Help finding commutable places to Waterloo Station London

[helpingDDfindaccomadation]

Apologies for using AIBU, I wasn't sure where to post.

My 21 year old DD has secured a job near Waterloo Station. We have been looking at house/flat shares in the area but they are really expensive.

We are not from London. So have very little experience about what areas maybe more affordable, within commuting distance. I am guessing a direct tube/train maybe easier.

Any guidance is really appreciated. We plan to visit and explore areas over next few weeks, but not really sure where to start.

Thank you.

Clapham junction or Clapham high Street sounds ideal if within budget. I used to live in Clapham junction and commute to Waterloo. The northern line tube is horrifically hot in the summer whilst the train is air-conditioned. Tube runs all night and gets you to central London more easily than the train (where you need to change to the tube or walk). Lots of young professionals in that area so big social scene.

You can be over 10 miles away and have a shorter commute than living 5 miles away. She’s young, she wants to be somewhere a bit more fun with people her age. What does she like doing? East is fun and can still be cheap, SE is the cheapest (but I’ve never really liked south of the river!).

I’ve lived around Shoreditch for years and although not as cheap as it was, there are still affordable areas - easy to get to Waterloo on the Waterloo and City. Homerton/Hackney Wick and parts of Stratford are more affordable and lots of bars along the canal and open spaces. There is also a lot going on in Tottenham with music venues, breweries and super quick transport, but it’s getting more expensive now.

This is the best advice on the thread.

@helpingDDfindaccomadation At 21yrs old, I'd really advise her to look for somewhere near a tube rather than out where its more family oriented. Especially if she is planning on going out on a weekend etc. So much easier to get home by either night tube or uber. Tooting would be a great suggestion for her. Are you using spareroom.co.uk to search? I'd also add Stockwell and Oval to the search list depending on prices.

Don’t forget to look at bus routes too. They are much cheaper if you are watching the pennies.

The 172?? I think goes from Waterloo along the A2 (aka the Old Kent Rd) to New Cross Gate, then down towards Brockley. I would look along that route.
Reasonably affordable, direct bus to work, but easy access to the Overground trains when you need them - for visiting friends in north London maybe.

Vauxhall! I forgot to say Vauxhall
agree re Stockwell and Oval (& Kennington)

Agree buses
24hr bus route to where she lives would be ideal, if not walkable

Tell her to look on Spareroom to find a house. The majority of bigger house shares (3-4 beds) will be around that budget except in central London. Clapham, Peckham, Balham, Wandsworth all very popular

On the South Western Railway (SWR) line from Waterloo out to south west London (and on out into Surrey and Hampshire), there are fast, semi-fast and stopping trains. The first stop out on the fast or semi fast is usually Clapham Junction, then Wimbledon, then Surbiton.

Clapham Junction and Wimbledon are not only closer to central London but both are also on tube lines as well as the overground SWR. This is a great advantage.

Surbiton is outer suburban Greater London, in Zone 6 and is not on the tube but is cheaper in property prices than Wimbledon (which is 7 mins closer to Waterloo on the fast / semi fast.)

The 'stopping' trains stop at Clapham Junction, Wimbledon and Surbiton plus several intermediate stations such as Hampton Court, Berrylands, Raynes Park, New Malden, Vauxhall, and take much longer. A couple of those have tube links. I am not keen on some of the intermediate stations as they can be very quiet and feel isolated outside of rush hours and the trains are less frequent. I don't feel safe waiting around a station with few people or services. For that reason I would go for a busy location where there are always taxis, buses, people and general bustle around the station even late at night, such as the three fast and semi fast mentioned.

@Abitofalark thank you this information is really helpful. Clapham is definitely looking a possibility. Plenty of house shared with similar ages young people.

@Abitofalark it is important she feels safe. She will be working shifts. So will be at the station out of peak times some mornings.

Look at the Southeastern train line that runs into Waterloo East, somewhere in south east London should be better value for money than somewhere in the Tube line. Eg Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham area.

Glad that's useful. A couple of times I found myself waiting at stations like Hampton Court, Esher, New Malden which felt deserted and were not staffed, with few if any people on the platform and I was very uneasy.

New Malden isn't a deserted station. It's popular and pretty busy.

It's worth looking within zone 4 for flat shares. New Malden and Worcester Park are worth a look.

I would think she’d feel very safe living around Clapham- tube stations are North, South & Clapham Common. Clapham Junction is actually more Battersea. Tooting would be cheaper & is a very lively, diverse area. I used to work around there & it seemed safe. Earlsfield is really nice but a bit quieter & perhaps more family orientated?

Also just to say that I’ve no idea if your DD’s budget would stretch to Clapham these days. It’s always been a pretty desirable area. Other posters will know better. Crystal Palace is also really nice & so are Brockley/ Forest Hill. The latter two again may be more family orientated.

Anything on the south part of the northern line is an easy commute and popular places for young people to live. Kennington to Morden. Elephant is an easy bus ride or walk

Don't necessarily rule out SW London in favour of SE as some are suggesting - there are affordable places down the southern end of the Northern Line, e.g. Colliers Wood. Good amenities, green space, walking distance to Tooting where there's lots going on for young people and you have the advantage of being on the tube. Also can bus it to nearby places with a train line if there happen to be problems on the tube (e.g. Wimbledon or Balham). £1000 pcm seems a healthy enough budget. Enjoy exploring!

@Percivaleverett she can go a bit higher and I'm prepared to help for the first year if needed. It's a balance, I want her to feel safe and comfortable in her surroundings.

Please bear in mind the northern line in the morning from Clapham/Balham/Tooting can get soooooo packed as you have 3/4/5 people from each houseshare getting the tube. I lived in Balham 7 years ago and had assumed it had gotten quieter after Covid, but talking to colleagues it’s still really bad on some days and awful in the summer. Wouldn’t discount because of it but prepare your daughter. I get the jubilee line now and places like West Hamstead and Finchley would be an easy commute to Waterloo and generally the jubilee line is fast and pleasant.

Elephant is around 2.9-3k pcm for 3 bed- ex LA. Even more for mansion flat / conversion. Same with Oval. Kennington maybe slightly more- depending on place. But you would save on overland train fares. Could bus (1.75 per journey) or cycle pretty much everywhere.

I agree on tube comment. Northern Line is rammed at peak hours. Tonnes of buses to from Waterloo. Check out citymapper for journey- also shows prices.

DS near Tooting in a flat share £3800 pm between 4 of them. They all commute into various parts of central london and, although (through experience) they pick their tube times carefully, it's usually pretty easy.

@Mintearo7 she is likely to be catching the tube around 7am. Would that be a bit quieter?

Definitely Clapham.
She will get an ok house share for that budget.
Mn loves doom mongering about London prices...clearly from people who don't live here.
So many of my young DD friends live in Clapham..they all head there for nights out etc.
When you're young location often matters more than how nice or green and leafy the area is.
Elephant and castle is another area she could easily find flatshare in.
But at 1k per month she could look bermondsy, borough, or north on the northern line.
Basically look for a tube line or a bus route and follow it out...
If she wants quieter area she could look east on jubilee line to canary wharf , Canada water etc

Should be fine at 7am and the closer to the end of the line (i.e. Morden) the easier it would be!

• District line from Embankment (just across the river - 5 minutes walk) towards Wimbledon: Earls Court Fulham Putney Southfields Wimbledon