Time Out has released its list of the 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2025, and one unexpected UK area has made the cut for its community spirit and multiculturalism
The UK’s coolest neighbourhood has been unveiled, and the location might come as a shock. Prestigious travel guide Time Out has just dropped its annual list of the world’s 39 coolest neighbourhoods, with one unexpected British area securing a coveted place.
The publication updates this ranking yearly, spotlighting the latest districts that have earned “cool” status. Notable past UK entries like Stokes Croft and St Paul’s in Bristol failed to make this year’s cut.
London claims the title for Britain’s “coolest” neighbourhood, though it’s probably not the area you’d expect. Most people would immediately think of trendy spots like Camden, Shoreditch, Hackney, Dalston or Peckham when considering London’s hippest districts.
READ MORE: Ryanair confirms new route from UK airport to beautiful holiday destinationREAD MORE: ‘Cheapest’ way to banish grim yellow toilet seat stains from your bathroom
Yet none of these well-known areas secured a place on the list. Instead, a compact but flourishing neighbourhood in London’s southeast corner has been crowned the country’s coolest district.
Time Out ranked Camberwell fourth on its global list of the world’s trendiest neighbourhoods, reports the Express. Contributor Lauren O’Neill praised this “community-oriented little patch” for its “young-at-heart vibe, the independent spirit, the multiculturalism”.
She added: “One of the big draws of the place, of course, is the food. Over the years, Camberwell Church Street has become the stuff of legend, and now, it’s easily one of the heaviest-hitting roads in the capital for hungry Londoners.”
For an ideal day out in Camberwell, the writer suggests kicking things off at Toad with a scrumptious sandwich and a cuppa, then heading over to the South London Art Gallery. While wandering around, she advises popping into Dash the Henge for some vinyl hunting, followed by a refreshing pint at The Clarendon.
When it comes to dining, she raves about “FM Mangal for Turkish food that absolutely always hits the spot.” Impressively, Camberwell has outshone a host of trendy global spots to clinch fourth place.
This year, it’s ranked above locales in Paris, Chicago, Lisbon, and New York. Another British area also made the cut, with Digbeth in Birmingham securing the number 13 position.
Time Out described Digbeth as possessing a “rough-edged beauty” and being a hub for the city’s creatives including writers, artists, and filmmakers.
Hopping over the Irish Sea, Dublin’s The Liberties nabbed the 23rd spot on the list. Known for housing the iconic Guinness Storehouse, The Liberties was lauded for its historic charm and an array of distinctive, traditional pubs, cafes, and distilleries.
The coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2025, as per Time Out, are:
- Jimbōchō, Tokyo
- Borgerhout, Antwerp
- Barra Funda, Sao Paulo
- Camberwell, London
- Avondale, Chicago
- Mullae-dong, Seoul
- Ménilmontant, Paris
- Nakatsu, Osaka
- Vallila, Helsinki
- Labone, Accra
- Nguyen Thai Binh, Ho Chi Minh
- Anjos, Lisbon
- Digbeth, Birmingham
- Red Hook, New York
- Perpetuo Socorro, Medellín
- Burwood, Sydney
- Linden, Johannesburg
- Former French Concession, Shanghai
- Quartieri Spagnoli, Naples
- Bencoolen, Singapore
- Endoume, Marseille
- Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montréal
- The Liberties, Dublin
- North Melbourne, Melbourne
- Portales, Mexico City
- Davenport, Toronto
- Little River, Miami
- Kemang, Jakarta
- Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro
- Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
- Barranco, Lima
- Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
- Clarksville, Austin
- Margit-negyed, Budapest
- Glen Park, San Francisco
- MiZa, Abu Dhabi
- Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires
- Mehrauli, Delhi
- Poblacion, Metro Manila
Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We’d love to hear from you!