Elephant and Castle as a place to buy?

[matildawaltz]

On a name change here as I think someone has recognized me in real life.
We're relocating to London, work for me based near Regent's Park and husband around Holburn. We are really only familiar with London as tourists and wondering what the Elephant is like to live in? Apparently there is a major redevelopment programme by Southwark council. Initial rental sorted out so we've got a bit of breathing space to look around different areas but an acquaintance has suggested here as a good location for us - professional couple, no kids (nor plans for any), budget 700K, 1 bed (if big enough) or 2 bed flat. Any thoughts or other suggestions?

Yes, it wasn't my first choice, but we were progressively priced out of the nicer places!

With your budget, have you thought about Maida Vale? You could walk to work and your husband could easily tube/bus/cycle to Holborn. I loved living thee.

Maida Vale Flat

Lived there for 5 years - lovely! Brilliant transport links, Regent's Park nearby, still tranquil and relaxing with the canal and Little Venice.

Vote for Maida Vale!

Cross post!

It's been touted as up and coming for about the last 30 years.
If you want bingo, pound shops, human turds underfoot, charity shops (no cool vintage stuff- think wee smelling coats), payday loan shops and crack heads go for it.

I grew up there.... I'd rather move to Iraq than go back there.

Jesus, the interior of that period one in Hackney!!!

Marylebone is lovely. I second Bloomsbury, if I was ever buying in central London I'd like there.

Ok, E&C definitely out then! Thanks to everyone contributing. We've never really spent much time south of the river so no idea really. It makes sense to stay closer to work to cut the commute time so I reckon we'll concentrate on the north side. Would you say getting off at a suitable tube station and just going wandering is a good idea or is there a better way of doing it?

You can get a really nice 2 bed in Crouch End for that price I would imagine. Lovely village-y atmosphere, 5 mins bus ride to Finsbury Park which serves Victoria and Piccadilly lines. I would not buy in E&C...as someone upthread has mentioned, it has been "up and coming" for a very long time but never really came.

OP, yes to Belsize park, especially if you want access to a large green space i.e. Hampstead Heath. It has a genteel suburb feel but is still quite central/good tube links.
Marylebone is nice but busy and next to very fumey roads, you wouldn't get a large flat for that, but it is very central if that's what you prefer.

I'd still advise Shepherd's Bush as well. Central line to Holborn in about 20min max, 5min to NOtting Hill/Holland park, same to chiswick by tube. Kind of more variety of things to do and nice places all around it. There is some plane noise though, but better than many other areas of west london (including Chelsea! last time I were there it was worse than previously, just non stop - not an issue for some thick-skinned people of course).
You can but a modern flat in chelsea on the river, but it's miles away from tube (and traffic to the tube!) so going to Holbron/Regent's park is really very slow from there - these flats are in sw10/sw6, not sw3. Even if you drive.

Kits it's only the furniture that's awful...the period features are all there, it's lovely.

Bumpy - Re your first link, I used to live in that development years ago in what was probably the biggest house/flat. They're not great quality and very overlooked. Cannot believe those prices.

E&C is awful. I was in the mall on Friday for the first time ever. The 21st century has not reached that shopping centre.

There are some really big flats in Shepherds Bush, thanks for the pointer. Have to go out now, will check in tomorrow.

sincerely hope my friend is moving to a different part !! :-)

Shepherds bush is horrible.

Oh yes I realise that bumpy, it's just so pretty on the outside, I was expecting something gorgeous and tastefully done inside!

If I had £700k to spend, I'd be back in Belsize Park like a shot. I absolutely loved living there and would move back again in a heartbeat if I could afford to. I lived in London for 20+ years and lived all over. That was by far the nicest place I lived.

EC and Shepherds Bush are horrible.

What about Canada Water area, zone 2?

This looks lovely
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-42331577.html

Friend lived in Canada Water. Hated it. She felt really unsafe there.

E&C has been up and coming since the early eighties!

There's certainly some gorgeous georgian houses as you go past Burgess Park on Camberwell Road, so I presume there would be some nice ones on side streets too...used to live near the M&S as a student!

I've nice memories, even living there as a naive 17 year old, but probably just a drnken student haze!

There is actually a lovely pocket of gorgeous houses in nearby Kennington, if you want ease of access to Holborn and Regents Park. I lived there for several years, as a student needing to get to the Strand area and Euston. Look out for Cleveland Square, Methley Street, I will try find a link

I lived in Canada water eons ago and loved it! Really safe around the river area. Has a European village feel with lots of greenery and riverside walking paths

Shepherds Bush is fine I think, but then I don't mind Elephant either. If you go for Shepherds Bush area the streets between Goldhawk road and Chiswick are nice, forget what they are called. Stamford brook area?

There are nice houses off the Walworth road too, I knew someone with a gorgeous house in Sutherland Square.

You won't get a house in Cleaver Square or Methley Street for less than 1.4 million. Some flats in Methley Street, but more than £700K I would think.