Moving

[drquin]

Right I know this could be like asking how long a piece of string is 😂

I'm close (I think & hope!) to being offered a job in London. Assuming the package all lines up I'd accept it, and up sticks and move to London.

Whereabouts would I want to live?

Here's what I know / think :
Commute would be to the area around one of the mainline stations, so pretty much anywhere on the Tube map works for the commute ..... which hasn't narrowed my search down!

I'd be on what I consider decent money, even for London. However have to consider costs of running my existing house, in case I can't get it rented out, when it comes to working out what I can afford in rent in London. Have had a quick look on RightMove, I think I'm going to be looking at a one (maybe 2) bedroom flat. Ideally no more than £1500 pcm, maybe a wee bit more, certainly at least until I settle and know how much I've got to play with.

Otherwise no ties to any area. The few friends & acquaintances I have in London are spread all over. It's just me, no partner or kids.

I'm quite sociable - will make an effort to join clubs / groups / meet-ups but no specific interests.

I want "safe" - as much as anywhere is. "Nice" area but I want to feel like I live "in London" (although the tourist in me will leave the party sharpish 😂)

Any thoughts wise ones? Thanks

[Constantlurker]

I lived in Putney for many years and absolutely loved it. Really close to everything and both an overground and an underground near by. Everything you could need so you didn't have to travel far to go shopping supermarkets etc. Lovely pubs, very safe and a community feel. A bit 'posh' but you should be able to afford something on your budget. Also gorgeous walks along the river (it's where the boat race starts) and near wimbledon/richmond for outside spaces. If you want cool and edgy then this isn't for you, it's more 'yummy mummy' but i always felt safe and i'd often come home on my own on the night bus at 3am etc. We moved out as we left London completely but I miss it a lot. I lived in London for over 15 years and pretty much lived everywhere - north south east and west. Putney was my final resting place haha! London is an incredible city and did wonders for my life and career. Good luck!!

[drquin]

Thank you - Putney is one of my saved searches on RM!

[notheretoargue]

How old are you? Which sector do you work in? If I was in my twenties, I’d rent in East / south east London. If i was in my thirties I would head further west. If I was in my forties I might go more north!

[notheretoargue]

Also, have you commuted in London before? Pitney might be ok if you’re taking a train to Waterloo. But I wouldn’t, for example, want to commute on the northern line from Clapham.

[drquin]

Early 40s.
No, never commuted - so what looks simple on a Tube map, I'm painfully aware may not be so on a daily basis 😀

[LaurieFairyCake]

I would wait to find out exactly where the job is and if it's really Central like Kings Cross I'd get a flat walking distance from work - the area around Kings cross is lovely now and Bloomsbury (ten minutes walk) is also great

If you're at Canary Wharf then Canary Wharf itself or three stops away at Greenwich is fantastic

If Waterloo then as close to the southbank as possible would be great

The only main train station I wouldn't live right next to is Victoria (area directly around it is horrible imo)

[Trailedanderror]

Interchanges between rail and underground are a pita- where will your office be? That'd be where I'd work from. On the doorstep if it's in your budget or on a direct tube or Overground if not.

[drquin]

It'd be Kings Cross ..... an area which I'd never actually considered living. But off to have a look on RightMove, thank you!

[LaurieFairyCake]

It's fab round there, loads of lovely flats and shops and a new swimming pond and a skip garden.

I'd stay south of Kings Cross rather than up the Caledonian Road - it's less nice up there towards Islington imo

Bloomsbury around Russell Square and the Dickens Museum is gorgeous. Loads of bookshops because of the uni students.

It's obviously walking distance to everywhere

[LaurieFairyCake]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-62473282.html

You're not getting a 2 bed for £1500.

I considered buying a flat in this building. Really Central

[makemineatriple]

You're best to go north, east or north east with that budget and a commute into kings x. Where are your family and friends outside London based? Take that into account if you'll be travelling to see them lots as it takes a fair bit of time to cross London and get out the other side!

[drquin]

Thanks Laurie .... found that one this afternoon!

[juneau]

If you're going to be working near KX I wouldn't live in Putney, simply because it's just a long commute and you'd have to change lines and fart about. The area around KX is much nicer than it was, although it's very built up and concrete, which may or may not bother you. But if you want to be out a bit from the centre then I'd go north to Highgate, Hampstead, etc, rather than south, east or west. The tube map makes everything look close together, but it's really not, and when you're living one area and working in another you can end up with some really expensive or PITA trips home in cabs when the tube isn't working, or it's late or whatever. Live as close as you can, while still finding a nice neighbourhood that you like. Islington is also worth looking at.

[Nakedavenger74]

1500 won't get you a two bed in a central area I'm afraid. Look at at least 2000. We paid 2800 in Brixton.

Consider Kennington, 1 stop to Waterloo and on a million bus routes. That will get you everywhere. Islington same, Pimlico maybe.

Until you know where it is is difficult to pick out locations. Remember all areas of London has it's nice and not so nice streets no matter where you are. The same cost pcm can get you a lovely place in a nice part of a 'not so nice' area and vice versa

[Nakedavenger74]

Sorry. Saw you are Kings Cross. Kennington will get you there in 25 minutes. Queens park is very nice. Some bits of Kilburn and West Hampstead.

[LilOnline]

I'd look around Islington, Barnsbury, Angel if working in Kings Cross -- or somewhere walkable to work. Save yourself the hassle of commuting and the expense of tube travel (travelling into zone 1 is pricey). My sanity was restored once I moved within working distance of work.

I also like the area south of kings cross for the same money you'll find a nicer flat in the area north.

[drquin]

Thanks .... particularly interesting about finding somewhere in walking distance. Had already planned on getting rid of (or at very least downsizing) the car .... even more reason.

[Constantlurker]

Ah yes. Now i see you'd be working in Kings X, living in Putney would be nightmare commute! Sadly I'd scratch it off the list if I were you.

[Alonglongway]

Yeah i have ended up in Putney for family reasons. It’s a real bottleneck into Waterloo which doesn’t really help for Kings X. I use the Thames Clippers which are real but again no help for KIngs X

[LilOnline]

Most of the people I now in London without kids don't have a car, except for one guy so sometimes uses it to travel to Yorkshire to visit his parents. He has parking inside his apartment block. Its just way easier to catch public transport. (Uber if you really need to go by car).

Think carefully about what you'd use your car for before deciding if you want to bring one. Having parking spot with your apartment or being somewhere with safe parking nearby would also need to be factored into your apartment search. Good luck!

[drquin]

Quickly realising that about the car ..... had visions of keeping a small car so I could do a decent shop at Tesco etc ..... but no need really 😂

[LilOnline]

Get delivery - Ocado is your friend! I would be very surprised if you didn't pass a supermarket on your way home.

I pick up something every couple of days as I literally have two Tescos on my way home (and Sainsbury, Waitrose, Lidl within a few minutes re-route).

[Davros]

Kings X is not all concrete, there's Camley Street nature reserve just there. There's also a big Waitrose right in the middle and three M&Ss in Kings X and St Pancras stations if you can't find something in walking distance how about Shepherds Bush?