London MNers advice please

[Queenofthesilverdollar]

I may have to work in pt London for 3 years and will come into Paddington - where best to rent a flat

I agree, look for a place in Stratford close to work. There's a lot going on there now since the Olympics redevelopment, Westfield shopping centre, restaurants, bars, social activities, good transport links, lots of new flat developments. You will easily find somewhere there with your budget. I used to live very close and was very happy with the area as a place to live.
Alternatively, if you have that budget available per month but you're only in Stratford part time each week, you could stay in a hotel every week. There are plenty of hotels in Stratford too! A few weekday nights in a hotel would be much cheaper than renting.

It's an easy switch from bakerloo (from Paddington) to jubilee at baker Street. I'd look somewhere between Greenwich proper and north Greenwich tube station. A quick commute from Stratford and lots going on

To add, my suggestion of staying in Stratford close to your work is so that you can avoid commenting on public transport every day, no one enjoys the tube in rush hour! If you're staying local to work you can walk there and back, but have easy access to transport for your spare time.

Canary Wharf, royal docks, city island.
Loads of nice flats available in your budget with easy access to Stratford on jubilee or dlr.
Or as others have said Stratford itself near to your job.

Would agree with looking at the East Village on this, particularly if you’ll be working in one of the new office blocks by Westfield.

I'd choose Hackney over Stratford. There's the overground to Stratford.

Little Venice or Maida Vale. You can walk to either via the beautiful canal (lots of eateries along there). It’s very easy to change from Bakerloo line at Warwick Ave/MV to Jubilee at Baker St (you just cross the platform).

You could also consider the area around Paddington - central, close to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, Westbourne Grove and Notting Hill. Central line to Stratford. You'd get something in budget eg
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/113655071

If you are only going to work and coming home to collapse on the sofa in the evening, East Village is a good bet. Personally, I would rather a 30 minute commute to be able to live somewhere with more going on.

If you want to be out in the evenings, socialising, shopping, going to late nights at museums, galleries, the theatre, concerts, comedy etc, signing up for classes, using the flat for weekend breaks etc I would choose somewhere more central with an easy commute. The central section of crossrail from Paddington to Liverpool St is due to open soon.The commute from Paddington to Stratford now is only about 30 mins anyway.

The Hyde Park Estate by Marble Arch tube is 5-10 mins from Paddington, plenty of flats on garden squares or in large communal gardens there. Paddington Basin is a modern development on the canal at the back of the station with restaurants and cafes. Both are good for the park, Oxford St, Soho, walking distance to the museums etc, lots of non-touristy cafes and restaurants etc. Lancaster Gate and Notting Hill would be an ok commute too. You would be right in the centre of town but in the quieter residential areas.

Fitzrovia or Soho by Tottenham Court Road are other central possibilities but much more hectic.

London Bridge is a great area too for Borough Market, the river, the Tate, the Southbank Centre etc

Highbury and Islington/Canonbury are on the Overground route to Stratford. Not so handy for Paddington though nor so central but lots going on still.

If you are more of an East End girl, Hackney, Hoxton, Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Colombia Road have more going on and more character than Stratford.

If you are travelling on GWR routes to Paddington, check out the Pullman dining services, although there is only a limited service at the moment. All the regular commuters head for the dining car! Good food and conversation with your fellow diners makes the journey far less tiresome.

I must be thick but I still don't understand. What is the relevance of Paddington?

@Chicchicchicchiclana

I must be thick but I still don't understand. What is the relevance of Paddington?

OP's country/weekend home is accessed via a mainline train which comes into Paddington. She will be arriving at Paddington on a Monday morning and will need to get back to Paddington to get the train home - home on Thurs/Fri evening.

I agree that you want to stay somewhere near your workplace, subject to the caveat of finding somewhere sufficiently safe, affordable and with the desired amenities as you will be making this journey more often than the twice weekly main home outside London to Paddington.

Ie, when I worked in south London, I stayed in a hotel that was walking distance from the office, even though I was travelling from my home in northern England to Kings Cross. I had to cross London twice a week, but while I was working there during the week, I was a short walk from work, and also had shops, restaurants, parks etc all locally, so didn't need to travel or commute anywhere while I was there.