Who knows London really well?

[Namechangearoonie123]

If you were going to buy a one bed flat which would you choose out of these areas?

They are all really small - 350 feet to 450 feet. And really close to Central London

1. Snowsfield in Borough behind the Shard

1. Bloomsbury, the smallest

1. Kennington but about 5 minutes walk from the Bridge so not really into South London, the largest

1. Westminster, as small as Bloomsbury

1. Swiss Cottage, about 15 minutes walk from Regents Park

They are all madly expensive. Selling a 3 bed in Bucks to move in and downsize for middle age.

Any thoughts?

Have you considered Pimlico op? I love that area.

Lol at Kennington being scary. It is full if conservation areas and MPs, as well as some estates etc. but then areas if Westminster are also the same. It all depends which bit of Westminster.

London is full of micro areas, and people often feel anxious in unfamiliar areas. But I work in Kennington and I can't think of anything that is scarier than any other urban area.

I would rent before selling up. You may hate it, I can't stand small flats/spaces as a consequence we left London. There are trains.

Bloomsbury for me, Borough close second. I would second the person who suggested Clerkenwell/Finsbury were worth a look, and I'd throw in a rogue suggestion to have a look at the streets immediately to the left and right of Upper St (Canonbury and Barnsbury neighbourhoods), given what you've said, as it's gorgeous up there and super quick into central-central London.

I'd leave Swiss Cottage, always feels a bit remote and sort of suburban for me, unless you're super rich and in a mansion, in which case I'm sure it's lovely. And Kennington - meh. If you're looking at central London there are a lot of places I'd go before there. Westminster would be fine I'm sure, but the tourists would drive me bonkers and I find it a little lacking in atmosphere, somehow.

Borough I'd say is most worth it if you're food people, as along with Borough market there is Long Lane nearby, and the railway arch market along there, which is great. I love Bloomsbury, and there is SO MUCH to do nearby. If it was me I'd probably have a look a tiny bit further out (see - Upper St) and try to find something a wee bit bigger or with a balcony. But I do think I'd find it hard to resist the allure of a Bloomsbury pied-a-terre when it came down to it...

I found Kennington very threatening walking south along the main road from the tube station. The street lighting is / was rubbish when I was doing this, and it just did not feel very nice. I would imagine OP would be using the tube, at all hours. Yes it might be full of MPs and conservation areas, but Kennington Road is not pleasant.

I used to live a few yards from the Regency Cafe - not that excited by the area itself but it was pretty quiet and I loved being able to walk in St James's Park and along the South Bank to the National Theatre. Handy for shops in both Pimlico and Victoria and never had problems parking around Vincent Sq with a residents permit (this was 10 yrs ago though).

Bloomsbury for me too!

Whenever I am up there and round Fitzrovia I day dream about winning the lottery and buying a little pied-à-terre 'in town'

swiss cottage

the first four areas don't have a local centre IYSWIM. I like somewhere with a bit of a community feel even if very Central. bit more open green space as well, which I definitely needed when living in flats.

TBH if I had pots of money (which I don't, hence the move 200 miles north of London) I'd live in the City, ideally on the Barbican. Although it's busy by day, it's more peaceful at the weekend and in the evenings. It's probably hard to believe but there's quite a community feel amongst the people who live there, especially at the Barbican/Golden Lane end of things.

Lot of building work going on round there though. Mind you that's true of so many places. I spend a lot of time around borough, it's close to my office and when I'm staying over I often stay in the citizen M - and it's been transformed in recent years (my dad used to work round there in the 90s and it was not nearly so nice). If I lived there you'd never prize me away from the southwark playhouse and the menier chocolate factory. And so close to the south bank too. And you can run! Which is a plus in my book.

Bloomsbury or Westminster

Bloomsbury. I lived there when I was at University, i went back last year for a wander and it's lovely. Would sell my kids to love there again (not really but you get the idea) :)

live obvs.

Out of those areas I would choose Westminster or Bloomsbury. Both would be fun, but after a year you might feel a bit hemmed in. London in the summer feels quite dirty and claustrophobic unless you live right by a park.
Definitely wouldn't choose Swiss Cottage. Despite it being surrounded by lovely areas (Hampstead, St John's Wood, Maida Vale, Primrose Hill), I find Swiss Cottage as charmless as your average motorway.
Have you thought about Bayswater? It has great transport links; you can walk through Hyde Park to Knightsbridge and Kensington /be in Oxford Street after 5 mins on a bus or 15 minute walk / get a cab home from theatres/ museums and still have change from a tenner.