I’ve been to Kilburn for a couple of days to see what it is like, find out all about it in my below area guide.
If at any point in this guide you want to jump to a particular section please do so via the below links.
About Kilburn
Where to start.
Kilburn is a vibrant neighborhood in London that effortlessly blends urban energy with a touch of bohemian charm.
From its eclectic mix of shops and cafes to the lively atmosphere of its local pubs, it is a welcoming area which invites you to explore its diverse character.
With picturesque streets and a sense of community, it’s a welcoming spot for both residents and visitors alike.
It has a bit for everyone.
Whether you’re into music, art, or simply soaking up the local vibes, Kilburn is a trendy and enjoyable spot.
Let’s dig into some specifics.
Kilburn Area Guide – Transport Links
The area of Kilburn is reasonably well connected to Central London and surrounding areas.
Kilburn is served by the Bakerloo line of the London Underground, with a station at Queen’s Park.
The Bakerloo line provides direct access to central London, including Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, and Regent’s Park.
Also at Queen’s Park station you can catch the Overground Line which can get you to such places as Euston and Watford Junction.
You have another option from the other side of Kilburn, namely Kilburn Underground Station which sits on the Jubilee Line and is in zone 2.
Is Kilburn Safe?
In terms of crime, the rate Kilburn is 213 crimes per 1,000 residents. I have arrived at this figure comparing crime figures from the Met Police and Census data.
This figure of 213 crimes per 1,000 residents is noticeably higher than the London average of 95.
I must note that this actually surprised me after spending time in the area. There were no obvious signs of crime such as graffiti, damaged property or alike.
It felt realively safe.
What should be noted however is the fact that the highest crime type recorded is shoplifting.
That isn’t to suggest that shoplifting is a positive but it doesn’t carry the same victim impact as say burglary or robbery.
Kilburn Area Guide – Demographics
Like most areas in London, Kilburn is a realively diverse area. This is represented in the Census data which reveals the racial breakdown as follows;
White British: 53%
Other White: 15%
Black British: 11%
Asian or Asian British: 14%
Mixed race: 6%
The unemployment rate in Kiburn is 4.1%, which is a fair chunk lower than the unemployment rate for London as a whole (5.1%).
Kilburn is a religiously diverse neighbourhood, with a wide range of faiths represented.
According to a 2015 survey, the religious makeup of the neighborhood is as follows:
Christianity: 44%
Islam: 22%
Hinduism: 5%
Judaism: 2%
Other religions: 27%
No religion: 13%
The median income in Kilburn is £30,000, which is slightly lower than the median income for London as a whole (£35,000).
However, the income distribution in Kilburn is more evenly distributed, with a smaller percentage of residents falling into the highest and lowest income brackets.
Kilburn Area Guide – House Prices
It must be noted that considering the crime rates and the overall earnings rates I was surprised by how expensive property is in the area.
Properties in Kilburn had an overall average price of £1,040,000 over the last year.
This represents one of the most expensive places I have visited.
One of the more shocking stats was the average price of a flat last year, namely £670,000. Again that is right up there with some of the most pricey places in the capital.
In terms of a trend, sold prices in Kilburn over the last year were 4% up on the previous year.
This shows that the market has strong resilience unlike other expensive areas.
Is Kilburn a nice place to live?
In summary my opinion on Kilburn is mixed. Walking around it has the feel of a cosmopolitan, trendy neighbourhood. It’s High Street is littered with fancy looking cafés and restaurants.
It wasn’t overly crowded like somewhere such as Ealing Broadway and generally it felt like a nice place to spend time.
Transport links are good but nothing incredible.
This then leads me to the conundrum. Property Prices Vs Crime.
If you are buying in Kilburn you have a very healthy budget and the City is your oyster. If I were in the market for a flat with a budget of close to £700,000 I would want at least one of 3 things.
- To be quite central
- The area to be safe
- The area to have excellent transport links
Kilburn has none of those factors.
That isn’t to say it doesn’t feel like a nice area, it really did. The people are friendly, it’s not overcrowded and the streets were clean.
It’s just armed with a monster budget like that I would expect an area to tick nearly every box and for me Kilburn didn’t do that.
