Forest Hill vs Crystal Palace

Forest Hill and Crystal Palace are neighbouring hilltop areas in south London, close in price and both strong for green space and safety. They are popular with people who want more space and a creative, community-focused neighbourhood at lower rents than Dulwich or Brixton.

Crystal Palace has the more distinctive identity. Its Triangle of independent shops, cafés, restaurants and bars, Crystal Palace Park with its dinosaur sculptures, and views across London make it a destination in its own right. Rents there tend to be a touch lower, and it edges ahead for parks and evenings out.

Forest Hill is better known for the Horniman Museum and Gardens, Sydenham Hill Wood and its large Victorian villas, and it scores slightly higher for connectivity. Its station has Overground trains through Canada Water and Whitechapel to Dalston and Highbury, and Southern trains to London Bridge in around fifteen minutes. Crystal Palace also has the Overground and Southern services, but journeys are slightly longer and its hills can make station access harder. Both sit on the Overground's Windrush line, so east London and Shoreditch are equally easy from either.

Crystal Palace suits people who want a lively independent high street, a huge park and a neighbourhood with a strong sense of itself. Forest Hill suits those who want a slightly quicker commute, the Horniman's gardens and a quieter residential feel, with Dulwich and the old woodland close by. Both are much better value than Dulwich or Brixton.