Most Londoners know about Chinatown – but far fewer are familiar with the capital’s very own Koreatown. Nestled in the leafy borough of Kingston, New Malden is home to the largest Korean population in Europe.
A swift 20-minute train ride from Waterloo takes you to this suburban gem, where Korean culture isn’t just on display, it’s woven into daily life. From Korean estate agents and bubble tea shops to supermarkets packed with kimchi, it’s no surprise people queue for hours to eat here.
The heart of the community lies along New Malden High Street, where authentic eateries, beauty salons, and grocery stores create a slice of Seoul in Southwest London. But it’s not just about the food – locals enjoy top schools, green spaces, and a strong sense of safety, making the area popular with families.
Blake Ng, who’s Vietnamese and moved to the area over three years ago to live with his partner, said: “It’s a nice area to live in. I’m surrounded by East Asia, so it feels a bit like home. It’s very convenient – I can access anything I want, like transportation or supermarkets.”
Lisa Hansen, 57, who has lived in New Malden for 24 years, said the area has changed for the better. She said: “It’s so multicultural! The schools are great, the people are great, and the train service into London is brilliant.”
For Angela Horne, who’s lived here for 11 years and has children in local schools, New Malden offers the best of both worlds. She added: “It’s safe, the schools are good, and it’s still close to Central London. The transport is good, and the community is fine – I’m really happy here.”
Despite its nickname as ‘Koreatown’, some locals say New Malden doesn’t fully mirror life in South Korea. While Korean businesses, food, and signage in Hangul give the area a distinctly Korean flavour, they say the atmosphere remains unmistakably British.
Chong Won Jeong, who moved to the area three months ago to work in a Korean restaurant, said: “It’s called Koreatown, but it’s not a fraction of South Korea. It’s so small, there’s not much to do. But it’s okay – nice, quiet and peaceful.”
But the food is definitely a key reason people live it. The best restuarant in the area according to TripAdvisor is a Korean restuarant called Chick nd Beers. It specialises in Korean chicken. The restuarant claims: “From our classic fried and glazed chicken to charcoal grilled and special casserole dishes. Don’t be deceived by simplicity – we serve Korean chicken as it should taste in Korea and we do it pretty damn well.”
But hairdresser Eden Cho, 25, agreed. She added: “Even though there’s loads of Korean people here, it’s not really the same. The Korean community is big, and the culture is still strong, with food, music, clothes, and shows keeping it alive. But it’s still quite different.”
Eden runs Miss K Hair & Beauty on New Malden High Street with her mother, and says she’s proud to be part of a thriving local business scene. She says they get clients from all over the world.
She added: “There are so many people from Hong Kong, India, China – it’s not just Koreans. We see lots of new clients who’ve recently moved to the area, and they always come back. It’s lovely to be part of such a multicultural community.”
House prices in New Malden have an overall average of £689,712 over the last year, according to RightMove (£675,549 is London average). The majority of properties sold in New Malden during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £786,116. Terraced properties sold for an average of £667,539, with flats fetching £340,084.
Overall, the historical sold prices in New Malden over the last year were 2% down on the previous year and 8% up on the 2021 peak of £639,927.
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