West Hampstead used to be a small country village called West End, but when the Metropolitan Railway arrived in 1879 it called the station West Hampstead to avoid confusion with the other, rather better known West End further to the south.

But to this day West End’s little village green survives with its shops, restaurants and bars. Indeed, although the whole area is now covered with mainly late Victorian houses, it still retains a village feel and is a local destination for a good night out.

But for many, the big advantage of West Hampstead is its unrivalled rail links. West Hampstead station (now on the Jubilee line) connects to the (other) West End and on to the South Bank and Canary Wharf, and West Hampstead Thameslink station has direct service to Luton Airport to the north and the City to the south. West Hampstead Overground station goes east-west from Stratford to Richmond.

A major regeneration programme is under way to upgrade West End Lane into a tree-lined boulevard, and the three West Hampstead stations are currently being rebuilt and interconnected. West Hampstead is clearly a place to watch.