Let's move to Elephant & Castle and Walworth, south London

What's going for it? It's had the terrible misfortune to be regenerated twice: once, in the 1960s, to convert its poor residents into car-driving modern citizens; and again today, to reprogramme them into the kind of latte-supping pedestrians you see on architects' drawings. But it thrives regardless. Though the eponymous roundabout and shopping precinct grab the attention – you can't miss them – turn the corner on to Walworth Road and what planners and developers didn't regenerate first time around has magically survived. A miraculous scrap of relatively central London that isn't wall-to-wall Stradas. You want a thriving, chain-lite high street, Mary Portas ? Here you are. Even the precinct is like an anti-Westfield, all Colombian cafes and Nigerian nail bars. While tucked behind are little gems: blitz-surviving Victorian terraces, a proper street market, a great dance centre, incredibly good schools. Re-blooming-generation, I ask you. Who needs it? The case against It's not all Mary Poppins: there's genuine deprivation. The Elephant itself is grim. A neighbourhood that demands a lot of energy. Be prepared for years of "regeneration". The Strata tower : everywhere you look, and voted the ugliest new building in Britain . Well connected? On both Bakerloo and Northern underground lines: West End and the City, 10-15 minutes. Loads of trains to Blackfriars (four minutes) and St Pancras (16). Schools Primaries: St John's Walworth CofE , Keyworth , John Ruskin and Michael Faraday all "outstanding", Ofsted says. Secondaries: Globe Academy is "good", Notre Dame RC Girls and St Saviour's & St Olave's CofE are both "outstanding". Hang out at… La Luna for pizza, Dragon Castle for top Chinese, the (very retro) Old Red Lion for boozing. Where to buy Be warned: slips easily and pricily into Kennington and Borough, west and north. It's a hodgepodge of estates, Victorian terraces and old artisan workshops, squares straight outta Islington and vile new-build flats. Not cheap – but cheap for central London. Market values Terraces, £425,000 for new-build through £750,000-ish for a Victorian up to £1m in poshest areas. Flats: period conversions and new-build, from £250,000 for one-beds up to £800k for a spot in Strata (you mad?); ex-council, £150,000 for a one-bed to £320,000 for three. Rentals: two-bed flat, £280-£850 a week; three-bed house, £450-£850. Bargain of the week Not a beauty, but a bargain: three-bed modern house, near East Street Market, £340,000, with Winkworth . From the streets Giles Gale "I've lived here for 15 years and have spent most of that time defending it to ignorant north Londoners. A favourite place is the mini flower market off East Street Market every Sunday in summer – prices a fraction of Columbia Road's." Martin and Michiko Blum-Nitta "Everybody says hello to everybody, helps each other out and generally looks after each other – not what you'd expect from this area." • Live in Elephant & Castle or Walworth? Join the debate below. Do you live on the Isle of Mull? Do you have a favourite haunt or pet hate? If so, please write by next Tuesday to [email protected]