relocating to London - where is good, where to avoid?
Discussion
I'm coming to the end of a 2 year adventure working in New York and will be relocating back to the UK in 4-5 weeks time. My job will be based in London (in the city) and I will be looking for a flat in London. However, I have never worked or lived in London before and have no idea which areas are good and which ones to avoid.
Obviously budget is key and I dont want to be paying more than 1000 a month for a 1 bedroom.
Are there any locations that people would suggest?
Is my budget realistic?
Where do I need to avoid at all costs?
Any PH Property Baron's have places available?
I'm hoping that the PH collective can steer me in the right direction.
Rich
Obviously budget is key and I dont want to be paying more than 1000 a month for a 1 bedroom.
Are there any locations that people would suggest?
Is my budget realistic?
Where do I need to avoid at all costs?
Any PH Property Baron's have places available?
I'm hoping that the PH collective can steer me in the right direction.
Rich
I live in the area between Wapping and Tower Hill (near St Katherine's Docks). I've lived in 5 other places around London, and I'm very fond of this area (I was VERY sceptical but a friend had a place spare).
You will be able to find something around here for that, and you will be able to walk to work (20 mins).
I lived in Clapham for 2 years and I would avoid it. The transport links can be a real pain when the Northern Line is down and many friends have been mugged or burgled there.
You will be able to find something around here for that, and you will be able to walk to work (20 mins).
I lived in Clapham for 2 years and I would avoid it. The transport links can be a real pain when the Northern Line is down and many friends have been mugged or burgled there.
I'm 31 so I'm not going to be into all that trendy crap. I'm really looking for the convenience of living in the city and an area that is ok to walk home to, will have local pubs that I can walk into on my own for a quick pint without having to get dressed up or worrying about avoiding certain places, etc...
I grew up in Tunbridge Wells, but moved to Birmingham when I was 18 so never did the London thing. Going back to Tonbridge/Sevenoaks/T Wells would be easy, but by the time you add on the season ticket cost, you may as well be closer to work.
I grew up in Tunbridge Wells, but moved to Birmingham when I was 18 so never did the London thing. Going back to Tonbridge/Sevenoaks/T Wells would be easy, but by the time you add on the season ticket cost, you may as well be closer to work.
Depends on what you want.
I live in Dalston in a very nice 1 bed flat (arguably worth 250k - one is on the market for 280k in my block at the mo).
I pay 240/week, council tax 120 pcm and bills about 90 quid pcm.
About 15 mins on the bus into Liv Street/Old Street. I wouldn't want to go much further up the Kingsland Rd though so unless you are quick on your toes I would avoid Stamford Hill/Stoke N etc...
Why would I buy at the moment when I can rent it for less than the mortgage interest?
I live in Dalston in a very nice 1 bed flat (arguably worth 250k - one is on the market for 280k in my block at the mo).
I pay 240/week, council tax 120 pcm and bills about 90 quid pcm.
About 15 mins on the bus into Liv Street/Old Street. I wouldn't want to go much further up the Kingsland Rd though so unless you are quick on your toes I would avoid Stamford Hill/Stoke N etc...
Why would I buy at the moment when I can rent it for less than the mortgage interest?
I'm with spooner on the Wapping suggestion - Work in the City and live behind St.Katherine Dock in Wapping - 1k should see you OK for a nice 1 bedroom - Pleasant walk to work in the morning, a few decent local pubs, supermarket etc and a tenner / fifteen quid in a cab to the centre of town - job done.
Well let me be the first to say "I know somewhere you can rent" 
One bed, 10 min walk to Victoria Line tube, on a bus route, you can see Canary Wharf from the balcony, off street car parking, plenty of green space around too, and it'd be a lot less than 1k a month.
OK, it's in Brixton, but you've been in NY for 2 years, you like guns right? And you needn't worry about walking home because, er, you won't be. I'm joking, it really isn't that bad.
It's the bird's flat, her tenants are moving out at beginning of April. Sod it, you can maybe use it as a cheap crashpad if you need time to find somewhere - and having spent years living in that there Lundun, I'd recommend taking time to check places out.
One bed, 10 min walk to Victoria Line tube, on a bus route, you can see Canary Wharf from the balcony, off street car parking, plenty of green space around too, and it'd be a lot less than 1k a month.
OK, it's in Brixton, but you've been in NY for 2 years, you like guns right? And you needn't worry about walking home because, er, you won't be. I'm joking, it really isn't that bad.
It's the bird's flat, her tenants are moving out at beginning of April. Sod it, you can maybe use it as a cheap crashpad if you need time to find somewhere - and having spent years living in that there Lundun, I'd recommend taking time to check places out.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Don't know what Clapham is like now, but I lived there once - Aristotle Road just near to Clapham North tube station..... it was horrible and felt very unsafe, and definately not somewhere I was happy to be out after dark - and this from a large bloke who at the time looked like someone "you did not want to mess with"It was probably the longest ten months of my life.
Having just re-read what I've typed, I've realised that "once lived there" is actually twenty years ago.... and the area has probably improved a bit since then!
Meeja said:
Don't know what Clapham is like now, but I lived there once - Aristotle Road just near to Clapham North tube station..... it was horrible and felt very unsafe, and definately not somewhere I was happy to be out after dark - and this from a large bloke who at the time looked like someone "you did not want to mess with"
It was probably the longest ten months of my life.
Having just re-read what I've typed, I've realised that "once lived there" is actually twenty years ago.... and the area has probably improved a bit since then!
I think it's "yuppied up" since then. That road is a bit of a rat run now, but not too bad. The high street has it's fair share of "fancy olives in different kinds of oil" type places.It was probably the longest ten months of my life.
Having just re-read what I've typed, I've realised that "once lived there" is actually twenty years ago.... and the area has probably improved a bit since then!
davidspooner said:
I lived in Clapham for 2 years and I would avoid it. The transport links can be a real pain when the Northern Line is down and many friends have been mugged or burgled there.
Which bit of Clapham? Most of my friends rave about Clapham Common/South/Balham. Certainly i haven't had any problems when walking around town in the late hours. Mind you i tend to avoid the party-goers on the High Street side.edited because i didn't realised that Dupont lives there
Edited by fido on Thursday 11th March 17:35
I lived in Wapping when I was a young upstart, working in the City. It's quite cheap (relatively, although it clearly depends on the block etc) and you've got the river pubs/restaurants. It was perfect for me.
Other places for that money: Spitalfields, Shoreditch, Tower Hill, Aldgate - all within reasonable distance.
Other places for that money: Spitalfields, Shoreditch, Tower Hill, Aldgate - all within reasonable distance.
Thanks for all the posts and advice.
I've got an option to crash with a friend in Tonbridge for a while when I first arrive so I have a little time to explore areas.
I think I'll look at Blackheath/Greenwich area in the SE, Wimbledon/Putney/Balham in SW and for the North; Islington, Wapping/St Marys Dock area.
I've got an option to crash with a friend in Tonbridge for a while when I first arrive so I have a little time to explore areas.
I think I'll look at Blackheath/Greenwich area in the SE, Wimbledon/Putney/Balham in SW and for the North; Islington, Wapping/St Marys Dock area.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff