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Original poster

North or South London for a 25 year old?

85 replies

tramtracks · 28/04/2025 18:16

We are helping our dd buy a 1 bed flat and she is fixed on North London. Our ds (older) says she should definitely live in Fulham/Wandsworth/Clapham etc but she is concerned that its miles from her friends and the lack of tube stop bothers her.

I've never lived in London and so I'm not sure. I am hoping that this flat could accommodate me too from time to time. Any advice on what areas of north London you could buy a nice 1 bed with a budget of around £550k.

OP posts:
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5
minipie · 29/04/2025 01:31

tramtracks · 28/04/2025 22:45

This is fantastic advice / thanks !
She says she really isn’t a Fulham ‘type’. She’s v happy reading a book in Regent’s Park or Primrose hill. Chalk Farm would be ok- she’s ex UCL so has rented around there for 5 years or so now - but what do you think of Islington? Are there any nice roads close to a tube stop?

Highbury is lovely and very well connected by tube and train, prefer it to Islington personally.

Fulham definitely has a type 😆

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/04/2025 08:05

I grew up in Battersea/Clapham.

The overground train from Clapham Junction to Vauxhall, Victoria, Waterloo etc makes up for the lack of actual tube. Just get a train, pick up the tube at one of those places. I mostly used the 77, 77a and 19 buses to get into central London in no time.

LittleBearPad · 29/04/2025 08:09

She should live where she wants and near her friends. Camden and north is a great place to live.

MJOverInvestor · 29/04/2025 08:17

tramtracks · 28/04/2025 22:45

This is fantastic advice / thanks !
She says she really isn’t a Fulham ‘type’. She’s v happy reading a book in Regent’s Park or Primrose hill. Chalk Farm would be ok- she’s ex UCL so has rented around there for 5 years or so now - but what do you think of Islington? Are there any nice roads close to a tube stop?

The Caledonian Road area of Islington is scruffy but safe. There are some dodgy landlords selling dodgy leasehold flats but if you can avoid those, I’d say it’s a great value area… (very close to Coal Drops)

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/04/2025 10:01

mackawhack · 28/04/2025 18:28

Our ds (older) says she should definitely live in Fulham/Wandsworth/Clapham etc but she is concerned that its miles from her friends and the lack of tube stop bothers her.

these areas haven't been cool for a long time tbf

Depends on her social class and there she hangs out. But the young people who are around I think are likely to be living with parents rather than renting flat shares. Unless her nightlife revolved around here I wouldn't.

I think it's a good idea to be close to her friends and commute but equally her friends can up and leave at any point. If I were your daughter I'd be a short term lodger in a couple of areas first to try out beige buying

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/04/2025 10:03

I definitely recommend she gets a two bed not a 1 bed so she can rent out a room to a.friend if she gets lonely or needs cash

WinterFoxes · 29/04/2025 10:09

Darkambergingerlily · 28/04/2025 22:01

go where her friends are.

my lot were around Fulham/ Clapham but that was 10 years ago. My siblings lot were all around east London Shoreditch. Trends change, I don’t think Clapham is as cool as it was a while back

I'm not so sure. DS moved to North Clapham/Stockwell as you get so much more for your money. Then discovered that a few old school friends had done the same for the same reason. Good youthful vibe with loads of pubs with live music, little deli cafes, Battersea Power Station revamp etc. Easy reach of Brixton for major bands playing at O2, loads of restaurants, indie cinema etc. Zone 2 but on the edge of Zone 1.

WanderInMyTime · 29/04/2025 10:11

Atarin · 28/04/2025 18:33

I find Walthamstow ok, but it’s very 30-40yr old young parents. The pubs are packed with children at the weekend. It’s not a particularly ‘young’ area, the breweries are fun but it’s certainly an older demographic (Lycra dads with beards!).

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This is very true.

daffodilsandaisies · 29/04/2025 10:13

Really it’s just a question of taste, and where her centre of gravity is in London! Def don’t get her to buy somewhere she doesn’t like. Chalk Farm etc is amazing - I think people will have been imagining it was out of price range. I do tend to agree tho - if st all possible get a 2 bed…

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 29/04/2025 10:13

as @Unexpectedlysinglemum suggests a 2 bed could be an idea, if affordable - tho I suggest a lodger ( less rights I believe than a tenant ? )

and maybe not a friend as it is possible the friendship could go wrong / end and it would be a shame to lose what may have been a good friendship.

Crikeyalmighty · 29/04/2025 10:36

@tramtracks my son lives in a flat share in Belsize Park - 3 of them in a 2 bed 2 bath ( him and his girlfriend plus 1 other) it’s great- safe, attractive and would be nice for you too if staying - handy for Hampstead/camden etc - he’s got 3 tube lines within 6 minutes. The area holds its money and whilst not full of bright young things, has a big mix and is 5 minutes walk down into Camden - I love visiting - fond.Memory’s of it as we used to live there when I first met my H - was a grim flat but gorgeous area - so much lovely green space close on hand too

the Gospel Oak one here - whilst not a pretty building isa lovely area and a 2 bedder with outside decking - will hold its money

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143872604

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138942566

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153919892

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/158257085

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155846150

Check out this 2 bedroom apartment for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom apartment for sale in Kiln Place, London, NW5 for £500,000. Marketed by Winkworth, Kentish Town

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143872604

Bramshott · 29/04/2025 10:43

London is a massive city and there are many nice and not so nice parts both north and south. Why doesn't your DD rent for a bit and get to know an area before buying?

Newbutoldfather · 29/04/2025 10:51

That is a decent budget for a one bed.

There are flats in Hampstead/Highate for that kind of price, but not really ‘nice’ ones.

A friend of mine’s daughter has just bought in Crouch End and she loves it there. Also Muswell Hill. Some say Finsbury Park is coming up, but it’s still a bit too ‘edgy’ for me.

Crikeyalmighty · 29/04/2025 11:18

@Newbutoldfather I wouldn’t say any of the ones I posted below are unpleasant ! We lived in Crouch End and my son was born when we lived there - that’s a good one too if you don’t mind getting buses a fair bit rather than the tube. Same with Muswell Hill unless you live within 10 minutes walk of Highgate tube - but you do get more for your money and yes, nice areas.

Original poster
tramtracks · 29/04/2025 11:58

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/04/2025 10:01

Depends on her social class and there she hangs out. But the young people who are around I think are likely to be living with parents rather than renting flat shares. Unless her nightlife revolved around here I wouldn't.

I think it's a good idea to be close to her friends and commute but equally her friends can up and leave at any point. If I were your daughter I'd be a short term lodger in a couple of areas first to try out beige buying

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Thanks - she’s already been renting for around 4/5 years. Chalk Farm/Camden and now maids vale. She says that having lived in Camden for a while she wouldn’t want to buy there.

OP posts:
ConstanceM · 29/04/2025 12:02

mackawhack · 28/04/2025 18:28

Our ds (older) says she should definitely live in Fulham/Wandsworth/Clapham etc but she is concerned that its miles from her friends and the lack of tube stop bothers her.

these areas haven't been cool for a long time tbf

What's the relevance of "Cool" when deciding on square footage, transport and mortgage interest rates?

mackawhack · 29/04/2025 12:13

The OP is asking for opinions, the vibe of an area is also important to many...

Londonmummy66 · 29/04/2025 12:32

WinterFoxes · 29/04/2025 10:09

I'm not so sure. DS moved to North Clapham/Stockwell as you get so much more for your money. Then discovered that a few old school friends had done the same for the same reason. Good youthful vibe with loads of pubs with live music, little deli cafes, Battersea Power Station revamp etc. Easy reach of Brixton for major bands playing at O2, loads of restaurants, indie cinema etc. Zone 2 but on the edge of Zone 1.

Show quote history

I'd agree with this. Lots of young people in these areas and some lively nightlife without being as edgy as Brixton.

Crikeyalmighty · 29/04/2025 12:33

@ConstanceM I agree about the cool factor - my son ( and he was21 when he moved to this flat) was more concerned that it was clean, convenient for transport, at least 540 Sq m , relatively safe ( for London) attractive and leafy ( and that’s renting) - he couldn’t care less if it was cool as he can access ‘cooler’ areas within 3 minutes on tube or 15 mins walk -

Oceangrey · 29/04/2025 12:39

I would go near her friends as it can take a while to cross London to meet up otherwise. But, they will at some point move away so it's good to be somewhere she actually likes too.

I would also go for a 2 bed in a cheaper area, more options for the future.

Personally, if you're going to be keeping the flat for 5+ years then I'd try and buy on the outskirts of one of HR many massive regeneration schemes in London and benefit from the increase in value. Look at what's happened to Kings Cross. Eg Elephant and Castle is much nicer these days, well connected and still going up in value. Brent Cross, Canada Water, Earls Court all have huge schemes.

But of course it also needs to be somewhere she's happy to live.

I also like Mile End, and Kennington, and Caledonian Road area.

Tiswa · 29/04/2025 12:45

So she has been living in North London for years, has friends and roots there and is fixed on it because she wants to and her older brother has decided he knows best? I don’t understand what part he has to play in deciding south London might be better

ConstanceM · 29/04/2025 12:46

Crikeyalmighty · 29/04/2025 12:33

@ConstanceM I agree about the cool factor - my son ( and he was21 when he moved to this flat) was more concerned that it was clean, convenient for transport, at least 540 Sq m , relatively safe ( for London) attractive and leafy ( and that’s renting) - he couldn’t care less if it was cool as he can access ‘cooler’ areas within 3 minutes on tube or 15 mins walk -

Thanks for reinforcing my "cool" concerns, how utterly facile when considering to buy bricks and mortar. What are you supposed to do, keep moving house every 4 years to be in the cool area, who decides which area is cool anyway. I've heard about people living near good school catchments but investing tens of thousands of pounds to be cool is bonkers. Who are they trying to impress. Must be a upper middle class, London centric concern.

Turmerictolly · 29/04/2025 12:50

Her friends might be living in that area but are they likely to stay as it’s expensive to buy in? Walthamstow is a good shout for young people and she’d get a two bed Warner maisonette for that budget or maybe Wimbledon (a little further out but good connections and that SW London vibe). Balham might be too expensive.
East Finchley may be within budget for a 1 bed too.
Depends where she works really.