I'm moving to London next month...where should I live? About me...?

Question

I'm a 32-year-old professional, single male. I plan on living in London for six months, then Barcelona for six months. Unfortunately, I've never been to London and need to make a decision on a flat as soon as possible.

Since I'm only in London for six months, I'd prefer to be centrally located. What is the best spot in London? I realize London is very expensive but if price wasn't an issue, where would you live? Also, if price WAS an issue, what location offers the best value? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Great, choice - two fantastic cities. Being based half the year in my home city of London, I can give you a few pointers... if you can’t be bothered to wade through my thoughts, Wiki-pedia has a good primier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_London ) and View London has a sweet area guide (http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/home_feat_local.asp ) .

...use the London tube map as a your first guide to London (we do), specifically the zones used (1-6). Zone one (Z1) is central, zone 2 is central enough, 3-4 is the inner city loop, 5-6 moves to suburbs and beyond.

...will you be working? Assuming yes, and assuming you'll be in Z1, then commute time should be a real factor in where you live. Travel can take a good while with commute times of 2-4 hours a day being the norm. Travel within Z1 & Z2 is the easiest due to the buses, cabs, walking & tubes. 3-4 will be tubes & maybe trains. Z5 & Z6 is definitely train or car.

...location. As London is comprised of villages, it's quite easy to choose a spot. Sticking within Z1-4 - broadly speaking, East is the financial district alongside the bleeding edge of creative London; West is established residential, cultural & political centres, more upmarket; South is more working class with pockets of creative London (my neighbourhood); and North is established residential, parks and more 'street-level' living.

Notting Hill/Westbourne/Ladbroke is West, and a decent neighbourhood triangle with plenty of great bars (The Westbourne or Metropolitan on Kensington Park Road being two of them), a famous market (Portobello) and enough restaurants, shops and transport options to keep you happy. Notting Hill is the most-upmarket area, former chic-cool spot turned, getting edgier (cooler) as you move up to Ladbroke Grove. West of Notting Hill is Holland Park, very chi-chi and pricey; south is Kensington, a top-spot for expats and apartments with neighbours who wear huge sunglasses.

Hoxton/Shoreditch is East, and at the heart of creative London with more art galleries, skinny jeans, retro furniture and cool mini-markets than you can shake a fairy’s wand at. Rents are pretty high considering the street-level aesthetics, but its happening and that costs. Alongside the creative east, you’ll find the Barbican, Moorgate and further out, the Docklands more suited to suits. Central areas worth a look are Covent Garden (busy established shopping/bar zone), Soho (busy café area, theatres and sexually tolerant area), Westminster (establishment, historic London). South of the river, Wimbledon, Wandsworth and Clapham have great outdoor spaces and a village feel to the bars and shops, rents are above average – North has it’s own version in Hampstead, Highgate and Islington. You could also consider St John's Wood, Swiss Cottage and Camden.

Price wise, I’d guess at all areas mentioned having single apartments from £800 pcm to £2000 +.

Hope that helps. Once you have a shortlist, post again!


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Answer 2

Worst: Kentish Town Hackney Anywhere in east London West Kilburn Willesden Peckham Camberwell Brixton New Cross Lewisham Best: Hampstead Hampstead Garden Suburb East Finchley Muswell Hill Putney Barnes Mortlake Richmond Ham Kingston Surbiton Twickenham Teddington Pinner Hatch End St Johns Wood Marylebone Westminster Kensington Fulham

Answer 3

You do not say where you are from, I'll assume the USA and from a city, you also do not say what you will be doing there if you will be working or studying, you must realise that London is VAST, much bigger then New York fo example and living in one of the nicer parts often means a very long commute if you are working/studying.

A good place to live would be Islington which is fairly central and not as expensive as some other areas but full of bars, pubs and restaurants. Do not do what many Americans do which is live in or near Kensington, way too expensive and not the 'real' London at all.

Answer 4

If price isn't an issue and you're a social creature, head for Bayswater, Notting Hill or Westbourne Park - central, close to Hyde Park and great pubs/clubs/shopping. Although, saying that, you can find flats in the area at a good price if you don't mind sharing your space.

If you don't mind heading out a little, go for Richmond/Twickenham/Wimbledon - really nice and leafy, great atmospheres and good links to the city by train. Nice to be by the river also. While you can find an affoardable flat around here, you can also be ripped off. All in all, you generally get more space for your money.

Answer 5

If I hadn't to think about the daily journey I'd move to Camden. Or somewhere in East London as the area round Bricklane and Shoreditch is really cool.

Answer 6

Westminster Bridge Road and right down to Elephant And Castle, central to everything