Where to live in London? Post your questions & answers

wingdings · Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

i'm moving to london in september. i dont know whether to live in my halls or in a house with my mate who's already been living there for a year now. my boyfriend and a lot of my other friends have also lived there for the past year.
the problem is, all my uni halls are in places like mile end, southwark, camberwell, tooting broadway, bethnal green and general hackney area.
most of them are an inconveniently far distance from my university and my friend's house is in a nicer area.
also...my halls are charging 130squid a week...whereas the house is nicer than the halls and only 80 a week....however my mates tell me that i should have the halls experience which i agree with....but i think 130 is a extortionate............any thoughts? i'm torn.... x

astefan4 · Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

Hello! I will move to London in the end of August to work near Tower Hill, so I am thinking of staying at Wapping. Is it a decent place to live? What other areas close to City would be satisfactory?

Red Rackham · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 234 Location: England.

My daughter and her boyfriend moved to London a few months ago, they live in Walworth but don't like the area and are thinking about moving to Canary Wharf. We visited them a few weeks ago, I drove down from Staffs, never again. London is horrible, I'm not particularly fond of Birmingham but compared to London it's Shangri La.

avishai · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

i need some help getting started with how and where to look for accommodation. i'm an exchange student in kings college (high holborn), arriving by the end of august. which areas will be quick to get ...

Mewler · Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

Is anyone still looking at this thread? I've recently accepted a job where I'll be based just off j25 of the M25. It's Hertfordhsire (just) but I'd rather be based in North London rathr than Herts / Potters Bar etc and wondered if anyone can offer any local advice.

We're looking at Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Highgate for property and will most likely be keeping our house in Birmingham and renting when we first move. Don't want to buy until we get a feel for the place. What are these places like to live? We want somewhere that has stuff going on, places to go out but is not chavvy. I guess I'm looking for the best of both worlds..................

Jezz · Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Stamford, CT

Hi everybody!
im going to move to london by the end of this year. only for one year and then i will move back to the states 9where i live right now).
I try to find out, good, safe place to live, whats a normal rent average, things like that.
im originally from germany and traveled to london once for two days for an exhibition. I have seriously not seen that much.......

If you have any suggestions and tips, please contact me.... Smile

desertedisland · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 8 Location: London

@fbs
Your main decision is whether you want to live in North or East London. There is a big difference between these areas in terms of atmousphere and price. If it made no difference then I'd choose Bow. Bow is quite up and coming with lots of new apartments and buildings which are surprisingly affordable. It's generally leafy, pleasant, safe and close to the clubs / bars, etc. in the East End if that's your thing.

@Mewler
Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Highgate are lovely places but very expensive. They're also quite residential. Leafy, green and peaceful with the operative word being peaceful. Good place for a family (with money) but you'll have to travel a bit from here if you're looking for decent nightlife.

Cheers!

Mewler · Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks desertedisland. Would you recommend anywhere in this neck of the woods that might be a bit livelier? I will be commuting by car up to Enfield so would ideally like to be able to drive out on the A10. I have since heard that Muswell Hill is not great for public transport and as my husband doesn't drive, this will be important for him.

Many Thanks

desertedisland · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 8 Location: London

The obvious answer is Camden although I don't usually recommend that people move there (I'm a moving man). Kentish Town is, I think, a quiter, more pleasant alternative Close enough to Camden for a decent night out and an easy tube ride to the East End if that's your thing, too.

One of the better spots for night life in North London is Islington - particularly the area around Angel. Lots of interesting bars and restaurants, it's really a very nice area! It's not cheap but there are cheaper alternatives close by in Hackney (not always as bad as it's made out to be) and Holloway.

LindaT · Joined: 06 Aug 2008 Posts: 1 Location: London

I can't believe no one's mentioned Ealing!!! I've lived there since I was 18, so maybe I'm biased, but it has EVERYTHING. It's in west London - half way between Heathrow airport and central London - and has excellent transport links. If you can't afford Ealing Broadway, then West Ealing is only a 5 minute bus hop away, and it's a fair bit cheaper because it's further away from the tube. BUT it has the fabulous West Ealing station - 12 mins to Paddington / 16 mins to Heathrow. Very Happy

alex75 · Joined: 23 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

You are absoltely right, London is a great place!!!

I have discovered a fantastic oasis of unknown ground-Brentford-by Thames. It is 10 minutes away from Chiswick, Putney, and Ritchmond, but the prices are still amazingly low still....

Take a look and save some £££££,

enjoy 8)

DaniGirl1000 · Joined: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

Hey guys,

if anybody is still looking at this thread and would be willing to help me pick an area to aim for I'd really appreciate it.

I've lived in Elephant & Castle/Walworth now for nearly 4 years. Everything was fine here but over the last 8 months suddenly there's been a massive rise in the amount of shootings. I know there's always been gun crime but it's really become close to home. IE. literally on the grass outside my house/my local shop.

I currently live in a more studenty kind of flat and now I'm working I'm liable for the whole of the council tax. So it's time to move and I'm sick of South London.

I need an area I can ideally get to Carnaby Street by bus in around 45 mins in the morning. I don't mind getting the tube but I'm thinking in terms of travel expenses I'd like to stick with the buses.

Somewhere with a few bars, lots of professionals, a good mix of ethnicities with good transport links to town (ie. at least one night bus from the West End).

I was thinking either Stratford (though I'm not completely sure about this), Manor House, Maida Vale etc.

My budget is around £500 pcm in a shared house with bills included (like electricity, council tax etc) but I don't mind stretching an extra tenner for the net etc.

So what area do you reckon I should aim for? Any ideas would be great!
Xxx

onthemove · Joined: 27 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

Seeing as no-one else has, I’m going to give Chiswick (W4) a mention, which is a really good place to live if you want a relatively quiet life without going too far out of town (zone 2-3) – lots of green space, riverside walks, close to Kew Gardens, good shopping street and lots of nice pubs, not much night-life but that means the crime rate is low and we do have a 24-hour bus to Camden if you want more action. Rents are around £500-£600 a month per person (based on a room in a house-share, 1 person in a studio flat or 2 people in a 1-bed flat).