How To Choose A Kitchen in London

Why Kitchen Choice Is Different In London

Choosing a kitchen anywhere is a significant decision. Choosing a kitchen in London adds extra dimensions — space is usually tighter, budgets are higher relative to the UK average, and the property types vary enormously. A Victorian terrace in Islington has completely different constraints to a new build flat in Stratford or a detached family home in Richmond. The right kitchen for each of these is not the same kitchen.

This guide sets out the practical questions you need to answer before you buy, and explains why the fitting matters at least as much as the product you choose.

Step 1 — Measure First, Browse Second

The single most common mistake in kitchen buying is browsing suppliers before you have accurate measurements. Kitchen ranges are designed around standard cabinet widths (300mm, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, 1000mm), but the way those units fit into your actual space determines whether you get a kitchen that looks designed or a kitchen that looks assembled. The difference is almost always in the planning, not the product.

Before you open a brochure or visit a showroom, you need: the exact room dimensions including alcoves, chimney breasts and any structural intrusions; the positions of windows and doors including which way doors open; the positions of existing water supply, waste and gas points; and the location of electrical sockets and consumer unit.

Step 2 — Decide Your Layout

The five standard kitchen layouts are: galley (two parallel runs), L-shape (two adjoining walls), U-shape (three walls), island (L or U with central island), and single-wall (one run only, typically in open plan). Each has practical constraints in London properties.

• Galley: Efficient and practical in narrow Victorian terrace kitchens. Works well in rooms under 3m wide. The corridor must be at least 900mm to work comfortably — 1000mm+ preferred.
• L-shape: The most versatile layout for London homes. Fits most room shapes and allows a dining area in the same space.
• U-shape: Maximum storage and worktop, but needs a room width of at least 3.6m to avoid feeling enclosed. Common in larger Richmond and Kensington homes.
• Island: Only works with adequate clearance — minimum 1000mm on all sides, ideally 1200mm. Do not fit an island in a room that hasn't been properly measured for it first.
• Single-wall: Open-plan living spaces in new build flats. Storage is limited — tall cabinets and ceiling-height uppers help.

Step 3 — Cabinet Quality: What The Price Actually Buys You

Kitchen cabinets in the UK range from around £80 per unit (flat-pack, MDF board) to over £1,000 per unit (solid wood, hand-painted). The price difference reflects: the board material (MDF vs solid wood vs plywood), the hinge quality, the drawer mechanism, the finish durability, and whether the carcass is rigid or flat-pack assembled. In a London rental property, a budget kitchen makes sense. In a £1.5m Islington townhouse, a budget kitchen is a false economy — it will need replacing in 8–10 years, versus 20–25 years for a quality installation.

Step 4 — Worktops: The Most Used Surface In Your Home

Laminate worktops are cheap and functional but scratch and chip. Solid wood is warm but needs regular oiling and will mark around the sink. Quartz (engineered stone) is the most popular mid-to-high specification choice — hard, non-porous, consistent pattern, and available in a huge range. Granite is natural and durable but each slab varies. Dekton and Neolith are ultra-compact surfaces that are heat, scratch and stain resistant — increasingly popular in London high-spec kitchens. Corian and similar solid surfaces allow seamless sink integration and are easily repaired.

Step 5 — Appliances: Integrated vs Freestanding

Integrated appliances (hidden behind matching cabinet doors) give a cleaner look and are standard in quality London kitchens. Freestanding appliances are more flexible and easier to replace individually. In small kitchens — common in London — integrated appliances make a significant visual difference. The key decision points: are you integrating the fridge, dishwasher, washing machine and oven, or just some of them? Each integration point affects the cabinet layout and must be planned from the start.

Why Fitting Quality Matters As Much As Product Quality

A £15,000 kitchen fitted badly will look worse after two years than a £6,000 kitchen fitted properly. Poor fitting shows in: gaps between units and walls, units that are not level, doors that don't align, worktop joins that open up, and plinths that don't sit flat. These are not problems with the kitchen — they are problems with the installation. Doorz fits kitchens to the standard the product deserves — every unit levelled, scribed to wall where required, and all gaps managed properly.

See our kitchen fitting London page for more on what our service includes, and our bespoke carpentry page if you need joinery work alongside the kitchen.