Has anyone lived in Zone 1 of London? Experiences?

[PrincessOlga]

When I lived in London, I rented in Zone 3. I had a former flatmate who moved out and rented a very nice flat in Zone 1 (Bond Street was the nearest tube station). She shared with another girl who was away a lot, so it was like having the whole place to herself, although even then the rent was incredibly steep. She said it was worth it just to be in the centre all the time.

I like walking myself in some of the more residential parts of London (like Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Bloomsbury). But I often wandered what it would be like to live there? So many of the flats seem empty, having been bought for investment purposes by overseas "firms". So you could move in and then not know what you would be getting when your neighbour does put in an appearance (not really something I would like). On the other hand, it might be quiet and the streets always seem clean and well-maintained.

I would love to hear from people who have actually lived, owned or rented in the centre (i.e. Zone 1) of London. Not the more "normal" places like Islington or Chiswick, which could pass for places outside London, but the very expensive parts. Is it worth it overall? Was it better or worse than you expected?

Yes, I’ve rented in zone 1.

It was a bit quiet on the weekend but never felt unsafe or empty. It was fantastic to be so central. We used to play a game of ‘count the super cars’ on our walk to work.

I lived in Kensington many many moons ago. Just off High St Ken. A basement flat. With my boyfriend of the time (now DH). It was amazing to be central, I remember on the days of the tube strikes we used to walk to work! Worked in Westminster. Those were happy days.

I lived next to Spitalfields market and walked to the office in the city. That was fun, but not affluent at the time as there were prostitutes outside the warehouses which are now chichi furniture stores!

Yeah, grew up there. It's quite quiet during the weekend where I am. But it's kind of village like as everything is close. I feel isolated if I'm not within 5 mins of an open shop or train station, lol.

My friend lives next to Borough market. Visiting at weekends is hell!

I lived close to where your zone 1 friend lived, but a bit further north - just off Portland Place. This was 25 years ago, and I rented a flat from a friend of my dad, hence being able to afford it on my own, even if only just. I loved it - being able to walk to work in Bond Street, being able to walk to such amazing galleries, museums, buildings, theatres, having it all on the doorstep, all the things I loved. It was great at the weekend, when the commuting workers weren’t rushing around, and some areas had a really villagey feel, like Marylebone Lane. I used to walk home on my own really late at night, and never felt unsafe because there were always people around. Loads of embassies with police outside all night, that sort of thing, and just generally people moving about - it really is a 24 hour city.

I rented in zone 1. I'm pleased that I did it but it was incredibly busy.

My closest (large) supermarket was Waitrose (John Lewis Oxford st). Going out for dinner and regular stuff could get difficult as there were always so many people around. The streets were never completely empty, even on Xmas day.

That said, I did have a wonderful time. I met numerous celebrities due to the amount of filming that took place in the area. Getting home from a night out was so easy and many friends visited me as I was so central.

I used to live next to borough market.

25 yeas ago it was a simple, basic market and I’d bob over on a Saturday morning to get my fruit and veg, meat etc for the week. It was only really in the indoor covered section. No one there, used to potter for an hour and go home.

went back recently and OMG it’s mental now. Huge, crowded, so different. And so expensive!!

I lived for a couple of years on Wells St just off Oxford Street, and loved it. Not that Oxford Street itself was any great boon, but I was two steps from Soho, and there was a nice little sense of community, lots of older people who'd lived there forever. A friend of mine also lived by Middle Temple -- that was absolutely deserted at weekends, and absolutely lovely. I love the City at weekends.

I did for 15 years. Loved it but hard to find a community- fine when dc were tiny but once they went to school it became very fragmented, as 12 families, 12 schools.
I did notice when we moved to leafy zone 3 life felt much less stressed. Poor grandparents felt neglected as we’d descend on them regularly before for some green. I’ve now gone completely rural, 40 minutes to the nearest shop but would always want a London bolthole.

It’s great. Particularly Sunday morning in Bloomsbury when there are no suburban commuters and before tourists wake up. It’s quiet and you see the beauty of London. And everything is only 5 minutes’ walk.

I used to live in Victoria, which is surprisingly residential, and pretty quiet if you’re a few streets back from Victoria Street. Could nip out to a concert at St John’s, Smith Square on a whim and be in bed by 10pm. Absolutely loved it, and planning to return when I win the lottery retire!

I lived on Berwick St, Soho and loved it!

I lived in Victoria/Pimlico for 4 years. I was incredibly lonely though there was lots on for me to fill my time.

Yes, still have a place in Islington just off Pentonville road.
But based on the OP looking for views on ‘Zone 1 but not places like Islington’ I’m not sure how to add to the convo 😂

I did the first year I lived in London. I could walk to and from work easily and it did help me make friends a bit. It did become a bit difficult to switch off after a while though.

After that I moved to just inside zone 2, which for me had a good balance. Could walk home from work, more greenery, still easier to get around, more relaxed feel and weekends felt more my own.

I used to live in the City of London. It was great. The only thing I didn't like about it was the lack of a decent park around there, or any other green space. It was like a ghost town at the weekends - which was faintly creepy, but also quite nice. The really fantastic thing about living in the City was being able to walk to so many central places. It wasn't my choice to leave, and if I could I would go back there without a second's hesitation - in fact, two nights ago I had a long dream about wandering around the Barbican, which made me very sad.

I think that this would be my perfect location!

I lived for a few years (early 20s) near Russell Square. Adored being there and still miss it 20 years later. I know logically where we are is better for DSs (green space, nicer large house, big garden) and DH isn’t a town dweller. But I’d love to win the lottery and have a central flat.

It depends on your age.
I know several 20 somethings who live in Pimlico and absolutely love being able to walk to all the cool bits of London.

I lived just off High Street Kensington in the mid 90s. I worked in Knightsbridge early on and eventually got a job just behind Barker's so a five minute walk from home.
It was great! Hoping to do something similar when DH is preparing to retire, but this time I'd want to own and not share a three bed flat with six other people.

Lived near Liverpool Street for a while.

Plus sides:

Very short (walking) commute to work
Range of cuisines on doorstep
Great for a short journey home after a night out
A short bus/tube ride to anywhere in London
Weekends filled with museums, art galleries, shows, restaurants etc

Down sides:

Expensive
Noisy all night
Often a homeless person asleep or pissing in the doorway when you got home
Couldn't park anywhere close, so moving in and out or getting anything large/a big shop home was tricky
No outside space
Small flat for a big price

Yes I am in Pimlico, there are really no empty flats here. My neighbours are a mix of everyone - young families, retired, singletons, couples, My downstairs neighbour is an MP but is here half the week.

It's quiet at night, and walkable to pretty much everywhere you might want to enjoy in London, including Sloane Square, the river and Battersea Power Station, St James Park, Knightsbridge etc.

Lots of local useful 'trade' shops eg electrical, carpet, hardware plus big supermarkets, library, school.

I mean I'm not sure what you are asking really? It's just a v well serviced neighbourhood.

The only thing I would say that lets it down is the dog poo on the streets. Sooo bad atm. And no excuse coz we have massive bins on every corner which are emptied several times a day. I would vote for anyone who pledged to enforce massive fines for the non-picker upper culprits.

My late nan lived nr Borough station. Years ago it was a quiet, really dingy station. Even during the day, if I visited her the northern line was quiet off peak. If I drove you could just park on the road outside her estate in the evenings/weekends. There were loads of pubs nearby, proper south London boozers. The Elephant & Castle shopping centre was a right depressing place - even in the 80s it looked like a time warp.

It was quite suffocating in some ways. The air always seemed stuffy and it would be hard to sleep. Constant wail of police sirens (totally unnecessary at 5am but the Met flex their muscles in strange ways sometimes), and planes dropping their landing gear on approach to Heathrow.

Good thing was that I could walk to the City in 25 mins - zero commuting costs. And Tate Modern 10 mins away.

I lived in Spitalfields and loved it. I walked so much. Definitely worth it - really vibrant and exciting and cool.