Time Out unveils 2025 list of the world's coolest neighbourhoods, with Camberwell, Dublin and Digbeth among highlights

Time Out has unveiled its 2025 list of the world's coolest neighbourhoods, highlighting 30 urban hotspots celebrated for culture, nightlife, art, food, drink, community spirit and unique local character. Topping the list is Jimbōchō in Tokyo, a bohemian quarter known for its bookish culture and traditional eateries. The district is home to more than 130 second‑hand bookstores and a dense network of curry houses and retro coffee shops, making it a gathering place for generations of Tokyo intellectuals.

Borgerhout in Antwerp secures second place, described as a multicultural gem with vegan coffee spots, artist-led galleries and leafy terraces. The top three closes with Barra Funda in São Paulo, where old industrial warehouses have been transformed into buzzing creative spaces and cult nightlife venues.

Camberwell in south London is the UK’s highest ranking neighbourhood in fourth place, noted for its youthful energy, multiculturalism, artistic independence and strong community vibe packed into a compact, green space. Digbeth in Birmingham sits at 13th, continuing the country’s presence on the list and reflecting the area’s transition from an industrial quarter to a hub for street art, film studies and pop-up venues. The Liberties in Dublin also earned a spot, coming in at 23rd, showcasing a history-rich, modern life axis with cafés, bakeries and pubs.

The list spans continents, including Mullae-dong in Seoul; Ménilmontant in Paris; Nakatsu in Osaka; Vallila in Helsinki; Labone in Accra; and other entries such as Camberwell’s UK peers and Sheung Wan in Hong Kong, which closes the list. The ranking reflects Time Out’s emphasis on community feel, culture, nightlife, food, street life and sense of ‘nowness’ — a moment when something special is happening in real time. The 2025 edition reaffirms that neighbourhoods can be dynamic engines of creativity across the globe.