vibrant borough. 

Following closely behind is Hackney, scoring 90 out of 96. The borough’s extensive selection of cultural attractions (266) and abundance of creative job opportunities (1,061) are perfect for creative enthusiasts. Hackney has endless possibilities for aspiring creatives, with 19 local art schools.  

Westminster lands a spot in the top three with a commendable 89 out of 96. The borough isn’t just home to rich history, impressive architecture, and political establishments; it also offers over 1,000 creative job opportunities and over 300 cultural attractions, making it the perfect place for creatives. 

Tower Hamlets comes in fourth place, scoring 85 out of 96. The borough accommodates aspiring artists thanks to its 18 local art schools and 261 art galleries and museums. Creatives will also appreciate Tower Hamlets for its abundance of job opportunities, with 1,034 creative jobs available in the area. 

Southwark secures a spot in the top five, receiving 82 out of 96, demonstrating its suitability for aspiring creatives. Despite having fewer art schools and cultural attractions than other boroughs within the top 10, Southwark is among the boroughs with the most creative job opportunities, proving it an eligible spot for artistic dreamers to reside. 

Wandsworth and Haringey are joint sixth, scoring 79 out of 96. The boroughs have a similar number of art schools, 15 and 13, respectively. However, Haringey has significantly more job opportunities for aspiring creatives. Meanwhile, Wandsworth is among the boroughs with the most art galleries and museums, solidifying its position as one of the top boroughs for creatives. 

In seventh is Camden, receiving 76 out of 96. The booming borough has over 1,000 creative job opportunities but only a handful of art schools. However, with 53 museums and art galleries in the radius, Camden has plenty of cultural attractions for creative enthusiasts. Enjoy the creativity this borough has to offer with our Camden student accommodation. 

Lambeth and Waltham Forest secure joint eighth with 71 out of 96. Despite the London boroughs’ fairly low numbers of art schools compared to other locations within the top 10, they claim their spot among the best boroughs for creatives due to their extensive selection of creative jobs and cultural attractions. 

In ninth place is Lewisham, scoring 69 out of 96. Despite having one of the lowest numbers of art schools within the top 10, the borough has over 200 jobs, perfect for creatives seeking a career in an innovative industry. Even better, Lewisham is home to nearly 50 museums and art galleries, making it a must-visit borough for a cultural day out. 

Rounding up the top 10 best London boroughs for creatives is Richmond Upon Thames, scoring 60 out of 96. Even with the lowest number of art schools among the selection, the borough is ideal for those seeking a career in the creative industry, thanks to its 144 creative job opportunities and 245 cultural attractions.

Methodology

The Stay Club analysed data from Yelp, Yell, and Indeed to identify the best London boroughs for creatives. They examined three factors: the number of art schools, cultural activities (museums and art galleries combined), and job listings found by searching the keyword “creative” near or within five miles of each borough. 

Boroughs lacking data for a metric received a zero. Each borough’s total score across these metrics determined its ranking, with higher scores indicating greater creative appeal.

Final Thoughts

London is a hub of creativity! There are endless opportunities for aspiring artists, designers, and innovators awaiting to be pursued. Our Creative Borough Index highlights the best areas for creatives, considering art schools, cultural attractions, and job prospects to help find the ideal location. From Islington’s thriving arts scene to Hackney’s vibrant culture to Westminster’s historic charm, each borough has something unique to bring to London.

If you’re an aspiring creative looking for the perfect place to study, check out our guide to the best art universities in London. Here you can discover top institutions that will turn your artistic passion into a thriving career. When you start your journey, you can find stylish and convenient London accommodation at The Stay Club.