Moving to London - where should we go?

[Sorryforthechange123]

Hi everyone,

I was hoping you would be able to help as I am about to go crazy.

My partner and I start new jobs in London in October. We will be moving from Scotland. We are now down here viewing flats (we've had 13 viewings just today!!!) and we narrowed our choices down to:

• Greenwich Penninsula/North Greenwich
• Royal Docks (Royal Victoria station/Emirates Airline)
• Limehouse (nice part next to the Narrow)

I will be working in Canary Wharf and my partner in London Bridge area. We are wondering if these areas are fairly safe and what would you say about each of them? We don't want to spend too much time commuting, we want to feel safe walking home at night as well as have some amenities/restaurants/pubs within a walking distance. We don't have kids at the moment.

Would you be able to give me some insights/advice?

The other problem is, today is really the last day we can see any flats as we're going back up to Scotland tomorrow morning so we would like to make a decision based on what's we've seen so far. Travelling up and down and staying in London for a few days to look at flats (on top of all moving expenses) is a bit of a strain to our budget.

Bermondsey is the place to be!

A choice between lime house and North Greenwich and I'd chose lime house. We only looked online when we first moved! Crazy young person - don't think I'd do that but it worked out well and we lived in Greenwich nr curry sark DLR. still in SE London now but a different area.
Good luck!

Hi Landry, why would you pick Limehouse?

Landy10* (autocorrect!)

I'd recommend Wapping. You could both walk to work easily and it's a lovely place to live.

Also have a look at the Isle of Dogs. I loved living there. You can walk to Greenwich through the foot tunnel, there's mudchute farm, the shops and bars at the Wharf, the commuter boat. I miss it!

I live in Blackheath Standard which is about 10 minute walk to Greenwich Park. It's lovely here and a great family area.

I'm sure all of London is safe but I'm sure like with every city there are areas that are safer than others?

What is it about London? It's not scary.

Ive lived in London all my life and on a recent trip to Scotland I felt unsafe on trains at night in Glasgow in a way I never have done in London. Hth.

As I said before, we can't do anymore viewings. We're back to Scotland tomorrow, but thanks to all of you for the input :)

We're still in between the Greenwich Peninsula flat, which was absolutely stunning (brand new, we can pick our furniture, high quality finish, view over the river). I am not sure how much there is to do in the area tho and the flat is relatively small (63 sqm).

Or Limehouse - we know the area fairly well with all the pubs and restaurants and shops. The flat was much bigger but decorated to the landlords style (i.e. we couldn't personalise it much). It's a good transport to both our workplaces too, a lovely view over the basin.

So torn!!! We need to make a decision tomorrow morning...

I'd drop the Royal Docks as it's much better than it used to be but can still be a bit dull/desolate.

Personally I'd prefer Limehouse over North Greenwich but that depends whether you prefer more urban over more (relatively) suburban.

Given a free choice, I'd rent in Wapping but to get the space you want, it may push your budget too much as Wapping isn't cheap. Same for Bermondsey/Bankside/Borough (you will have to sacrifice space to get within budget).

Will you be driving or using public transport? If you'll have a car, think carefully about which side of the river to base yourself on (and which direction you'll be driving in) i.e. stay north of the river if you'll mainly be travelling north etc.

My boss used to live in North Greenwich and had a lovely commute on the boat to Canary Wharf (more expensive than the Jubilee line but much nicer).

If you want peace and quiet on weekend mornings, make sure any flat you choose overlooking the river isn't on too low a floor overlooking the river or you may find the rowers wake you up sometimes, especially on a race day. I used to row on that stretch of river and we did occasionally get irate residents get fed up of our shouting coaching. Less chance of this in North Greenwich. More likely in Limehouse (although near The Narrow the river is wider so you should be okay) or Wapping or the Isle of Dogs. Winter training and annual regatta at the Royal Docks but the wind will take most/all of the noise away.

Ah, just saw you'd be Limehouse Basin rather than by The Narrow. So very quiet and no noisy rowers . Can get gridlocked around there (because of the entrance/exit to Rotherhithe tunnel) if you're driving but usually okay out of rush hour.

I work (well on Mat leave just now) in the wharf and know a few folk who live round lime house and they all like it (including another Scottish friend who moved down from Glasgow and she lives alone - never had any worries). It's really close to central London. You would be able to walk to work, likewise if DH is keen for excercise he can walk to work too. When we first moved (me 25, DH 26) we spent all our time working, going out with friends after work and exploring London at the weekends. I'd chose location over decor at this stage if you aren't thinking settling down with kids yet. If kids are on the agenda then it's a whole other story but I don't get the impression that's something that needs immediate consideration.

I've only known one person to live in North Greenwich and like I've always imagined they didn't like it after a while because it's very sterile new build city with a lot of weekday only occupants.

Good luck and keep us posted with your decision!

Also not sure what your thoughts are re cars, we both had them in Scotland and then ditched them when we moved. Did not need them at all. Bought a car 9 years later when we had our twins (and we've used the car for driving up to Scotland more than anything). Pre children in London if you have good transport I personally see no need for a car.

I'd plump for limehouse as you'd also have the option of walking / cycling to work or taking the Thames clipper as Tube commuting is hell. Also nice pubs and restaurants in CW/Wapping/ St Katherine's dock now that's another couple of places I'd look at for a flat or somewhere with a river view that's quite uniquely London

We're doing a Friday night discovery tour of both places to see what they offer! Currently sipping on wine in the Pilot, then having a peak at the O2 area and then moving to discover Limehouse :)

My partner is more convinced towards NG as he likes the sleek flat and he doesn't mind taking a tube to go everywhere. I would like a nice Thames clipper trip to work every now and then, but then I am a bit convinced by your arguments towards Limehouse - it seems there's more to do (I love the Grapes pub!) and it's closer to CW (where I work) and its amenities.

Re car - for now we are thinking about taking it here and trying it out. Both flats offer parking spaces so that's not an issue. If we won't use it, we can always sell it.

Live in Bermondsey !

London Bridge is walkable and you can get the jubilee line to Canary Wharf

It's so central for going out in london but the immediate area also has great bars and restaurants and an I dependent cinema on Bermondsey square. There is a cool street food market at the weekends on Maltby Street and you are not far from Borough market and the Tate gallery.

Bermondsey is fab!!!

The Pilot and the house 6 doors down with the 2 cats on the hammock in the window I have to say are the only nice things about NG otherwise it's a bit out on a limb for 2 young people new to London having been there and done it

Do yourself a favour and go for a flat on the isle of dogs with a balcony and river view or Limehouse, Wapping, St Katherine's Dock, Shad Thames nearer the action and much easier to get a taxi back after a night out. There is a over supply of 2 bed flats ATM in all areas so push the letting agents hard for a good deal

Just read your from Glasgow so to give you an analogy from Limehouse to Shad Thames is like living on the Byers Road but NG is like living in Paisley

Limehouse or nearby all the way. Have you been on the jubilee line westbound early in the morning? Seriously think about minimising commuting as it chews time like nothing else. Limehouse means DLR to bank then northern line to London Bridge or walking out the monument end and then across the bridge depending on exactly where you are or jubilee but that will be crowded.

I know all this as we live just North of Canary Wharf next to a park and have a terraced house we rent out near Poplar DLR. My brother lives in Limehouse on the river just up the road from the Narrow (which we remember when it was a spit and sawdust place where we went with my our new baby who is now 15)

North Greenwich is isolated by comparison with Limehouse despite what people say if you are young without kids the Limehouse environment will be much more your thing. Getting home is much trickier than Limehouse.

Isle of Dogs has lots of options as well or Wapping. Eating out options galore at Canary Wharf and Wapping and along the river. But North Greenwich... just don't.

We just did a very long and not attractive at all walk from NG to Cutty Sark. God, I think we will make an offer for the Limehouse place tomorrow...

I flat-hunted in North Greenwich a couple years ago and my impression is similar to some pps... e.g. "it's very sterile new build city with a lot of weekday only occupants" - exactly this. I think with all the new builds it will soon change, but when we visited on a weekend afternoon it was so dull and it felt like there weren't any grocery stores, cafes, pubs, or shops for miles. It just felt very cold and joyless.

Limehouse is much more popular (and the prices reflect this) for a reason. My husband and I also both like Greenwich Village much much better than NG.

Limehouse Basin is good, look out for the houseboat cats with life jackets on. From there there is lovely walk along the Regents canal to Victoria Park. Cycling from Limehouse to London Bridge is a breeze and you'll be on the cycle super highway or along the river most of the way. Definitely good not to be too reliant on public transport as today shows.

I keep thinking and thinking about it.

NG - location is pretty sh*t and there's nothing around apart from the Pilot and O2. But, it's pretty green, you can take the tube everywhere and the flat is spectacular, brand new and we could make it a home. On top of that, we have all the things like gym, cinema etc included in the price.

Limehouse - the flat is bigger, but I can't shake off the feeling that it's someone else's flat. It's not as nice as it's slightly older, it's lacking storage space and not all furniture are to my taste. The location is a key here really.

Ideally I would move NG flat to the basin...

I'm sure people have bigger problems than that but this seems like such a difficult decision to make...

Has Limehouse general area improved. Last time I was there a couple of years ago Limehouse was positively apocalyptic- lovely new flats but the surrounding community was really shitty.