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Original poster

Moving to London: where to rent?

60 replies

Jarra · 16/02/2023 10:16

My DS and his girlfriend are moving to London from their university town. They both have graduate jobs. Their combined pre tax income will be around £100-110k

They need to commute into Liverpool Street station for their office.

Can someone recommend a good area for them to move to? They are looking for at least a one bed, maybe two if the budget allows.

DS’ girlfriend has mentioned she prefers an area with ‘pretty buildings’ and ‘cute cafes’.

OP posts:
whizzpopping · 16/02/2023 10:30

Do they want to live in central London or are they willing to commute from further afield?

Do they want their own place or are they willing to flat share with others?

How much do they want to spend on rent each month?

But to be honest if they're both entering grad programs the best thing would be for them to connect with the other youngsters and let them sort it out themselves

ThisIsAnAlaia · 16/02/2023 11:18

How long do they want to commute?

Do they want a young area or a family area?

Do they want a quiet area or a lively area?

If they want a great spot for bars and socialising then Shoreditch.

If they want a quieter area then probably somewhere in a nice part of East London or Essex (neither of which I know enough about to advise).

LIZS · 16/02/2023 11:26

Stratford?

EyesOnThePies · 16/02/2023 11:31

If they are young and wanting to make the best of a London social life I would suggest somewhere on the tube lines that run an all night service at weekends.

Balham, Clapham South or near the Clapham old town.

Brixton: great places to eat, cinema, theatre, one of the best parks in London, Lido.

Lcb123 · 16/02/2023 11:38

Totally depends on budget and willingness to commute. They need to spend a few weekends touring different areas and trying out various train/tube lines, book Airbnb in areas they might be interested. We did this and landed on Streatham but that's not very convenient for Liverpool St. Nice but pricey would be Stoke Newington. Walthamstow very popular.

beguilingeyes · 16/02/2023 12:28

East London is best for commuting into Liverpool Street. Walthamstow has great transport links with an overground train straight into Liverpool Street and the Victoria Line which is 24 hours at weekends.

Casualbrowser21 · 16/02/2023 12:30

Balham is perfect! Cute cafes, nice parks (Wandsworth and Clapham Common). I work around Lpool street and it takes me 25 mins door to door.

Piccalino3 · 16/02/2023 12:30

I'd say East London, on the central line perhaps. Bow, maybe Stratford?

ScribblingPixie · 16/02/2023 12:32

Highbury & Islington? Great transport links from Highbury, v quick to LS, & lots of cafes & nice squares.

LillyLeaf · 16/02/2023 12:33

We lived in Algate, brick Lane near Liverpool St Station when we first moved to London from uni. It was amazing. Hoxton, Dalston are fab and young too (not cheap).

Piccalino3 · 16/02/2023 12:34

Although Bow isn't on the central line, it's one stop to Mile End or straight to L'pool St on the Hammersmith and City. It's nicer than Mile End though

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 12:35

Are they moving their without any friends already in London?

if they do have friends… that will probably be the clincher

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 12:37

You need to know their take home pay rather than pre deductions

JorisBonson · 16/02/2023 12:38

What is their monthly budget?

Vermin · 16/02/2023 12:41

Bung the travel budget onto rent and live in Spitalfields!

ShirleyPhallus · 16/02/2023 12:43

Vermin · 16/02/2023 12:41

Bung the travel budget onto rent and live in Spitalfields!

I agree, I’d be looking at zone 1. I don’t think rental costs will be massively different to places like Balham

delighted no one has misread the brief and suggested Dagenham or Crystal Palace or something though

dreamingbohemian · 16/02/2023 12:47

They're young and minted, they should enjoy it and live central, not out in Zone 3 or whatever.

Shoreditch if they want buzzy and hip and to walk to work.

Islington if they want more residential and cute cafes, quick tube or bus to work.

Maybe even South Bank/Bermondsey, lots of historic buildings and cafes and walk over the bridge to work, which is amazing.

I'd tell them to do that for a year and enjoy it, get to know the city, and then they can always move somewhere a bit cheaper that they like and save to buy.

speedygreedy · 16/02/2023 12:47

ShirleyPhallus · 16/02/2023 12:43

I agree, I’d be looking at zone 1. I don’t think rental costs will be massively different to places like Balham

delighted no one has misread the brief and suggested Dagenham or Crystal Palace or something though

Show quote history

I’m sure the Blackheath and Herne Hill suggestions will appear any minute now

OP - what is their monthly rental budget?

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 12:49

I don’t remember my boyfriend’s mum have any input or even suggestion when I was in my twenties and moving to London with my boyfriend! 😂

NeedNwJeans · 16/02/2023 12:51

Liverpool street is well connected , but Elizabeth line is the best line ofc.
What's their goal, do they want to save money or are they happy to spend it all? What's their lifestyle, do they like going out clubbing, pubs, walks in the parks etc. Or just the pretty cafes and buildings is all they wish for?

JorisBonson · 16/02/2023 12:51

Clerkenwell would fit the bill, but it's a lot of money to practically sit on your kitchen worktop.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129748433#/?channel=RES_LET

JorisBonson · 16/02/2023 12:51

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 12:49

I don’t remember my boyfriend’s mum have any input or even suggestion when I was in my twenties and moving to London with my boyfriend! 😂

Haha I agree! I think I just told her I was going and off I went 😅

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 12:58

And they do t seem to have shared their actual budget with the OP!

MerryMarigold · 16/02/2023 13:00

It hugely depends on budget and availability (it's difficult to rent in London at the moment). Loughton has many many cute cafes but a bit short on pretty buildings. The benefit of living further out is that may be able to save for a deposit or have more disposable income to spend on travel, theatre etc. It depends what they want to do really, and their personalities.

Bear in mind the Elizabeth line can take you all the way from Essex into Liverpool Street, and rents will be cheaper. Lots of overground options too like Ware (VERY pretty) or Hertford (possibly a bit middle aged for a young couple but it depends what they're like).

I think the best way you can help is to help them think through options and various budgets. What's their take home pay? How much do they want to save per month? How important is lifestyle (going out, traveling etc) and how much would they like to put towards that per month? Is it more important to them to have their own place or is location more important? I would then look at areas which are within budget, otherwise it's all very well to say 'Shoreditch' but a) can they find anything and b) will they anything left over after bills and rent. Also, make sure to budget travel in from different areas as that will make a massive difference.

Ursuladevinia82 · 16/02/2023 13:07

I think the best way you can help is to help them think through options and various budgets. What's their take home pay? How much do they want to save per month? How important is lifestyle (going out, traveling etc) and how much would they like to put towards that per month?

they are adults
in professional jobs
leave them be unless they ask i what I’d suggest