Eco' hoods: Live in one of London's green and environmentally-friendly neighbourhood

Being ‘eco’ doesn’t have to mean wearing yak wool jumpers, slurping lentil soup or chaining yourself to the nearest tree in protest over plans to build motorways.

Doing your bit for the planet could be as simple as living in a green neighbourhood.

And, despite being known as the Big Smoke, there are plenty of areas in the capital offering stylish living as well as ways to help the environment.

As such, an increasing amount of people are choosing eco towns and green lifestyles in London. Here’s our pick of sweet spots for do-gooder living ...

Mudchute, E14

Why it’s eco: Just south of Canary Wharf, Mudchute is home to one of London’s largest city farms, Mudchute Park & Farm (mudchute.org), situated on 32 acres of greenery.

Slap bang on the Isle of Dogs, you’ll find sheep, goats and horses grazing beneath the looming towers of the financial district – we kid you not.

Here you can volunteer with charities such as Froglife ( froglife.org), which conserves the habitats of newts, snakes, frogs and toads.

Living: London island life is sleepy. The area consists of new detached and terraced properties that attract professionals and families.

Don’t expect raucous weekends or a buzzing town centre, but a tranquil oasis in a concrete jungle.

Going out? Try the Lotus Floating Chinese Restaurant moored in nearby Thames waters (lotusfloating.co.uk).

Tube: Mudchute – DLR.

Dalston, E8

Why it’s eco: Dalston is way ahead of the city when it comes to organic lifestyles.

For shops selling healthy produce, residents are spoilt for choice.

Tuck into fresh sourdough sandwiches and slurp on smoothies in cafe Healthy Stuff (healthystuffe8.co.uk). Or become an urban farmer and have a go at growing your own food.

Clever environmental concepts, such as FARM:shop (farmlondon.weebly.com) and Dalston Roof Park (managed by bootstrapcompany.co.uk), encourage locals to grow vegetables and herbs in allotments and on rooftops.
 

Living: “The majority of people moving to Hackney are of the younger professional generation, mainly creatives,” explains Nick Karamanlis, of Stirling Ackroyd estate agents.

Expect a smorgasbord of artistic music, art and theatre in the area, too. Our favourite is Café OTO (cafeoto.co.uk) for avant-garde performances such as Korean experimental electro or bizarre opera.

Train: Dalston Junction – Overground.