If you live in London

[NeverEndingSnorey]

How do you feel about areas being called “zone” plus a number when used out of TfL context? Is this easier to understand where people are referring to? Is there any sense of identity loss for areas thar sit in the zones but whose names are used less? Or are they used less?What benefit, or otherwise, is there to having “zones” other than navigating TfL?

You understand that the zones are rings, right? People in Zone 6, for example, could be as far north as Enfield or as far south as Croydon.

Nobody is going to say they live in a particular zone when you ask them where they live. With the exception of Zone 1, which is just the very centre of London, zones are fairly useless as geographical indicators.

If people say they live in a particular zone, it’s just to give you an easily understandable indication of how far out from the centre they live. It’s not a substitute for place names or borough identities…

Yes, totally understand it. However I have heard quite a few people say they live in, for example, “zone 3” instead of a borough.

I have read people talking about zones here, where being more precises would be useful. Eg, “i live in zone 4, any decent window companies”? How is the zone helpful in that context, as opposed to “I live in north London” or even just London.

It's highly unusual for people to say that as it's unhelpful.

You could say "I live in E London, zone 2" Because E London is a large area, it narrows down where in E London you live.

I’ve never seen people just state their zone when asking for recommendations. They usually say something like ‘SW London Zone 4’ or ‘E London Zone 6’, when they want to give a general idea of the location without naming their specific borough.

Absolutely, that’s why I was curious. I’ve come across it more and more at work, people talking about zones with no TfL or distance to the centre link context.

Do they need for the zone at all in that context? I don’t think it adds anything, and that’s why I wondered if I am missing something.

They're talking gibberish. A Zone is a circle around London and being in a Zone means you could be anywhere in that circle: N,S,E,W.

There’s a big difference between East London Zone 2/3 areas like Newham, Stratford, Mile End etc and East London Zone 6, which is basically Essex. So yes, it adds helpful detail without having to give away the specific borough an OP lives in, if they want to keep it vague.

It's just an indicator of how far from Central London a place is, and how much TfL will take from your Oyster card (best to be prepared). Some people can be snobby about living too far out though some of the poshest areas are in the outer zones.

Edited for typos.

I haven’t encountered this in real life but I’ve seen it on MN and presume it’s for privacy; it’s normally on threads for house pricing.

When I looked for somewhere to live in London, it was helpful to know the zones. I didn’t want to go further out than zone 2 for practical reasons, one of them being that my job was in zone 2 East London, and I needed the bus to get in every day.

The only time I think about the zones is for the cost of travel. I don't think I've ever described myself as living in zone 6

If people say they live in a particular zone, it’s just to give you an easily understandable indication of how far out from the centre they live. It’s not a substitute for place names or borough identities…

This

When I lived in London it was all about the post code ( 👋 SE22). Despite leaving London over 20 years ago, I still know my postcodes and do chuckle to myself when a London estate agent claim a property is in one area but the postcode says otherwise.

Yes. Nothing says London estate agent more than “East Dulwich borders”.

Old school Londoners would never describe where they live as a zone. It’s for complaining about the cost of tube fares only ime.
people might tend to mention they live in zone 1 or maybe 2 for mainly bragging purposes but you would never brag about living in zone 5 but you might if you lived in zone 6 which is often v nice indeed 😁

I think zones can be a useful description as a way to narrow down the area you mean. If you say "I live in north London zone 2" then anyone can picture that area on a mental map of London, whereas most people are less familiar with the names and locations of all the boroughs.

Meh. Lived in London for over 20 years and only ever referred to zones in terms of commute / travel. Never for anything else as it’s otherwise meaningless.

Seems fairly meaningless. Croydon covers zone 4, 5 and 6, after all.

Born and bred Londoner. I've never used zones to describe where I've lived. Probably because they didn't exist when I was growing up. London was just London!

My borough spreads from zone 1 to zone 3, possibly even 4 - long and thin.

I’ve never heard people use the zones in the way you’re describing - they just say where they live. I only hear it if it’s a general conversation online and to give a sense of if they’re inner London or in the suburbs.

In real life I refer to the borough or area or the borough I live in. Sometimes online I say Zone 3 for privacy as it gives an indication of the sort of area I live in (ie inner suburban) without saying where I actually live.

I only ever really hear it referred to when people are saying whether they live in innner / outer London.

Zone 1/2 generally the expensive inner areas.

3/4 the easily commutable by tube suburbs

5/6 considered much further out.

It’s relevant in the sense of conveying how far out of the centre you live - ie to give a general impression of commuting time and expense. But not as an indication of an area.

I only hear zones referred to in context of the tube. Or maybe in relation to desirability of different areas when people are talking about where to buy/rent.

As a Londoner I’ve only heard zones talked about if referring to cost of travel or house prices.

I can’t imagine anyone identifying with being in a zone before their Borough.

Maybe those living in zone one ‘boast’ about their zone oneness? As in ‘it’s expensive there, look how well I’m doing.’

But you’d never say, ‘can someone recommend me a plumber, I’m in zone 3’ because zone 3 is massive.