Can you find me a London pad?

[JoJoSM2]

This is half-hypothetical as it's more of a medium-term plan for us. However, I know many people on here like to browse Rightmove and I'd like to start getting ideas.

So, the budget is roughly 1M, 3-bed preferred but a spacious 2-bed could also work. Needs to be in a pleasant area and convenient for going out in central London.

Would be a lovely place to retire to, as well.

Have a look at the east villlage next to the Olympic Park. It’s the former athlete’s village.

Another one in Primrose Hill, a three-bed very close to Regent's Park, with its own garden www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72499504.html

Maida Vale/Little Venice?

I've never been to Primrose Hill. Will definitely go up there to have a look! It seems pretty central and not too busy. If DS wanted to go to uni or work in London, it could be a great location for him to live too.

Little Venice I've only seen on a canal boat trip :) Looks like I need to go up north to look around.

Barbican could be worth keeping an eye on. The larger two-beds in there tend to go for £1m-£1.2m at the moment. But they're a decent size, and have big windows and great views.

Clerkenwell has lots of character, and is close(ish) to King's Cross without being in the new development itself. (Those new flats look nice, but many of them are very small and they are extremely expensive.)

Maybe Fitzrovia; around Charlotte Street?

Kennington could be worth a look. Less chi-chi than other parts, but there are some beautiful squares. It's on good bus and tube routes and occasionally you still find houses for less than £1.5m.

I'd also be looking along the South Bank. You wouldn't want to be right on the riverfront noisy but the Blackfriars-Bankside-Borough-Bermondsey-Rotherhithe stretch has some good places, such as all those warehouse conversions in Shad Thames.

Primrose Hill is so well situated IMO. It's a lovely residential area that feels out of the hustle and bustle. Haven't been there for years, but I assume there are still some very stylish shops and bars at the bottom of the hill.

The views from Primrose Hill itself over London are wonderful. But it's literally minutes from Camden Town, with its hustle and bustle and night life.

Then, away from the centre. Hampstead Heath is a pleasant stroll away. Lovely pubs to spend a Sunday afternoon in after a walk on the Heath.

I'd look at The Barbican if you're looking for a flat - you'd be able to get a spacious 2 bed and maybe a 3 bed (but avoid the flats nead the roads.) And it's handy for Farringdon & Moorgate for Crossrail.

And BalonzZofloraHernandez got there just before me!

@JoJoSM2 we bought a flat off plan in Chiswick for a similar reason as yours.

What a strange thread. Stealth boast op?!

What a strange attitude roseyposeypuddingandpie. Jealous much?

Disclaimer - unlikely I'll be able to afford what the OP can!

However, I don't begrudge others what they have, What a miserable way to live that would be.

Have a look at Wanstead, E11. It's a really lovely village with a strong community, lots of green spaces, great schools, thriving high street. Served by the central line and only 3 stops from Stratford. It's perfect for your budget

@BalonzZofloraHernandez I get lost whenever I go to the Barbican
Southbank is pretty cool

Primrose Hill - I've just had a good browse on Rightmove and it's a bit to pricey for us. Looking at the options, I think we prefer a 3-bed even if it means extra 10min to get to the theatre.

I think I like this sort of thing actually:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61569723.html

Ooh, that is looooovely @JoJoSM2. You have good taste!!

For a crash pad, I’d go no further out than zone two.

Three bedrooms better than two if you envisage a student child renting out rooms.

Communal garden or low maintenance balcony/patio over a garden that will need work.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63865765.html

Oh my favourite pastime too......Large south facing river fronting terrace......doubt it went for full asking - so you would have enough left over for a flat in Benidorm...

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61139742.html

A 4/5 bed maisonnette in Chelsea for £1.25m

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59753790.html

Is Hackney about as expensive as Chelsea these days, then, or is this an unusual example?

I think it's more Fulham than Chelsea but still very attractive. But with OP's budget I would buy in zone 1.

The Westminster flat Is very well located but I'm not a fan of big (ex) council blocks.

Sands End is the cheap end of Chelsea but I like the riverside there. I'm not surprised if the pricing is similar to Hackey. A lot of gritty areas are just as pricey as naice ones (e.g. Hackney, Brixton or Streatham) but personally we'd rather buy somewhere like Fulham or Parsons Green.

Wapping is a consideration as it does have a nice setting and somewhere with fab views like the link above would be lovely.

We'll need to have a look around different areas but the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced a quieter bit of zone 2 with good transport links would be the best choice for us.

What about Barnsbury - the bit to the east of Upper Street between Angel and Highbury & Islington station. It's lovely and quiet, beautiful houses, walkable to the City, or good transport. So lovely. The bit around The Albion (Thornhill Road) is my lottery win location. Or Highbury Fields.

I tried a Rightmove search, but my rightmove is broken (so odd). It isn't returning any search results in london - no filters applied. But thought I'd chuck some N1 locations into the mix...

West of Upper Street! Sorry.

If you're considering Fulham, Parsons Green and Wapping then what about Canada Water/Rotherhithe? The jubilee line is far superior to district/overground (I say this as someone with 5+ years of District line from Wimbledon experience as a direct consequence of moving from Canada Water!) and it's a really nice, leafy area with rivers/lakes etc. You definitely don't feel like you're just one stop from Canary Wharf and two from London Bridge.

I think there's a big regeneration project coming to Canada Water? Is it clean (no rubbish in streets, weed s in front gardens etc) with some nice shops or restaurants? I don't really know the area.