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?

SM, I read the start of thread, haven't read the rest but I'd liked Chiswick too. I used to live in Turnham Green and was really happy there. Was v handy for work etc for me though. I've lived in Bayswater, Ealing, Notting Hill, Olympia and West Ken too and I think, post children, I'd like Chiswick the best if I had to go back. Actually, that's not true, I also lived in Lancaster Gate and really loved it, stucco tall beautiful building, close to Paddington, Bayswater and Hyde Park, not far in a cab to Soho. And west London so near enough your dp. As the crow flies or driving mind you.

sm, just wanted to say that i'm that you're going thru a difficult time with dd in particular. I wish I had something more helpful to say...! xxx

oh poo re your horrid time with sprogs sm Hope it all works out

FWIW I found Bayswater rather soulless and was generally traumatised as all the local shops were full of sheeps eyeballs and bollocks. On the plus side there was Angelos, vile all night greek drinking den where I once had the lovely experience of seeing someone pull out a gun, but hey it was all so seedy and fun and I loved it. It was 1990 so I guess a lot has changed though it always looks identical whenever I go there now.

LOL @ mad 80s baby thing. I have PUNK ROCK BABY somewhere too.

I live in Enfield (North London). I have always lived in or near to Enfield so can't really imagine going anywhere else.
Some parts are very nice, big houses etc other parts not so nice.

SW5/SW7 - is a fab area with great garden squares, totally close to everything. But don't even consider it unless you want to live next door to a foreign merchant banker. Our neighbours, french, dutch and spanish - two merchant bankers and the porter.

I am becoming increasingly xenophobic and dream of meeting english families - well as soon as we sell our flat and move out. It didn;t matter when we were childless as we were out and about and didn't mix in the neighbourhood. But here I feel like a social leper, in our square there are about 50-100 children and there is only one other english family !!

Thanks for the advice all. I really like the idea of this Bayswater place despite sheeps eyes etc etc CD. Dp told me categorically not to go to Battersea - worse than Islington he reckons!

My vote is for Shepherds Bush (like Islington, it is very mixed) which has great character! Also, fab transport links and borders Notting Hill, Holland Park and Chiswick. Bayswater is ideally located - some great restaurants on Westbourne Grove too. The only drawback for Bayswater (apart from the lack of character and community already mentioned) is that if you want to go to Oxford St, the buses (esp. 94) are always jam packed by the time they get to Bayswater and don't take on any new passengers. The bus goes past without picking up passengers more often than not in Bayswater - I do feel sorry for people living in the area. But if you don't plan on relying on buses then it shouldn't be a problem. Good luck with your decision! P.S. I recommend an Austrian restaurant in the area called Tiroler Hut (fab fondues!)

Does your dp want a punch up, then? . Battersea is, IMO, much nicer than Islington; you've got the river, and Battersea Park (the best park in London). OK, in terms of polarisation between rich and poor, and crime, maybe there is some similarity but check out the Met statistics - I bet Battersea comes out on top. For those issues, it's pretty much the same as any other inner-London borough but did I mention the river? A vital part of living in London, for me (says the woman who moved away in February - can you tell that I miss it?).

I have never ever been to London, does that make me odd ?????

Nutty, where is your prescription??!! Please.....I have something up my sleeve...

OOh Chicpea, I rang again today to see if i could persuade them to just post it too me or something and now they are saying that cos it's been a year since my last eye test, i have got to have another one.

So am gonna try and book one for next week, babysitter permitting (mom is off work so should be fine).

Will that be o.k ?? Sorry to mess you about. Am still most intruigued

Nutty, that's rubbish that you have to have another test because you last tested over a year! They are trying to lure you to spend your money with them. Cheek. You could go there - if you have the time that is - and ask for a copy. You paid for it, it's your property. Also, for the record - part of what I have up my sleeve - how old are you and could they give you details of your glasses prescriptions for the past three eye tests.
I know you are intrigued but I PROMISE that ou won't regret it.
Hurry back now...

PS And Nutty, how long does it take you to get to Birmingham?

I will report back tomorrow once I have looked at the Bayswater flat. Am v excited about it - love the idea of being so close to portobello to buy my fav rye bread on a saturday morning! Ideal for eating with sheeps eyes. Apologies to all battersea-ites - I'm sure it's lovely really. And nutty, no you're not weird, I've never been to birmingham! Well, only driven through it.

I wonder it the Beachcomber is still in Queensway? Many a knees up in there. Don't worry about the buses you can get the tube to Ox St etc and you've got Whiteleys (whcih I haven't been to since it was a dept store)

Bayswater is the only area in london where I have been asked " How much ? " - I wasn't even wearing a skirt as I recall. Of course these days I am unlikely to be wandering around very late at night on my own under the influence of extreme amounts of alcohol and that was over ten years ago.

Personally I think that bayswater is souless, transient and a bit seedy. If you can afford to live in bayswater then you should be able to find a good flat in a much better more family orientated environment.

battersea worse than islington? for what? agree with edam!

sm, sorry, but i think you want conflicting things atm. imho, you won't get everything you want in one london area - at least not without spending a fortune. sorry

For anyone without a banker husband and pots of cash, I highly recommend the London Fields area of Hackney.

It's a fabulous community, lots of friendly mums and kids who talk to one another, with a good park and playgrounds, farmers market, city farm, flower market and close to hip Hoxton. Many media and creative types.

mm, well I don't think I do want conflicting things, I am just looking for an area that is less chavvy than the one I'm in and has more shops/restaurants within close proximity!

Well it has to be said that earls court has everything you want really, it is rather posh but great facilities and the large french community means that there are loads of great restaurants etc... Also full of fab garden squares. Cheaper than South Ken but still withing walking distance of kings road, old brompton rd, notting hill, all the musuems, hyde park, holland park etc..

Now thats my ad, if you were looking to buy a two bed flat in beautiful garden square with a porter then.....

earl's court is lovely kaz i agree, but i don't want to be too close to dp!

Used to live in wimbledon very nice good schools loads of restaurants etc but it is sw not west

ok, sm, sorry, hope you find somewhere nice.

Well, I went to look at the Bayswater flat last night and it was nice but TINY. Less than half the size of the house I'm now in. So it was a definite no-no, although I like the area. Have realised I'd be a loon to think about moving before next summer anyway in light of all the other crap going on in my life at the moment, but will remember all your advice if and when I do start househunting again, so thanks to all x