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Original poster

Where would you live - no kids central London?

123 replies

TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 10:20

Where would you live - no kids semi retired (WFH) want to immersed in London cultural life (theatre / galleries / museums / events etc ) not interested in restaurants/shops/bars) would like green space nearby. Thinking Primrose Hill, St John’s Wood, Marylebone anywhere else in zone 1 (don’t want to have a car)?

OP posts:
Original poster
TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 15:40

Plexie · 27/01/2023 15:28

Another vote for Bloomsbury, in the quiet bit between the A4200 (Tavistock/Russell Square) and the A5200 (Grays Inn Road).

Little garden squares and green areas in the immediate area.

Interesting areas in all directions within walking distance (rejuvenated Kings Cross/Coal Drops Yard etc to the north; Sadlers Wells/Angel/Islington to the east; Holborn/Covent Garden/the Thames to the south; the West End).

Waitrose in the Brunswick Centre, also a cinema.

Good transport links: Kings Cross (East Coast Mainline to Scotland, Thameslink north & south eg Cambridge, Brighton), fast line to Kent; St Pancras (Eurostar); Euston (North West service, when it's running).

theladyottoline.net/

This is my fav pub in the area.

Yes I have found some really lovely quiet squares - is it cheaper than Marylebone?

OP posts:
trulyunruly01 · 27/01/2023 15:45

I always fancied the new flats along the Albert Embankment. Overlooking the river and walkable to Victoria and Waterloo, parliament and the Royal parks, South Bank and theatre land.
I grew up in London and always thought I'd end up back there. Don't quite know how I've ended up here...

beguilingeyes · 27/01/2023 15:45

This is my dream too...and it's the sort of dilemma that keeps me awake at night :) Pimlico is lovely. Primrose Hill also, but spendy.
I always fancied living at the top of Centre Point. Right on top of everything.

Flockameanie · 27/01/2023 15:51

We lived in Barbican-adjacent pre-kids and absolutely loved it. It's a completely brilliant part of London. (And definitely no longer 'dead' on weekends) But not very green (unless you're in the Barb itself, which has great gardens, lake, etc)...

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 27/01/2023 15:52

Primrose Hill - no question.

Walkable to West End, Marylebone, Regents Park, Hampstead, St John’s Wood etc etc. Plus it’s beautiful, with a real village vibe.

Great restaurants and pubs, independent stores and yet 10 mins away from the big supermarket in Camden.

I love it.

Original poster
TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 15:54

Flockameanie · 27/01/2023 15:51

We lived in Barbican-adjacent pre-kids and absolutely loved it. It's a completely brilliant part of London. (And definitely no longer 'dead' on weekends) But not very green (unless you're in the Barb itself, which has great gardens, lake, etc)...

“Dead” on weekends would suit me fine ! We go to The Barbican a lot - but I need green.

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Flockameanie · 27/01/2023 15:54

With your requirements, I'd pick your favourite park/ green space/ bit of the river and look in a radius around there. I love Hampsted Heath (and lived near it for a while), so I'd go in that direction. Probably Highgate West Hill area in between the Heath and the cemetery/ Waterlow Park

londonmummy1966 · 27/01/2023 15:57

If you need to head out to Dorset then Pimlico/Westminster is probably your best bet as the trains go from Waterloo/CLapham Junction. Waterloo is very easy to get to from there. You are in walking distance/short taxi ride to the West End and the Southbank for culture, have nice local shops or Battersea Power Station for more mainstream in a glitzy new setting and have the river and a shortish walk to Battersea Park to the south and Royal Parks to the north. You may struggle to find 3 beds on your budget but a nice 2 bed is realistic,

Original poster
TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 16:04

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 27/01/2023 15:52

Primrose Hill - no question.

Walkable to West End, Marylebone, Regents Park, Hampstead, St John’s Wood etc etc. Plus it’s beautiful, with a real village vibe.

Great restaurants and pubs, independent stores and yet 10 mins away from the big supermarket in Camden.

I love it.

That would be a good choice as the inner streets are quiet as it’s sort of a dead end / no through traffic. We nearly bought a one bed flat on Charcot Sq in the 1990s as our first home but instead bought a big house in Home Counties where we have raised x 4 DCs …. no regrets - but looking forward to next chapter of our lives.

This thread has really helped me understand what I want. I want to be walking distance of a big green park as I run - I don’t want to pay a premium to be close to fancy coffee shops / restaurants etc as that’s not how I spend my time.

OP posts:
HelenHywater · 27/01/2023 16:12

I'm planning to do this too. I wouldn't live in Pimlico or Victoria - I don't like them!

I would think about Clerkenwell and Shoreditch. Also Kings Cross. Possibly Primrose Hill although not sure (I also lived on Chalcot Road before kids though and did love it). Possibly Belsize Park.

I know someone who lived in Soho and she loved it. I'd think about that and Covent Garden probably.

Notting Hill is lovely too although possibly too sloaney for me. (I like to live near my tribe).

AdelaideRo · 27/01/2023 16:13

Barbican has green it’s got a sodding great residents garden, the wild area and postman’s park.

I loved it there.

also loved Bloomsbury - bit too busy but amenities were good.

farringdon. I like but not so much nice green space - spa fields isn’t that nice!

london bridge /bermondsey has pocket parks and the river (big draw) but gets busier at weekend which I think is a disadvantage!

Original poster
TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 16:19

Southbank / riverside is a good shout for running.

So could anyone rate the following on price from high to low….

Bloomsbury, Pimlico, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Primrose Hill, St John’s Wood - and then roughly the cheapest and most expensive parts within each area? Or is there a website that can do that for me?

I do like Belsize Park - but it’s just a bit too residential and too far out for me as is Islington (lived there for years - absolutely loved it).

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YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 27/01/2023 16:35

Bloomsbury, Pimlico, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Primrose Hill, St John’s Wood - and then roughly the cheapest and most expensive parts within each area?

I’d say Primrose Hill and the SJW are the most expensive (a lot of A list bona fide movie stars in both).

Then Marylebone, Pimlico, Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury are on a par.

Lcb123 · 27/01/2023 16:37

I'd live on Bermondsey Street!

Original poster
TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 17:21

Lcb123 · 27/01/2023 16:37

I'd live on Bermondsey Street!

Have you been to Maltby Street - just over the road - great restaurants and street food trucks…

OP posts:
Original poster
TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 17:35

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127550390#/?channel=RES_BUY

This one in Pimlico looks amazing …..

OP posts:
GoodbyeMrChips · 27/01/2023 17:41

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129999722#/?channel=RES_BUY

i would also opt for Bloomsbury, near Marchmont Street. 15/20 minutes walk to Theatreland, 10 mins to British museum. You can also walk to Exmouth Market and Colombia Road. 25 minutes walk to Regents Park, or jump on the Piccadilly Line at Russell Sq for Hyde Park Corner/Green Park. My mother walks everywhere from there.

In the area itself, you have the Brunswick Centre with the huge Waitrose and an indi cinema. Marchmont Street with a fab health food shops and various other places. Lambs Conduit Street has a fab neighbouhood Italian restaurant and decent pubs.

Kings Cross isn’t far with Coal Drop Yard.

It is surprisingly quiet, most of the students are medical students and it’s very quiet at weekends. There are various small bits of green - Square gardens, St George’s Gardens which is an old Victorian graveyard and things like that. But you can walk to Regents Park, the canal etc. Or easy bus or tube either central for Hyde Park or North up to Primrose Hill and Hampstead. It’s a fab spot.

Original poster
TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 17:50

GoodbyeMrChips · 27/01/2023 17:41

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129999722#/?channel=RES_BUY

i would also opt for Bloomsbury, near Marchmont Street. 15/20 minutes walk to Theatreland, 10 mins to British museum. You can also walk to Exmouth Market and Colombia Road. 25 minutes walk to Regents Park, or jump on the Piccadilly Line at Russell Sq for Hyde Park Corner/Green Park. My mother walks everywhere from there.

In the area itself, you have the Brunswick Centre with the huge Waitrose and an indi cinema. Marchmont Street with a fab health food shops and various other places. Lambs Conduit Street has a fab neighbouhood Italian restaurant and decent pubs.

Kings Cross isn’t far with Coal Drop Yard.

It is surprisingly quiet, most of the students are medical students and it’s very quiet at weekends. There are various small bits of green - Square gardens, St George’s Gardens which is an old Victorian graveyard and things like that. But you can walk to Regents Park, the canal etc. Or easy bus or tube either central for Hyde Park or North up to Primrose Hill and Hampstead. It’s a fab spot.

That’s a brilliant apartment with incredible outside space. I know this area as worked at GOSH many years ago and still now often go to The Renoir Cinema
and The Lady Ottoline Pub

OP posts:
Blueberrywitch · 27/01/2023 17:59

TelHillTubby · 27/01/2023 10:38

It depends on your budget. Money no object? Regents Park, Mayfair, Marylebone. A bit more constrained? Pimlico. Tight? London Bridge/Bermondsey Street or even Battersea (short stroll to Chelsea etc).

I’m not sure if you’ve looked at property prices lately but I wouldn’t describe London bridge as appropriate for those on tight budgets!

Shitfather · 27/01/2023 18:21

I saw your comment about mansion flats. Their proportions are gorgeous BUT service charge is a bugger. 10k isn’t unusual.

For your budget, you’d get a gorgeous flat in Maida Vale. Paddington Rec is great for running and other sports. Walking distance to town, Regents Park, Hyde Park, PH.

Original poster
TintyMinty · 27/01/2023 18:44

Shitfather · 27/01/2023 18:21

I saw your comment about mansion flats. Their proportions are gorgeous BUT service charge is a bugger. 10k isn’t unusual.

For your budget, you’d get a gorgeous flat in Maida Vale. Paddington Rec is great for running and other sports. Walking distance to town, Regents Park, Hyde Park, PH.

Oh no really don’t want the commitment of a service charge at that level. Maybe I need to look at conversions then……

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TakeMe2Insanity · 27/01/2023 18:46

Battersea! You could literally live walking distance to zone 1, across from the park and all the new shops etc.

Shampern · 27/01/2023 18:51

If you like the City, try going East like Hackney or round Vicky Park. It is a bit more "gritty" but really competing with West London now.