What’s it like to live in central central London?

[bridgetreilly]

I am probably moving to central London for work in a couple of months. Accommodation is provided within easy walking distance of work, which itself is just a few hundred yards from Oxford Circus. So it really is really central!

I wondered if anyone has any experience of living somewhere like that. How do you manage normal daily life? What are the advantages and disadvantages you might not realise until you actually try it?

AIBU to even consider it?!

We used to do the Secret London book walks when we lived in London! And the Village London walks from another book in the same series.

I live further out (zone 2) but I think you'll be fine. There are some lovely quiet pockets, and everything (including GPs etc - lots more people live in central London than people imagine) will be on your doorstep.

I lived off Tottenham Court Road for 3 years, was great. The easy access to any part of London I loved, so much to explore. I would do it again if I had the opportunity.

Agree with everyone saying positive things. My DH (then BF!) and I lived just north of Great Portland Street tube for five years in our twenties. Neither of us loaded - in fact we were poor, had just started grad jobs & miraculously got the flat through a local worker scheme. We both walked to work; my walk was three miles into the City every day and I loved seeing London wake up, as well as how quickly the shops and restaurants changed! Loved going out in Soho and walking home. I mean what's not to love?

Our flat was very quiet as we were high up and it was a new building - don't know if you'll have any choice over the flat you get but that's definitely worth thinking about if you do.

Otherwise I recommend running in Regent's Park - lots of people do the outer circle loop as it's a nice 5k. Walking up Primrose Hill (and generally Primrose Hill, what a gorgeous place!). Sunday farmer's market just off Marylebone High St, as others have said. Taking advantage of being near Eurostar and airports for easy weekends away. So many gorgeous hidden gems in Fitzrovia - we used to love a Greek restaurant on Great Titchfield Street, don't know if it's still there, and lots of gorgeous restaurants on Great Portland Street too. All the museums and theatres of course, and the bliss of walking home from all of them. Agree with PPs, I was super fit, did many thousands of steps every day as just walked everywhere.

Would also echo that there is a real community, we are still friends with our neighbours from that time.

You'll love it OP! We had the best time and I miss it! Would do it again in a heartbeat!

There's also still some really cheap pockets. If you go to markets like East St in Elephant and Castle or the one in Dalston Junction, you can get fruit and veg incredibly cheaply along with other goods. I leveled up my sewing skills working with African cotton off the market for £5 5 yards.

Someone else mentioned NYE. The best NYE I ever had was when my husband (then boyfriend) was living just off Central St in a block of flats. We went up to the roof at about 23:30 and little by little neighbours joined with booze and cheer. At midnight the place went wild with fireworks, it was unreal.

Will say we paid for a terrible NYE at one of the restaurants along the Thames though. It was just the two of us at our own table, surrounded by bigger groups, and really had the feeling of being at a wedding where you didn't know anyone! Couldn't see the main fireworks because of the curve of the river.

There’s an IKEA now at Oxford Circus where Top Shop used to be.

My cousin lives in King’s Cross and I’m so jealous. It would be amazing to live in central London.

The Secret London book sounds brilliant.

Sadly, I am neither young nor full of energy, but I hope I can still enjoy it!

The job is definitely legit, but not everything is confirmed yet.

Wow! That’s amazing. I will be fine for tealights, at least.

I shop at John Lewis food hall, M & S food, Lidl and Borough Market. Cheaper markets further out, a short bus ride. No problems getting a GP or NHS dentist. Short wait at Urgent Care at Guy’s or Bart’s, who will fast track you to A & E if they can’t help. Theatres, cinemas, parks, museums, what’s not to love?

As @TokyoTantrumhas said, East Street market on a Sunday is a short bus ride from Oxford Circus, for super cheap fruit and veg. Also good fish.

Sounds like an amazing opportunity OP!

Wow if your accommodation is provided then you are sorted, although are you paying rent? Presumably some cost for it involved and if not, you are very lucky plus can walk to work

If it were me and I was single/no dependents, I’d never be at home and would be out & about visiting all the free museums & art galleries, going for walks all over & runs in the all the parks

ahhh I live in zone 5 and life is nothing like that here 😁

I lived centrally many years ago and really loved it (too expensive though, which is the only reason I moved). I lived in a square, so there was no noise from traffic; I never had to pay for public transport, as I could walk everywhere; central London parks are lovely (and massive), so you're always near plenty of green space, as well as the river; there are clearly a large variety of restaurants/cafes/shops; it's easy to get to a variety of museums and galleries...I can't actually think of any downsides, other than the cost.

I live centrally and have done for many years and you’re avoiding the biggest problem of central living by your accommodation being provided. The problem is the extortionate cost of tradespeople as they charge huge amounts for visiting anywhere in central London (and often don’t want to come at all). But that won’t be your problem so all good. 😀

The only other real issue is if you drive and the time it takes getting in and out of central London. Even at 4am on a Sunday, between the 20mph limit and the huge number of traffic lights, it can take ages. Add frequent roadworks / road closures (for example, for London Marathon and the Pru Bike Ride) and congested traffic and it can be hell on earth. People will inevitably say that you don’t need to drive in central London but they forget that those of us who live centrally do occasionally leave London and go to visit family, friends etc where you need a car because they live in the back of beyond with no public transport and/or you’re transporting something too big/heavy to take on public transport.

Apart from that, it’s pretty damn fabulous. You get used to the dirt and the noise. The tourists can be annoying as they are oblivious to the fact that people do actually live centrally and don’t have all the time in the world to dither along the pavement taking selfies when you’re trying to get to your dentist and back before your next work call.

I may not be a good example though as I loathe suburban living. Give me central or remote but none of this suburbia stuff. That is truly my version of hell.

Oh my gosh you get to live between Marylebone Village and Soho. What an amazing place to be based! Yes it can be very busy, but if you're living there you also get to see it in the quiet early hours and off peak times which will be gorgeous. Loads of beautiful streets to potter around, Green Park, Hyde Park, and Regent's Park within easy distance (and the open air theatre!)

Get yourself a really decent fan for the summer time - some fancy Dyson business or whatever the really good ones are - because heatwaves in London are no joke. And be sure to explore other parts of the city, as it's pretty easy to get anywhere from where you'll be. But you'll have an amazing time! Embrace it!

Don't get a dog, you'll be out all the time! Are you going to be living alone?

Has anyone linked this thread?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/5578585-buying-a-london-flat-and-moving-back-there-in-my-mid-50s-after-separationthoughtsexperience

Trains and taxis go most places. No need for a car if u live in central london.

There’s always one on every thread. 😖. Heaven forbid somewhere might not be accessible by public transport and that is too much for someone’s tiny brain to comprehend because it’s outside the scope of their limited imagination.

I’ll give an example. I work in a wildlife hospital every Sunday. In order to get there for my shift (when it is me working alone so no backup), I can either drive there early on Sunday morning and it takes approx 1 hour. Without a car and using public transport instead, I’d have to leave home at 7.30pm on Saturday for my Sunday shift. No idea where I’d sleep overnight….the train platform I assume? Of course I could get a taxi for £90 (one way) every week because sure, I can afford that. 😳

My brother lived like this for a while and to be honest it did not really work for him. Admittedly the job he was in was a bit toxic. He got quite depressed. However he admits he did not make much effort to settle either. He admits he should have made a point of joining groups activities to make friends outside of work. He found weekends lonely and got quickly into the habit of sleeping in and staying in.

Other than that he found shopping expensive and most of the stores in his area were aimed at commuters picking up a ready meal on their way home. One of the things he really struggled with was the lack of green spaces. The area where he lived was many many shades of grey. That for some reason really got to him.

Will you have expenses to spend? Waitrose on Marylebone High Street, and Bayley & Sage for all groceries. M&S towards Marble Arch and TCR.

TBH, round the back of John Lewis really isn't that noisy. You've the Porchester spa for a decently priced nice swim/plunge pool. And the Wallace Collection for Art.

If you are nearer Bloomsbury there's a big Waitrose in the Brunswick Centre.

In my fantasy life, I live just off Marylebone High Street

But OP isn't working in a wildlife hospital but in London, close by the accommodation she'll be staying

Well moving somewhere new and not attempting to make friends will do that to someone no matter where. I arrived in London with zero friends and had a huge group within weeks. Most people in London are in a similarly situation so seek out new friends as compared to somewhere where everyone’s know each other for years.

Also central London no green spaces?! London is one of the leafiest, most park dense metropolises in the world. Especially central. Regents, Hyde, Green, Richmond, Dulwich Parks. Kensington Gardens. Primrose Hill. Hempstead Heath. The commons Clapham, Barnes, Streatham, Brockwell. Stunning riverside walks and aincient woodland. It is 50% ‘green and blue’ spaces. Has the largest number of public parks of any European city and is The World's Largest Urban Forest: Because it has over 8 million trees, London officially meets the United Nations definition of a forest, making it the largest urban forest on the planet.
In central London you are a stones throw from a magnificent historic royal park at any turn and a short bus or tube ride away from hundred of acres of heath.