5 underrated serene neighborhoods to live in Lagos

Lagos is renowned for the opulent and luxurious neighborhoods in the Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki environ of the Island but there are quite a number of places on the Mainland that are overlooked even though they offer comfort, security and a serene environment. This article explores five underrated places to live in Lagos.

Living comfortably in Lekki, Ikoyi and their Victoria Island counterpart does come with a lot of financial responsibilities as rent and cost of living in these areas continue to skyrocket like they’re on a mission to space.

Living in these neighborhoods has proven over time to be more expensive than what the average medium-level earner in Lagos can afford. There are alternatives to these places, however.

Below, we share a list of places to live in Lagos that are not as pricy as Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island but offer the serenity, comfort and security these areas have become known for.

1. Ogudu

Ogudu is in the Kosofe local government area of Lagos state. It is a suburb in the popular and busy Ojota part of Lagos and shares borders with Ketu-Alapere, Oworo, and Ifako meaning it offers easy access to the road network around the state.

Ogudu is made up of a Government Reserve Area (GRA) and the Ogudu Ori-Oke area. Ogudu GRA has quite an appealing scenery with glamorous buildings coupled with its proximity to the Third Mainland Bridge.

If you’re looking for places to live in Lagos, Ogudu boasts a good number of fast-food joints, restaurants, lounges, clubs and recreational centers.

2. Magodo G.R.A

Situated almost at the entry of the city of Lagos, Magodo is a serene and secure location predominantly populated by high to mid-level government workers and career professionals. This is largely due to its proximity to Ikeja, the capital of the state and almost direct access to the Third Mainland Bridge.

Magodo is located in the Kosofe local government area of the State and gives easy access to Ikeja via the Otedola Bridge and to Ojodu road.

As mentioned above, a good number of high-level government workers, politicians, professionals and technocrats are believed to be residents in Magodo GRA.

The neighborhood also boasts high-profile schools as well as green scenery with an ambiance that is perfect for raising a family.

3. Ilupeju

 

Ilupeju is right in the heart of Lagos mainland and it boasts of a very good road network that makes access to other parts of Lagos quite easy. It is considered a great choice for residential apartments and even commercial buildings.

Ilupeju is a relatively peaceful environment and has proven to be quite welcoming as home to a lot of expatriates and foreigners working in Lagos especially Indians. This has resulted in a bustling market for foreign cuisines with restaurants serving intercontinental dishes popping up here and there.

This area is also home to the famous MultiChoice Nigeria as well as a number of multinational firms. Also if you’re looking for a place with great hang-out spots and bars, then look no further!

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4. Surulere

Surulere is a very popular residential and commercial area in Lagos. Home to the National Stadium as well as the renowned Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere shares borders with Yaba, Ebute-Meta, and Mushin.

This area is fondly regarded as the center of Lagos owing to the ease of access it gives commuters to other areas in Lagos. Ojuelegba, which was further made famous by Wizkid’s monster hit song, is also situated in Surulere!

One of the landmarks in Surulere is the National Art Theatre which was featured in the Beyoncé Black is King album. Surulere offers proximity to the Island via the Eko Bridge as well as other places in Lagos. In fact, Google Maps estimates moving from Surulere to Lekki on the Island to be about 20-30 minutes drive on a less busy day.

Surulere also has cool hang-out and lifestyle spots splattered around the area in choice locations as well as shopping malls, schools, churches, Central mosques and gated estates in some areas for improved security.

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5. Gbagada

Another district in Lagos which is also an underrated residential area is Gbagada.
It’s positioned amidst two bustling Local government areas (Somolu and Kosofe) and boasts of direct access to the Third Mainland Bridge and even a by-pass and an expressway to easily access the Airport in Ikeja.

You can decide to connect to Victoria Island, Lekki and places on the Island through the Third mainland bridge or the Oworonshoki expressway.

Gbagada, in addition to being an area known for its calm and serene residential options also has a number of high-profile schools for children to learn and grow. If you’re looking for a calm and serene environment to live in without spending as much as you would on the Island, then Gbagada is definitely a choice to consider.

And if you know or reside in any of the above locations, tell us what you think in the comment section and share your experience.