QuestionableMouse when looking where to live in London, pay no attention to the map or to distances as the crow flies from your place of work. London is actively unfriendly to cars. I think there's a thread on here are the moment about it taking an hour to drive 6 miles. I knew it was in London before opening it.
Instead, look at the tube and/or train lines that an easily get you to your place of work, and then look at places to stay along those lines.
Let's say you have a new job in Liverpool Street, for example. Then good places to live would be along stops along the Central line (red), Hammersmith and City line (pink) and Metropolitan line (burgundy).
(I've not included the circle line (yellow) as all those places are very central and therefore probably too expensive!)
You could also reasonably look at any places along other tube lines that intersect with those lines in a way that would mean you changed once, so that opens up many possibilities.
If you change your mind and want somewhere urban, get a place nearer the centre.
If you want somewhere leafy, choose somewhere on the outside of town. e.g. the stops towards the East of the Central Line go out into Essex, beyond Epping Forest. You could live near a forest and work in the City and earn £££. (Loads of people do).
I imagine the stops to the West of the Metropolitan line are leafy too, but I don't know West London well.
Beware the places in the North of the tube map aren't London at all! e.g. Watford is not London!
Estimate v. approx 2 minutes per tube stop to get an idea of the commute time.
My favourite place to live as a newcomer to London would be Highgate. Far enough out of the centre to be not so manic. Beautiful green spaces nearby e.g. Highgate Wood and Hampstead Heath. Stunning views over the city. Pretty, but still in London proper.