Any Good Place to live on the NE or SE of London???

Question

We will be moving to London soon and wanted some help about trendy, artsy, fun areas to live. On the NE or SE areas.

Someone is offering us a flat to rent 5 minutes away from Clapham North tube stop. Is it a nice location? are there shops, restaurants, supermarkets, pubs, etc in the area, what kind of people live there? is it safe and how far is it to the center?
Can you recommend other trendy/nice areas on the SE area. My husband will be working in Rochester, Kent so we need help.

Would you recommend:
1) Clapham. The flat is a 5min. walk to Clapham North Tube.

2) SE16 Surrey Quays Tube (there is a great 1bed. Penthouse, top floor overlooking Canary Wharf)

3) North Woolwich (Selection of stylish 1 bedroom apartments located in stunning & original warehouse conversion (WAR1) It is a fantastic flat with exposed brick walls. Is the tube close by, how dead is this area at nights and weekends? is it safe? anything to do in that area? What is DLR? is it the same as the Tube

Answer 1

Clapham won't give your husband an easy journey to Rochester. You don't say if he will be driving or taking the train. Either way it won't be fun for him.
If he is driving living in North Woolwich would mean the Blackwall Tunnel under the Thames every day. This is a notorious back spot with jams at least once a week. Either that or drive to the Dartford Crossing and more jams plus £1 each way toll.
Surrey Quays will be best, 2 short underground journeys to London Bridge for the train or nearly on the A2 if he drives. The immediate area is quiet, but you are not far from Greenwich and you can't get much nicer in that part of London. There is a "grittier" area in between, but you will only pass through it and it is still safe. There is a lot of new building going on just west of Greenwich right on the River.
Do you need to live in London ? Chatham is up and coming and right next to Rochester.
The DLR is an automatic driverless train which covers the old London Docks and east London with a couple of spurs over to south London. Tickets are valid on both DLR and underground

Answer 2

in case you have a bottomless pit for a handbag, you need to attempt residing in Highgate Village - close to beautiful Hampstead Heath, rapid get entry to to the centre of London - transport is stable however the visit and fro to Barking could be homicide. As you would be coaching interior the extra suitable London section, you need to attempt casting your internet a sprint extra & visit and fro in to Barking from Essex, even Kent and you will nevertheless have get entry to to London

Answer 3

My friend lives somewhere in Clapham.. i've never been to his house but he is pretty rich and so i imagine it's a pretty nice place to live.

But of course there are bad places there at as well....

I know nothing else about London so i'll shut up.

Visit all three. See which one FEELS right.....