Is Central London a nice place to live?

[rumpoodle]

My dd and her girlfriend are looking at buying a one or two bed flat in central London. Dd was left a deposit by a grandparent, and both have high paying jobs.

I’m trying to suggest, that if I were her, I would get somewhere in Hampstead or some where leafier.

Does Central London still have a nice ‘ vibe ‘
to it?

I lived in Victoria once and hated it

I like Bloomsbury, Clerkenwell, Pimlico, Bermondsey, Wapping, and Rotherhithe (adopted Londoner here). Avoud anywhere with a major train terminus.

I lived in Bayswater when I was younger, and that was great. Not sure what it’s like now. Friends lived in Soho or Earls Court. Earls Court had a transient vibe but may be a bit better now. But it was all so much cheaper then -mid-90s. Hampstead is too far out and probably the wrong vibe. Living in central London is a great. I’m in zone 2 now and it’s still nice.

Where in Central London, its still a big area you are talking of here. Absolutely Victoria isn't a great place to live however there are plenty of great places to live in Central London depending on what they like. West End, Soho are completely different to the City or Barbican. It's matching thr place to the people.

I won't say where but we live in Central London and love it, however a young hip couple probably wouldn't be interested in our quiet family dominant streets.

I lived for ten years in Canary Wharf in a quiet development near the inland docks. It was perfect. Could also walk 5 mins to the Greenwich foot tunnel and pop up in Greenwich on weekends. I'd recommend it!

Some of the places listed here don't seem that central to me!!

I had a friend who lived on Drury Lane for a while. Flat was beyond tiny for the price, but a fantastic pace to live. I'd love to live in Soho!

Pimlico could be a good choice. If they need slightly less expensive, then Kennington, which isn't that 'central' but still v close in and well connected to the centre

I've just moved from Islington to Notting Hill... I loved Islington but NH is beyond fab.
I love it.
Fantastic eclectic community, ten minutes max walk to Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens or a bit further and you can get to primrose Hill.
The restaurants, bars etc are very varied and it feels super cool and fun.. I am in my 50's, and my dp and I share flat with our dds aged 17 - 25, in varying degrees.
Everyone feels NH works for all ages.

I like it around Primrose Hill and st katharine docks.

I grew up in Pimlico, and even then it had all the good points that @parietal and @leavesthataregreen give. It managed to be quiet, villagey, busy and central!! If you can get a mansion flat on one of the “squares” with access to the gardens, you’re golden. Getting your hands on these keys used to be nigh on impossible though, no idea if it his has changed.

Primrose Hill. Village-y feel, green, but still v close to the action (I walk into central central London when I’m there).

I've lived around Camden for most of my life, but am a little further out now. I'm planning to move back closer in when my dc leave home - I like Shoreditch, Kings Cross, Exmouth Market areas. And also Notting Hill.

I wouldn't live near Victoria at all - it doesn't have a nice vibe. Similarly Paddington. I quite like Bermondsey to Vauxhall along the river.

Depends where your dd is working - Hoxton/Shoreditch/Clerkenwell would be good to live in if she works in the City I think.

Central London is a big area, however I would just say no, it isn't.

I work in Central London (the areas have been mentioned above) and would say it's polluted, gives you asthma, noisy, ridiculously expensive.

Yes it's nice to have a diverse range of shops and restaurants.

But it's also nice to have an affordable home that has room to swing a cat in, air you can breath and some peace and quiet once in a while.

I love the area I work in. But I'll be honest, I'm also pretty happy to leave it and come home.

Some parts are lovely yes (not Victoria mind you!). Let her make her own decision. I’d also prefer many parts of central London to Hampstead or St Johns Wood as it depends on the atmosphere you want.

Parts of Central London are very nice. Marylebone is worth checking out if they can afford it but a 2 bed flat will cost £1.2M or more

I'm a huge fan of Hampstead. I have a relative who lives there, and love to visit. I actually fantasise about living there, which is never going to happen now. Funnily enough, my relative doesn't much like it.

I've lived near Parsons Green, which to me felt very like my home town in the midlands (I would quite like to have been able to live at the other end of Kings Rd) and Notting Hill, which was much more vibrant, but a year was enough.

Hampstead isn't central london.

Technically Hampstead isn't central London, but it's only 10 minutes on the Tube to central London, and actually easier to get to central London, then central London it's self.

Depends how much you have to spend.

Presumably they already live and / or work in London? So must have their own ideas and knowledge?

Loads of Central London would be a fabulous place to live! I live in Zone 3 having migrated gradually from close-in Zone 2 as I needed more space in the home for family.

Do they need or wish to keep a car? The residents CC concession has been abolished and charging us now until 10pm 7 days a week. So that might preclude most of the most central areas.

Hampstead isn’t what I would call Central London so not sure how far out you mean?

Which side of London will suit them best for travelling to friends and family?

I would love a flat in central London.

Or Greenwich.

Loads of fantastic places to live.

What is their budget?

It varies a lot so depends on where exactly they are buying. For example Marylebone is lovely but it sits next to Edgware Road and Bayswater which look rather shabby.

Also, with a high budget I would look for a small terrace house somewhere like Clapham, Brixton, North London with great transport, rather than a leasehold flat.

It depends what they can afford really, to me the benefits of living centrally aren't worth it compared to a better flat or house in a different zone because most places are so well connected via the underground. I lived in West hampstead for many happy years, lots of independent cafes and boutiques along with some chains and a cinema, close to greenery and around 10 minutes on the tube to the centre of London; perfect.

I work in Central London (zone 1) and I would be put off living in the immediate area by how little green space there is.

I had a friend lived in Pimlico some 25+ years ago, I can't recall exactly where but she had a flat with a roof garden. It was delightfully easy, you walked to the end of the road and there was a parade of shops/restaurants opposite where you could buy anything you wanted or hail a cab if you fancied dining out or a show in the West End. If you wanted out of London then Victoria wasn't far to walk nor was Pimlico station, and there was St George's square not far away for green space, or Green Park/St James's Park/Hyde Park a little further afield, or cross the river and Battersea Park was nice. All in easy walking distance. I often went to stay and loved it.

@Antsinyourpanta

I work in Central London (zone 1) and I would be put off living in the immediate area by how little green space there is.

Kensington gardens, Holland Park, Regent’s Park, Hyde park, green park... oh no, no green at all.

@Okigen

It varies a lot so depends on where exactly they are buying. For example Marylebone is lovely but it sits next to Edgware Road and Bayswater which look rather shabby.

Depends which part of Marylebone and which part of Bayswater. Edgware Road isn’t somewhere I’d live though (and have you seen the prices of the new developments near the station???) but it’s close to Paddington/Heathrow express/west end I guess.