Peckham vs Camberwell

Peckham and Camberwell are next-door neighbours in Southwark, both creative, both without a tube and both among the more affordable parts of inner south London. Rents are almost identical on our figures, with Camberwell about fifty pounds a month cheaper, so the decision is about atmosphere and how each area connects to the rest of London.

Peckham is the livelier of the two. Rye Lane, the rooftop bars, the warehouse venues and a very strong food scene push its nightlife score close to the maximum. It also has slightly better transport: its station runs Overground services north through Shoreditch as well as mainline trains to Victoria and London Bridge. The trade-off is a lower safety score and a high street that can feel hectic.

Camberwell is a little quieter and a little more grown-up. It has an art school, one of London's biggest teaching hospitals at Denmark Hill, a green at its centre, good pubs and a food scene that is almost as strong as its neighbour's. Denmark Hill station has the Overground and Thameslink, but much of Camberwell depends on buses into Elephant & Castle, Vauxhall and the West End, and journey times depend on the traffic. It scores slightly better for safety and slightly worse for connectivity.

Many people who move to this corner of south London try one and then the other. Peckham suits people who want to be in the middle of things and value the Overground. Camberwell suits people who want a calmer base, work at the hospital or in central London by bus, and are happy to walk to Peckham for a night out.