[jb87]

Hi, me and a friend are hoping to move in to a 2 bedroom flat together in London soon.

One of us has to commute to Charing Cross (or alternatively Embankment) every day, whilst the other to Warren Street (or alternatively Great Portland Street).

We're unsure where exactly we should live and have heard mixed things from various people. Ideally we both want to get out commutes to somewhere under 30 minutes.

Originally we had considered somewhere in Clapham but were told that the Northern Line stations along that route are sometimes impossible to get onto in rush hour (we're both prepared for the fact tube to work is likely to be a sqaush!)

Any advice or suggestions?

[Bluey]

Well, Fitzrovia, Covent Garden and Bloomsbury are equi-distant if budget is not a problem...

How about somewhere like Shepherd's bush or Camden?

[Elina]

Commuting in rush hour will be hell regardless of which line you use. At peak times all of them resemble sardine cans.

I'd look along Northern Line. Maybe Finchley up north or Clapham/ Tooting/ Balham down south

[Bluey]

I've a friend that walks to work from Nunhead to Pimlico - takes an hour. That's probably only 20 or 30 minutes more than being crushed on trains and tube. Another who cycles from Walthamstow into the centre.

I've another friend who lives in Bermondsey who walks to work in Holborn, think it takes about 30 mins max.

When I trained for a 10k run, I used to run from the City back home (5 miles).

If you work out the distance using the AA route planner between work and home, you can sometimes surprise yourself how short it is and how you can walk, run or cycle like many others.

[Elina]

[jb87]

Hmmm, thanks for the replies!

We've been offered a place on Crampton Street. It seems quite close to Kennington, but also E&C which I've been warned about...?!

Anyone know whether the area is OK? The particular road looks fine on Street View. But then I have been told in London that you can walk down the road and go from a nice road to a complete dive!

[Bluey]

[Elina]

I googled Crampton St and apparently it's near Elephant & Castle, not a very nice area...

Check it out though! While I don't really like the area, with some luck the place might be on a well lit street and a quieter part of E&C

The place is a dive but like you said, good and dodgy area co-exist next to each other

Worth a look at least

[Bluey]

Yes, Elephant and Castle has some grim bits but it's dead handy for getting into town if you don't mind parts of it looking like Bulawayo - believe me, you soon get used to parts of London looking like parts of the third world that have had civil wars or pre-democracy Eastern europe.

How about Borough? The real Borough, not the old Kent road, SE17 bit where my friend maintained she lived in Borough (SE1, London Bridge end).

[Elina]

That's expensive, no?

[JennyCrozier]

Can you ride a bike? They had some cheap bike bits on retro cycling vintage on offer in London. Quickest way across town.