Where are the best areas of London to stay for a year or so?

Question

Hi,

I'm travelling to London (from Australia) in a couple of months and I'll be staying for a year or so. My friend and I will likely rent a flat or something, and I'm just wondering what are the best areas to look? Things we'll look for: Obviously cheapish, not too cramped for room, we'll probably be enjoying the nightlife and hope for a safe journey home, so a nice area, and preferably close to the tube.

Thanks.

Answer 1

To be perfectly honest with you, the best area would be the on where other people you know live...! and that's because it would make your life so much easier in terms of commuting.

I find that everyone has a different experience of London and some of the differences are due to the area they live in but also due to their distance form their friends.

I know a lot of Aussies live in Shepherd's bush, Hammersmith and Ealing areas but I can't stress this enough- find out where people you know live and try get a place close to them!

Trust me! Everyone will tell you the area they live in is best, anyway...

Answer 2

You will find that any flats near to central tube stations will be very expensive (around £1000 a month for a 2 bed). Earls Court is a very popular place for Australians and South Africans so you'd probably find a lively community you'd fit in with there. Other areas to consider are Archway (north london) or Clapham (South London), you're in zone 2 there. Your other option would be to rent in East london near Docklands. Then you'd get a brand new modern flat built in the last 10 years but you'd have to get nightbus or taxi back from central London. Daytime you have the DLR (docklands light railway) which runs like a tube.

Answer 3

www.tntmagazine.co.uk might offer you some help :) I'd recommend South East London, Canada Water/Surrey Quays/Rotherhithe in SE16, it is located close to the River Thames, good transport links to central London, it is also safe. There are lots of parks, canals- big shopping centre with movies, supermarket, restaurants etc. If I were to move back to London, this would be the area where I'd like to stay again.

Answer 4

Try West Dulwich in SE21. It's a nice area and 3 miles from the centre of London.

Answer 5

Bayswater!!

I've lived in bayswater/paddington area for about a year now and I absolutely love it here. There's loads of pubs here and i love the fact that we're located so close to the park (kensington gardens and hyde park) that means i can go jogging or sunbathe in the park anytime :)

also, it takes about 15 minutes to get into central by tube and at night, if we take the night bus its about 20-30 minutes. it's not exactly pricey, but not exactly cheap either. expect to pay about £1500 and over for a 2-3 bed.

Answer 6

Outside of London and you will half the cost of letting.
Why you would want to rent in London when you could be looking at prices of approx AUS$2000 per month I do not know.

Answer 7

i lived in earls court for a time during my stay there...so nice!!! close to the tube, bus stops, 24-hour tesco, shops, restaurants & very near the center, which is convenient...i also lived in archway as well, so that`s a bit farther north...travel to the center of the city by tube or bus obviously took longer, but it was a bit quieter neighborhood...u can check out tnt magazine for all kinds of info on accommodations, etc.

http://www.tntmagazine.com/

check out time out magazine for club listings, etc.

http://www.timeout.com/london/