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League table

The 7 boroughs of North London

The 7 North London boroughs are: Islington, Haringey, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Camden, Barnet, Enfield.

Leafy commuter villages, Victorian terraces and some of the city's best state schools — from Barnet and Enfield down through Highgate to Hackney. Below: every north London borough, ranked for families on safety, commute and green space — all on the same yardstick. Top of the table: Islington at 80/100.

73
North avg

Boroughs in North London

North London has 7 London boroughs in our coverage:

  1. Barnet
  2. Camden
  3. Enfield
  4. Hackney
  5. Haringey
  6. Islington
  7. Waltham Forest

What each North London borough is actually like

One paragraph per borough, built from area data: Met Police recorded crime, green space, and typical peak commute — plus the Band D council tax bill for 2025/26.

Islington

Islington averages 80/100 for families across the 5 postcodes we cover, scoring 62/100 on safety, 100/100 on green space and 91/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 145 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 29th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,008 a year. Its strongest postcode is N7 (Holloway) at 82/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to N19 (Junction) at 77/100 — a 5-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Haringey

Haringey averages 78/100 for families across the 5 postcodes we cover, scoring 73/100 on safety, 93/100 on green space and 70/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 120 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 22nd lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,258 a year. Its strongest postcode is N15 (St Ann's) at 82/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to N10 (Fortis Green) at 68/100 — a 14-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Hackney

Hackney averages 75/100 for families across the 4 postcodes we cover, scoring 69/100 on safety, 96/100 on green space and 69/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 130 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 24th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,054 a year. Its strongest postcode is E8 (London Fields) at 80/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to E5 (Lea Bridge) at 70/100 — a 10-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest averages 75/100 for families across the 4 postcodes we cover, scoring 78/100 on safety, 92/100 on green space and 57/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 108 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 19th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,213 a year. Its strongest postcode is E10 (Leyton) at 81/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to E4 (Endlebury) at 66/100 — a 15-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Camden

Camden averages 74/100 for families across the 4 postcodes we cover, scoring 49/100 on safety, 100/100 on green space and 81/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 175 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 31st lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £1,963 a year. Its strongest postcode is WC1H (Bloomsbury) at 77/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to NW6 (Kilburn) at 71/100 — a 6-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Barnet

Barnet averages 68/100 for families across the 8 postcodes we cover, scoring 90/100 on safety, 69/100 on green space and 40/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 80 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 8th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,157 a year. Its strongest postcode is N3 (Finchley Church End) at 83/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to HA8 (Edgware) at 54/100 — a 29-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Enfield

Enfield averages 64/100 for families across the 8 postcodes we cover, scoring 85/100 on safety, 65/100 on green space and 41/100 on commute. Met Police recorded 92 offences per 1,000 residents in the year to 2024 — the 13th lowest rate of London's 32 boroughs. Band D council tax is £2,254 a year. Its strongest postcode is N18 (Upper Edmonton) at 78/100, and the widest gap inside the borough is down to N21 (Winchmore Hill) at 48/100 — a 30-point spread that shows why a borough average only gets you so far.

Frequently asked questions

How many boroughs are in North London?
North London has 7 London boroughs: Islington, Haringey, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Camden, Barnet, Enfield.
Which North London borough is best for families?
Islington tops our ranking at 80/100 — strongest on safety, commute and green space combined. See the full table above.
What's the safest borough in North London?
Barnet scores highest for safety in North London at 90/100, based on Met Police crime data.
Where do the North London boroughs sit vs the rest of London?
See the full 32-borough London ranking to compare North London boroughs against North, South, East, West and Central on the same yardstick.

North London boroughs ranked

Ranked by overall family score. Tap a row for every postcode in the borough.

  1. 1

    Islington5 postcodes

    Safety 62 · Green 100 · Commute 91 · Top: N7 Holloway (82)

    80
  2. 2

    Haringey5 postcodes

    Safety 73 · Green 93 · Commute 70 · Top: N15 St Ann's (82)

    78
  3. 3

    Hackney4 postcodes

    Safety 69 · Green 96 · Commute 69 · Top: E8 London Fields (80)

    75
  4. 4

    Waltham Forest4 postcodes

    Safety 78 · Green 92 · Commute 57 · Top: E10 Leyton (81)

    75
  5. 5

    Camden4 postcodes

    Safety 49 · Green 100 · Commute 81 · Top: WC1H Bloomsbury (77)

    74
  6. 6

    Barnet8 postcodes

    Safety 90 · Green 69 · Commute 40 · Top: N3 Finchley Church End (83)

    68
  7. 7

    Enfield8 postcodes

    Safety 85 · Green 65 · Commute 41 · Top: N18 Upper Edmonton (78)

    64

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