50sqm in Zone 1 or 70sqm in Zone 3

[Broomhandle]

So looking at two flats that have similar commute times to work.

Is it better to go for a 50sqm one bed flat in a very nice area of Zone 1 London. Or is it better to go for a very roomy one/two bed in Zone 3. Nice enough area but does feel a bit suburban.

As a single person, I'd go for zone 1.

with a partner or child (or potential child), probably zone 3.

Depends where in zone 3

If it were me it would be the bigger flat in zone 3. But where in zone 3 ?
Also is there any outside space at all ?

Exactly this. Also - is the Zone 3 one more Highgate or Harlesden?

Depends what area it is and what the transport links are like. Some zone 3/4 you can get into central quicker than zone 2.

Impossible to answer without knowing where in zone 1 and zone 3

loads of other factors at play too eg

• how much longer is commute


• where are your friends based/where do you tend to socialise


• do you need a spare room


• do you/might you have a child


• does either have outdoor space

etc

What happened to zone 2 🤔
Could be the compromise and some zone 2 areas have great transport links into central London

How do you live?

I'm long term single. Won't have kids now. I live in Zone 1 and it really suits my lifestyle.

It's an odd week when I don't go to see a play/ show in the West End. I eat out frequently. I love walking home after such activities. I really enjoy going to the posh gym by the river that has no equivalent outside zone 1. I can walk to work in 25 minutes.

I've considered moving out to suburbia loads of times (I could get a house!) but every time I come back to the fact that my small central flat suits my lifestyle better.

Where exactly in zone 1 and 3?

Also agree zone 1 for singletons.

Zone one every time. Zone 3 is crap. All the shit of London, and none of the benefits

Can't comment on the London thing - but the layout can be as important as the sq ft. Having moved from a 50-ish sq mtr house to a 70-ish sq mtr house, I now have nowhere to put stuff in the bigger house because the smaller house had so much more and better storage! I like the bigger house, but would have no problem with going back to a well laid out smaller house.

Buying or renting?

Even parts of zone 2 can feel very cut off from the centre. I'm a single male living in zone 2, SE London and it's always an ordeal to get to the West End, either 50 minutes by public transport or a sweaty, messy cycle. Central London is the London that I like but I feel very cut off from it.

I often daydream of giving up my 60sqm rented flat and getting a room somewhere in Clerkenwell or Queensway, etc.

But I'm mid-40s now and can't see myself going back to flatshare life, even if any would have me!

Where does it take 50 mins to get to the west end from zone 2??

Anywhere in SE London that is 10 minutes walk from a train station!

I don't count standing on the platform of Victoria, Blackfriars or London Bridge station as being in the West End, by the way.

Here's a typical journey from around where I live to Soho:

www.google.com/maps/dir/Erlanger+Rd,+London/The+French+House,+Dean+Street,+London/@51.4918154,-0.1074022,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x487602553278bebb:0x2453455cd35b0eb5!2m2!1d-0.0465075!2d51.470845!1m5!1m1!1s0x487604d2fbf64805:0x5b6a668d1c712399!2m2!1d-0.1317462!2d51.5127422!3e3

All you need is a one 2 near a tube station and you’re in central London quickly and easily

Zone 2!

We went for Zone 1 in the end. It's near Sloane Square. For Zone 2/3 we were looking at lots of areas, Highbury was one of them. There are two of us.

I'm sure we'll regret not having more space, but we are really excited to live so centrally.

Well being central definitely has lots of advantages and if it suits you then that’s all that matters