Moving to SE London -Advice needed!

[Carrotcake101]

Hi everyone

I'm looking to rent in SE London as I'll be moving down for work. I don't know London very well at all but excited to move down and ideally looking to live somewhere vibrant/buzzy but which also feels safe. Im single, and moving by myself and enjoy pubs/comedy/markets etc. I want to feel like I live in London so keen to not go somewhere which is more residential/family orientated

Good links to Lewisham (where I'll be working) and the center of London/Kings cross would be ideal, and tube access would be a bonus, although understand other transport methods can be just as good!)

Possible areas I've found so far from research are New cross/Peckham/ Brockley/ Greenwich and Bromley - but never been to any ofnthese areas so wasn't sure how they differed in terns of liveliness/ safety. Also open to any other suggestions of areas!

Thanks so much!
S x

Royal Arsenal is at Woolwich (SE18). It's getting better and only a few train stops from Lewisham and Blackheath/Greenwich. Nice to be by the river too. This will (should) be a cheaper area than other places.

Royal Arsenal might be nice but Woolwich is rough. It works if @Carrotcake101 is working near Lewisham station but otherwise transport to rest of Lewisham could mean having to change onto a bus.

I'm too old now to know where is fun for young people, Hither Green/Manor Park side is very family dominated, Hither Green Lane area might be less so? I like Ladywell and it feels less like a family area.

I find many SE London locations have great connections into central London but less to each other - so although e.g. East Dulwich isn't a great distance from Lewisham it's not easy on public transport. Depending where you're working and working hours you may want to concentrate on finding a good communtable location first and then work on rest of list 😊

Lewisham itself? (If affordable)

Thank you so much everyone!!
I'm looking at Greenwich and East dulwich now predominantly. The commute doesn't look too bad in itself to Lewisham but I'm concerned it'll be super busy at the time I'm commuting! Ive seen videos online re queues for tubes/busses during rush hour in London.
Does anyone know what the busses/trains going in that direction and back will be like in rush hour time? Thanks so much

Bus to East Dulwich with be super stuck in traffic in rush hour but you can train to Denmark hill/nunhead/leckham rye.. it’s quicker to cycle than bus to most of this areas slightly west from lewisham like East Dulwich. Greenwich will be easier since bus or dlr or bike. That’s a pretty small budget unfortunately for the area, you’re probably looking for a studio. Try Greenwich/deptford borders/new cross

Hither green, Lee, Catford?
St John's, near hilly fields?
If you want more affordable then welling, abbey wood, Charlton?

Which bit of Lewisham do you need to get to? It's a mile or so from Lewisham Station to Lewisham Hospital, and the transport options are different for each end. Ladywell station is far nearer the hospital than Lewisham station, but Lewisham has the DLR as well as mainline rail. There's a lot to be said for being able to walk to work, and Ladywell/Brockley is walking distance to any part of central Lewisham. Brockley (and Honor Oak Park) have the Overground into town and mainline services to London Bridge where you can change for Waterloo and Charing Cross, and there's a back up option of getting the mainline from Crofton Park to Blackfriars and changing to go up to King's Cross St Pancras. The area is also infested with Lime bikes so that's another option you could pick up if you are a cyclist.

There are bus lanes for much of the way from East Dulwich to Lewisham so you wouldn't normally spend ages in a traffic jam. I've lived in the area for many years, and much much prefer Forest Hill, Honor Oak, and Brockley to East Dulwich. It used to be a really nice area but it's been completely spoilt by over gentrification and has changed beyond recognition.

If you can afford living near Greenwich or Cutty Sark stations on DLR then that route is quick to Lewisham station and not busy as you're going in opposite directions to most commuters.

TfL website or Google Maps public transport layer will show you the actual routes the buses take for other options.

Most of West Greenwich to Lewisham is straightforward. East Greenwich/Greenwich Peninsula not so straightforward, could be multiple buses or a long route.

For direct buses from East Dulwich to Lewisham, there's choice of 185 up Lordship Lane via Catford (partly on A205/South Circular) or 484 along Goose Green (less traffic but very indirect route).

Or there is a train route via Denmark Hill/Peckham Rye/Nunhead to Lewisham. Only 2x/hour but it won't be crowded.

Live in Lewisham there are lots of new flats going up near the DLR station there. You can then walk to work which will save transport costs. DLR to bank station then change onto the northern line for King’s Cross. Takes about 40 mins from Lewisham DLR to King’s Cross station.