In which bit of London would you choose to live?

[spacemonkey]

I moved to Islington in the summer. As I expected, it's a very mixed area - some posh bits, some rough bits. I know the whole of London is like this, pretty much, but this area seems particularly polarised. Anyway, to get to the point, I am thinking about moving again in the new year, in fact I'm going to look at a flat in Bayswater this weekend, and from the minimal investigations I've done it seems to me that Bayswater will suit me much better.

I'm loving living in London, and ideally I want to be somewhere central, buzzing (i.e. not quiet residential but lots of shops/restaurants etc), not too posh, not too rough and preferably further west.

Any recommendations for me? Where would you choose and why?

Nah, you're bound to be more orginal SM. You could wheel around a chihuahua with a diamante coller in a tartan trolley . Don't forget, coral lipstick is a must!

ohhhhh Spacemonkey could you please move to Notting Hill and could you get it done in time for our big night out with Lou so I can stay over please!!!!!!!!!

I'd love to live in Notting Hill, if I could live anywhere in london it would be there everytime, it wins hands down.

Oi! I am lah-di-dah!!
You wouldn't like Ealing or Chiswick SM, both very nice but too suburban and not central enough, same for "Brackenbury Village", Ravenscourt Park. You might like the Bush although its not far from the places mentioned above, its different and more central, better tubes, buses etc. Also lots of "charaacter" i.e. more mixed population. I also think you should look at the more central parts like Bloomsbury, marylebone and may be surprised what you could get.

Like Lou says, they;ll think the grass is greener but they'll soon realise which side their bread is buttered on. God, sorry about the crap cliche's but they're true

Another vote for Chiswick, I used to live there and really miss it!

i lived v close to brackenbury village, but in the bush

NOTTING HILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

so you havent found a reason to back out of meeting then tc?

Chelsea, but if thats not an option, Chiswick - its child friendly for London and easy to get into Chelsea/Kensington or more central areas. I have a house (for sale) overlooking Turnham Green.

tc, the bayswater place is about 5 mins from portobello road, and yes you can stay but only if i can have you in my bed and not lou

I think I may have to start another thread now about whether I should move back to where my kids want to be (but where i categorically do NOT want to be) or stay put

< applies thick layer of flourescent coral lipstick and grabs tartan old woman trolley >

sm, that is why I cannot decide where/if to move - my kids are settled and I feel so guilty moving them + it is stressful on your own moving home.

jmg I had a chance of a flat on beaufort street but it was 5th floor with no lift!

I do understand, although your kids are much younger than mine jmg, so they would settle more easily, really they would. Still think you should go for a long holiday in italy and see how you feel about it. It's a far superior place for bringing up children.

What about down here near your best mate and We could go out late at night as mates on the pull!!!

ooh no i don't want to live out in the sticks! you lot will just have to move up to london won't you

It is quicker to drive from here to Chelsea than it takes to drive from Islington to Chelsea.
I have a house coming available in Chelsea next June and I am thinking about it. Its the traffic and the issue of schools around there though.
I really should go on a holiday to Italy next year.

I can totally believe that (about it being quicker from G to Chelsea than from Islington to Chelsea I mean). I think London's a great place for kids (despite the fact that both of my kids have shunned it for the time being). And yes you MUST go to italy! My mum's place in Umbria will be available next summer if you wanted to stay there.

oh and just in case dp is reading this, I would be happy to go out but not on the pull, for I am a lady (unless he decides he's into swinging that is)

Your on SM!

Haven't thought of an excuse yet Lou but I'm working on it! .

Sorry there is such a serious side to this thread SM, hope your kids see sense mate For what it's worth I think they're mad and that you're fab and they're lucky to have such a cool mum with such sexy, fab eyes! xx

Well you can go window shopping no harm in that!
I would be interested in renting your mums place if that is an option, how many bedrooms are there?

Not sure what to make of the whole thing with the kids really. It all seems to have ended up in such a mess. I feel OK about ds being with his dad because I know he is much happier back at his old school, and he did try to settle here, but the fact that he had a choice (i.e. because his dad's still in Colchester) complicated matters. Dd sounded really happy on the phone tonight. She's been virtually agoraphobic (and self harming) since we moved. Although I had excellent reasons for moving here (work/family/dp), I am now wondering if I am just being selfish to stay here. I love it in London so much, it's something I have always wanted to do and I honestly thought it was a good thing for the children. If I had known this would happen I don't think I would have moved, but now that I have I am not sure about what I should do next.

Thanks for the compliment btw TC, you foxy poncho woman

it may be taken jmg seems a perfect place to take a young baby for the summer . It's fab jmg with a beautfiful outlook.

Oh mate, and sorry to hear about your DD esp, my step sister did a lot of self harming when she was living with us and i know how rubbiush it is, but must be double shit for you man, ohhhh mate. No quick answer to this one aye.

Window shopping is very dangerous though jmg, especially if I happen to be wearing Lynx Africa at the time. I end up with random Italians offering to lick my legs, and, depending upon the thickness of my beer goggles, I'm liable to do things I might regret!

She has 2 double bedrooms and a sofa bed in the living room. It probably wouldn't be big enough for you and your brood, thinking about it ...