Owning a car in central London
Discussion
C70R said:
RJG46 said:
South of the river there are some very parts of Lee.
Lee Conservation area. Cator Estate.
Dulwich.
Chiselhurst.
Beckenham looks okay but I don't really know the area.
Lee really isn't where I'd be living as a young professional. Amenities are very poor, and almost all adjacent areas are dull. Transport links are also not great.Lee Conservation area. Cator Estate.
Dulwich.
Chiselhurst.
Beckenham looks okay but I don't really know the area.
I lived in Dulwich for a number of years, because it served the dual purpose of allowing me to live on beautiful, tree-lined avenues with lovely neighbours, but still be in striking distance of Peckham for entertainment. However, travel is appalling unless you pay the premium to live near a station.
Chislehurst is very pleasant, but very middle-aged and suburban. I'd imagine that a young couple would be very much out of the norm living here.
Beckenham is the place where ambition and youth go to die. A mix of commuter families who couldn't afford a nicer area and chavvy 'locals' all living in exceptionally dull low-rise flats. You may as well be in Bromley or Penge, which I wouldn't recommend either.
Edited by C70R on Tuesday 22 January 13:28
Have you ever seen The Cator Estate?
Amenities. Lewisham Hospital and high street not far away. Bromley is a short drive.
We had a look round West Hampstead and St John's Wood. Hampstead was fine, but at least the bits we were in seemed no more than that. St John Woods was lovely but a bit upmarket for my tastes - fancy cars, designer shops, not sure we think paying the rent premium is worth it. We definitely favour Greenwich at the moment, perhaps Lewisham or Isle of Dogs to get more bang for our buck.
Integroo said:
Saleen836 said:
Also remember the 'toy' will have to meet the new ULEZ criteria depending on where in London you chose to live
I thought that Greenwich etc would be outside it but actually from 2021 it will be inside it. Wouldn't want to buy a car I would find difficult to sell in a few years. That's painful. It means I can't buy what I want anyway. 
Unless I deliberately find somewhere to live outside it. Alex_225 said:
That was my thinking. I commute into the City by train and even as a pedestrian you can see that driving is not an ideal choice of transport.
If you are planning on driving out of London at the weekends and like NDA says, you have safe secure parking then it's an option. Depends how much time you spend outside of London.
I would walk to work, so it would only be for driving out of London at the weekends to do things, which I may do. Is getting in and out at the weekends a relatively painless task? If it would involve spending hours in traffic I probably cba. If you are planning on driving out of London at the weekends and like NDA says, you have safe secure parking then it's an option. Depends how much time you spend outside of London.
I live in central London, I mean 10min walk from parliament. I have 4 cars garaged, and 2 cars parked on street (the jag and an Alfa Brera) with residents permits. I drive daily to go to the gym, get groceries or whatever. Yes I could do this without a car, but so much easier with a car. If you dont drive to work, then outside of peak times, driving in London is no bother, so I go to the gym after work (also do shopping then etc).
Most of the time getting out of London is pretty painless. For me issues arise when there is a protest outside of parliament, or on New Years eve they close roads to my street, but if you don't live that close to parliament its not an issue. During the week after 7:30p,, I never have an issue with traffic, and on weekends, its much the same. I think people blow the traffic out of proportion- yes driving into the square mile (and out) during commuter times is a waste of time, even in a cab, but as said, if you don't commute to work by car, the rest of the time is quite normal.
I also lived in Westminster near Parliament (right next to the Home Office) and while I'm not bothered about driving for transportation (Tube, cycling and Uber has that covered) it took a huge toll on my leisure driving as well my ability to get out of the city for some country air. Sundays before 9 am and after 9 pm and weekdays 10 pm - 6 am were ok, but any other time you're looking at an hour of traffic in any direction to get to the M25 meaning you had to be really committed to getting out of London - the sense of claustrophobia was hard to live with. Now I live at the bottom of the A41 - still very central in Zone 2, easy walking distance from Regent's Park and Baker St, but I can be on the M1 or A1 in 20 mins most of the time weekdays or weekends. Makes all the difference for driving for pleasure and getting out of London.
I remember arriving at Marble Arch one evening in summer 2017 during my Westminster days, just as a Bieber concert ended. Park Lane was closed and with the crowds and diversions it took me another 1.5 hours to drive the 2 miles home. Not ideal especially as I was on my way back from a 14-hour and 500 mile day trip to Wales.
I remember arriving at Marble Arch one evening in summer 2017 during my Westminster days, just as a Bieber concert ended. Park Lane was closed and with the crowds and diversions it took me another 1.5 hours to drive the 2 miles home. Not ideal especially as I was on my way back from a 14-hour and 500 mile day trip to Wales.
NickCQ said:
Common theme of these posts is that it’s OK to get out of Town going North or West. However, if you like boats and are trying to get to the South coast the A3 is a pain in the proverbial.
As a child, before the M25 was built, we used to leave Hampstead on a Friday evening to get to the boat in Beaulieu. I manifestly wouldn’t attempt that journey today, that’s for sure!!!!If I were a boaty then I think I would try and find somewhere south of the M25. The London exodus in recent years seems to have picked Winchester as the place to enable spending more time onboard.
I used to drive through on my way to rowing. I always fancied one of those London brick houses on the East side of the 306 just after Hammersmith Bridge. I thought they were lovely houses despite being on the main road, lots of driveway space, double garages, high ceilings and nice gardens.
I toyed with living in Putney in the 90s but back then it got awfully crap, awfully quickly and every aspect of my life was on the other side of the river.
I toyed with living in Putney in the 90s but back then it got awfully crap, awfully quickly and every aspect of my life was on the other side of the river.
RJG46 said:
C70R said:
RJG46 said:
South of the river there are some very parts of Lee.
Lee Conservation area. Cator Estate.
Dulwich.
Chiselhurst.
Beckenham looks okay but I don't really know the area.
Lee really isn't where I'd be living as a young professional. Amenities are very poor, and almost all adjacent areas are dull. Transport links are also not great.Lee Conservation area. Cator Estate.
Dulwich.
Chiselhurst.
Beckenham looks okay but I don't really know the area.
I lived in Dulwich for a number of years, because it served the dual purpose of allowing me to live on beautiful, tree-lined avenues with lovely neighbours, but still be in striking distance of Peckham for entertainment. However, travel is appalling unless you pay the premium to live near a station.
Chislehurst is very pleasant, but very middle-aged and suburban. I'd imagine that a young couple would be very much out of the norm living here.
Beckenham is the place where ambition and youth go to die. A mix of commuter families who couldn't afford a nicer area and chavvy 'locals' all living in exceptionally dull low-rise flats. You may as well be in Bromley or Penge, which I wouldn't recommend either.
Edited by C70R on Tuesday 22 January 13:28
Have you ever seen The Cator Estate?
Amenities. Lewisham Hospital and high street not far away. Bromley is a short drive.
I love SE London (I lived in Dulwich until recently), but you'd be hard-pressed to say that Bromley or Lewisham would have anything to appeal to a young professional. Bromley High Street is an utterly miserable collection of chains, bookies, pound shops and charity shops, and Lewisham is barely better.
OP, given that you liked Hampstead, St John's Wood and Greenwich, I think we should probably stop suggesting places like Hackney, because they almost certainly aren't to your taste. If you can afford these places, you can do a lot better than Bromley or Lewisham.
I'd go take a look at Dulwich, particularly the area around the northern end of Lordship Lane. East Dulwich Station is 15min to London Bridge, and Peckham Rye is 15min to Canada Water. Lots of lovely houses (albeit quite expensive), plenty of great shops, bars, pubs and restaurants. The Rye itself is a lovely green space in the summer, and you have a short walk over to Peckham if you want a raucous night out with other young people (pop-up restaurants, craft beer, nightclubs in multi-storey car parks etc.). It worked as the best of many worlds for me.
On-street parking is the norm (with few permit-controlled areas), but most streets are quiet. It worked really well for me, because it has the feel of being suburban (lots of leafy streets, families, few high-rises), but it's in Z2 and you can be in Bond Street or Old Street in 30min.
The downside is that it's not on the Tube, meaning that you either rely on the Overground (to Peckham Rye) or Ubers to get home at night. But this would also be the case for Greenwich, of course.
Hampstead is lovely, it's not my bag but my other half lived there for 6 years before she moved to Dalston, although she lived in a flat above a fried chicken shop. It was opposite Hampstead Heath station though, so prime location!
If you're living there, then it's pretty easy to get out to the M1 and the M40, so I'd definitely keep a car around there.
There's a great drive me and a few mates do on the B660 from Bedford, which if you leave Hampstead at 06:00 on Sunday, you could be back in bed by 10:00, having had a really good morning of driving.
If you're living there, then it's pretty easy to get out to the M1 and the M40, so I'd definitely keep a car around there.
There's a great drive me and a few mates do on the B660 from Bedford, which if you leave Hampstead at 06:00 on Sunday, you could be back in bed by 10:00, having had a really good morning of driving.
C70R said:
RJG46 said:
C70R said:
RJG46 said:
South of the river there are some very parts of Lee.
Lee Conservation area. Cator Estate.
Dulwich.
Chiselhurst.
Beckenham looks okay but I don't really know the area.
Lee really isn't where I'd be living as a young professional. Amenities are very poor, and almost all adjacent areas are dull. Transport links are also not great.Lee Conservation area. Cator Estate.
Dulwich.
Chiselhurst.
Beckenham looks okay but I don't really know the area.
I lived in Dulwich for a number of years, because it served the dual purpose of allowing me to live on beautiful, tree-lined avenues with lovely neighbours, but still be in striking distance of Peckham for entertainment. However, travel is appalling unless you pay the premium to live near a station.
Chislehurst is very pleasant, but very middle-aged and suburban. I'd imagine that a young couple would be very much out of the norm living here.
Beckenham is the place where ambition and youth go to die. A mix of commuter families who couldn't afford a nicer area and chavvy 'locals' all living in exceptionally dull low-rise flats. You may as well be in Bromley or Penge, which I wouldn't recommend either.
Edited by C70R on Tuesday 22 January 13:28
Have you ever seen The Cator Estate?
Amenities. Lewisham Hospital and high street not far away. Bromley is a short drive.
I love SE London (I lived in Dulwich until recently), but you'd be hard-pressed to say that Bromley or Lewisham would have anything to appeal to a young professional. Bromley High Street is an utterly miserable collection of chains, bookies, pound shops and charity shops, and Lewisham is barely better.
OP, given that you liked Hampstead, St John's Wood and Greenwich, I think we should probably stop suggesting places like Hackney, because they almost certainly aren't to your taste. If you can afford these places, you can do a lot better than Bromley or Lewisham.
I'd go take a look at Dulwich, particularly the area around the northern end of Lordship Lane. East Dulwich Station is 15min to London Bridge, and Peckham Rye is 15min to Canada Water. Lots of lovely houses (albeit quite expensive), plenty of great shops, bars, pubs and restaurants. The Rye itself is a lovely green space in the summer, and you have a short walk over to Peckham if you want a raucous night out with other young people (pop-up restaurants, craft beer, nightclubs in multi-storey car parks etc.). It worked as the best of many worlds for me.
On-street parking is the norm (with few permit-controlled areas), but most streets are quiet. It worked really well for me, because it has the feel of being suburban (lots of leafy streets, families, few high-rises), but it's in Z2 and you can be in Bond Street or Old Street in 30min.
The downside is that it's not on the Tube, meaning that you either rely on the Overground (to Peckham Rye) or Ubers to get home at night. But this would also be the case for Greenwich, of course.
RJG46 said:
C70R said:
RJG46 said:
C70R said:
RJG46 said:
South of the river there are some very parts of Lee.
Lee Conservation area. Cator Estate.
Dulwich.
Chiselhurst.
Beckenham looks okay but I don't really know the area.
Lee really isn't where I'd be living as a young professional. Amenities are very poor, and almost all adjacent areas are dull. Transport links are also not great.Lee Conservation area. Cator Estate.
Dulwich.
Chiselhurst.
Beckenham looks okay but I don't really know the area.
I lived in Dulwich for a number of years, because it served the dual purpose of allowing me to live on beautiful, tree-lined avenues with lovely neighbours, but still be in striking distance of Peckham for entertainment. However, travel is appalling unless you pay the premium to live near a station.
Chislehurst is very pleasant, but very middle-aged and suburban. I'd imagine that a young couple would be very much out of the norm living here.
Beckenham is the place where ambition and youth go to die. A mix of commuter families who couldn't afford a nicer area and chavvy 'locals' all living in exceptionally dull low-rise flats. You may as well be in Bromley or Penge, which I wouldn't recommend either.
Edited by C70R on Tuesday 22 January 13:28
Have you ever seen The Cator Estate?
Amenities. Lewisham Hospital and high street not far away. Bromley is a short drive.
I love SE London (I lived in Dulwich until recently), but you'd be hard-pressed to say that Bromley or Lewisham would have anything to appeal to a young professional. Bromley High Street is an utterly miserable collection of chains, bookies, pound shops and charity shops, and Lewisham is barely better.
OP, given that you liked Hampstead, St John's Wood and Greenwich, I think we should probably stop suggesting places like Hackney, because they almost certainly aren't to your taste. If you can afford these places, you can do a lot better than Bromley or Lewisham.
I'd go take a look at Dulwich, particularly the area around the northern end of Lordship Lane. East Dulwich Station is 15min to London Bridge, and Peckham Rye is 15min to Canada Water. Lots of lovely houses (albeit quite expensive), plenty of great shops, bars, pubs and restaurants. The Rye itself is a lovely green space in the summer, and you have a short walk over to Peckham if you want a raucous night out with other young people (pop-up restaurants, craft beer, nightclubs in multi-storey car parks etc.). It worked as the best of many worlds for me.
On-street parking is the norm (with few permit-controlled areas), but most streets are quiet. It worked really well for me, because it has the feel of being suburban (lots of leafy streets, families, few high-rises), but it's in Z2 and you can be in Bond Street or Old Street in 30min.
The downside is that it's not on the Tube, meaning that you either rely on the Overground (to Peckham Rye) or Ubers to get home at night. But this would also be the case for Greenwich, of course.
Huge amount (thousands, quite literally thousands) of new build apartments (buy or rent) to choose from on Isle of Dogs. But if you decide to keep a car, check parking carefully before you commit. Many new build blocks include a provision that residents cannot apply for a residents parking permit - it was part of the planning deal on many high density developments.
Chaps: I have an additional question. As mentioned above, I currently have a Fiat 124 Spider on PCP I intended to sell before I moved. I thought I would be able to get out with only a small hit but unfortunately the WBAC price has dipped to c11.8k and I owe 13.2k. I move in c 6 weeks. Thoughts on what to do? (a) take the hit (b) take it with me (c) try and sell it privately (d) try and sell it to someone in the trade that isn't WBAC? Not the greatest time to try and shift a 2 seat convertible. If I take it with me it would mean I would be limiting myself to flats that have parking.
DonkeyApple said:
can you leave it where it is and initially move without it? It’s one less thing to worry about when you first arrive and focus on settling in and you’ll be able to make a more honest judgement after a few weeks of life?
It's currently on street parking and my permit technically will no longer be valid when I move. I could move it to somewhere I can park for free, but it would still be sitting on the street. It's also due a service so if I don't shift it by April I will need to get it serviced, and keep it insured and tax. Soooo ... maybe. designforlife said:
Only you know your financial situation well enough to answer that question.
If it was me I would keep it- i would rather keep a car and use that £2k loss to pay for parking/garage/extra cost of flat with parking, than just flush it down the toilet.
I can afford to lose £2k, but I'd rather not. Though, if I take it with me and never drive it, it will cost me more than £2k to keep it until the end of the PCP in 14 months time (London insurance, tax, 2 x service). If it was me I would keep it- i would rather keep a car and use that £2k loss to pay for parking/garage/extra cost of flat with parking, than just flush it down the toilet.
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