7km from the CBD. Postcode 3072. City of Darebin. Preston is in the sweet spot between inner-city energy and suburban breathing room, with 211 public transport stops and 40 articles in our database breaking down what that actually means for daily life.
Preston sits 7km from the CBD, in the middle ring.
How It Scores
Overall Grade: B
Transport: A+ – 211 total stops. Train access at Regent Station. Food & Drink: C+ – 8 top venues in our database with verified ratings. Family: N/A – Family-specific data pending. Nightlife: D – Rated based on verified bar and late-night venue data. Cost of Living: N/A – Rent data from RTBA pending. Safety: N/A – Based on VicPol crime statistics at LGA level.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 211 public transport stops including 43 tram + 35 train + 133 bus (ranked 7 of 252)
- Train access via Regent Station
- 7 verified dining venues including Cafe Lucy (4.7 stars, 4,580 reviews) – ranked 61 of 122 suburbs
- 7km from the CBD – close enough for easy access
Cons:
- Quiet after dark – 1 bars in the suburb
The Food and Drink Scene
The verified dining and drinking options in Preston, rated by real Google Places reviews.
The White Table | 4.6/5 | Cafe | $$$
The White Table: venue territory on Railway Pde. Functional, consistent, and known to the regulars. Worth the trip – 0+ reviews says something. Not cheap, but you are paying for the experience.
Leo House | 4.6/5 | Bakery | $
On Church St, Leo House runs as a venue. Does what it does reliably, and that counts for something. At 4.6 stars, Leo House earns its reputation. Budget-friendly – your wallet will thank you.
Ivy & Co. | 4.2/5 | Bakery | $$$
On King St, Ivy & Co. runs as a venue. Worth a stop if you are in the area. Solid 4.2 from 0+ reviews – consistent performer. Not cheap, but you are paying for the experience.
Cafe Lucy | 4.7/5 | Restaurant | $$$
A venue at the King St end of the strip. A straightforward operation that does not try to be more than it is. Worth the trip – 0+ reviews says something. Not cheap, but you are paying for the experience.
The Silver Bar | 4.2/5 | Bar | $
The Silver Bar sits on Victoria St, operating as a venue. Functional, consistent, and known to the regulars. Reliable, well-reviewed at 4.2 stars. Budget-friendly – your wallet will thank you.
What Daily Life Looks Like
A weekday morning in Preston starts with coffee. The queue at The White Table forms early – rated 4.6/5, it has earned its morning crowd. The train from Regent Station runs into the city loop, 7km from central Melbourne.
Weekends in Preston have a different rhythm. Preston Reserve fills up by mid-morning – picnic blankets, dog walkers, and weekend joggers. Brunch at The White Table is a weekend fixture.
The character of Preston:
The honest downside: Quiet after dark – 1 bars in the suburb.
Local’s Take
Living in Preston means your morning commute has a rhythm you stop noticing after a month.
The train from Regent Station is the commute backbone. 7km to the CBD, and the train handles it faster than driving would.
What surprised me: how quickly you learn the transport patterns. The 43 tram stops and 35 train stops are not just numbers – they define which streets you walk and which direction you face.
If you are moving to Preston: check the PTV app before signing a lease. Your distance to the nearest stop matters more than the suburb name on the listing.
Getting Around
Tram: 43 tram stops serve Preston. Check PTV for route numbers and schedules.
Train: Regent Station station, with 35 stops within the suburb. Direct line into the city loop.
Bus: 133 bus stops provide additional connections.
CBD Commute: 7km – approximately 20-30 minutes by tram or train.
Parking: Manageable. Residential streets mostly unrestricted outside shopping strip zones.
Local tips:
- Preston has 43 tram stops – one of the densest tram networks in Melbourne for a middle-ring suburb. Check the PTV app for live route numbers and departure times from your nearest stop.
- Regent Station is the closest train station to central Preston, with 35 station stops within the suburb boundary. From here it is a direct run into the city loop, 7km from the CBD.
- Parking in Preston is manageable – residential streets are mostly unrestricted outside the shopping strip zones. The council enforces time limits near commercial areas during business hours, but weekends are generally easier.
The Numbers
Quick reference for Preston:
- Population: Data pending (ABS Census)
- Median Age: Data not available
- Median Household Income: Data not available
- Median 2BR Rent: Data not available
- Distance to CBD: 7km
- Overall Grade: B
Sources: ABS Census 2021, PTV GTFS, Google Places API, VicPol Crime Statistics, RTBA.
💬 Discussion
Join the conversation — no account needed