Does anyone live in the City of London?

[atlantique]

I don't mean London, but the City.

Dp and I both work in the city as lawyers. Work long hours and could do without the commute on top. We've seen some nice flats near to our office where we could do door to door in under 20 minutes.

Rent is very expensive, even for London, but presume this is because most people who rent the flats are saving some £ on commuting.

I was wondering if living in the City is very different to working there? Are there 'locals' restaurants et cetera, or is everything a chain/corporate-y?

I've got family who live in the Barbican and they love it. Different vibe at the weekend to during the week but still lots going on. They're lawyers too - got fed up of sleeping under their desks!

I have a relative who lived there. Absolutely fantastic place to live if you can swing the money.

Not quite the city but I used to live in Shad Thames and just walk across the bridge to the city- I worked at at Paul’s, DH at Bank. It was lovely and had good transport links from London Bridge. Lots of bars, coffee places etc within walking distance and lovely runs down the South bank.

Plenty of more local style restaurants/cafes around Whitecross Road market, near the Barbican. Barbican and Golden Lane are the most residential areas in the city.
Plus it has a Waitrose, council run leisure centre at Golden Lane, small library, primary school, GPs, all the usual residential stuff. (plus Ironmonger Row baths and spa which is technically just over the border into Islington)

Also the City has done great work in making the roads safer so get a bike and you will be at the office in just a few mins anywhere in the City.

I used to live near Spitalfields. Best of both worlds. Walking distance to City jobs but lovely food and flower markets, galleries, museums, cafes - very different vibe from the City if you want to relax at weekends. Bit grubby and urban but I loved it.

I used to live right in the middle of the city. I absolutely loved it!! I only moved away because I wanted to buy and couldn't afford to buy there, otherwise I could have happily stayed long term.
The area was always buzzing during the week, and then a wonderful calmness came at the weekends.

I used to live in the city (Barbican) and it was fantastic. It was calm and quiet on the weekends, and just a short walk to areas like Clerkenwell or down to St Paul’s and over the bridge to Tate Modern, walk along the Southbank. Plenty of ‘local’ places around Whitecross Street.

We lived a 10 min walk to Liverpool St Station but technically in Hackney borough, Shoreditch triangle area. Very busy nightlife and great restaurants. Streets definitely not as clean as the City though, a bit gritty at times but lots of fun.

I’d have said the quiet and slight ‘ghost town’ air at weekends was part of the point, tbh. A friend used to live down one of the little courts by Inner/Middle Temple, and loved it. It’s not like you’re far from buzzier weekend areas if you want them.

Used to live in St Katherine's Dock. Was great, but it was absolutely dead at weekends (other than tourists). Suited us.

Also used to live just off Brick Lane. That was never quiet, and had fabulous salt beef bagels available 24/7....

I work in the City and dream of having a Barbican flat… did the walking tour and it’s such an interesting history. Albeit on the odd occasions I’ve had to come into the office at weekends it’s such a different vibe, very ghost town. I’d be really interested in how that feels for folk that live there all week round. I imagine if you have local friends and family it would be really amazing (all the amenities and none of the crowds) but if not is it a bit weird and lonely?

I’d visit the area you are thinking of some weekend. Some parts can be very dead, with deserted streets. I agree with PP that Shoreditch/Spitalfields has a lot going on & very close to the Bishopsgate area. You pay a premium for that though, you’d get a better place for the same cost a bit further north but then your commute would be longer.

If you can say roughly where your work is, people might be able to suggest good neighbourhoods to look at.

I am so over London. But around Temple, that's still an area I'd live in. I just love it there.

In my dreams! 😂

I lived near Chancery Lane over 20 years ago and I loved it. As others have said it’s quiet at the weekends, but only a 15 minute walk to Covent Garden. I used to walk everywhere - I worked near Leadenhall Market at the time.

I would presume you’re more likely to get interesting non chain restaurants in central London then anywhere more suburban.

I stayed for a year on the estate on Leather lane while friend was abroad...so nice and quiet after 5pm ish and weekends...hatton garden on the next road also.....now more shops and bars around there....also spent 6 months on monmouth street in covent garden....flat sit...very small dark flat but enjoyed being central and going to soho market for fruit etc.

I lived in the Barbican for years. It was great. Super convenient for work, plus it has gardens and tennis courts that residents can use and the flats are mostly really well designed and built.
When I moved there a million years ago there was nothing much in the area but now there's loads more (non chain) restaurants and bars around. Smithfield is right next door, and St John St, Exmouth market up the road, plus when I drive through the city on the weekend now I am always surprised by how many people are about.

I loved living in the City. We lived on the Golden Lane Estate. Didn’t find it ‘dead’ on weekends. Stuff is on, restaurants are open, you can walk to the Tate, Shoreditch, etc. But it does, like the Barbican which I also love, feel like a little oasis in the city.

I was walking through there today, and they were filming Slow Horses on Fann Street.

I also lived in the Barbican for years and loved it - it had quite a community feel and the gardens are great. I did tend to go towards Spitalfields for nights out though. The City is a bit of a ghost town at weekends but I really liked that, and it’s so close to areas like Spitalfields if you’re looking for more life. I miss the Pride of Spitalfields and their random plates of roast potatoes like mad.

Interesting that so many people like the Barbican - we fancy it but it seems to be quite expensive compared to nearby streets.

Thank you for all your responses, have read with great interest😁

Careful buying in the Barbican right now. It is falling apart and service charges for next year alone are around 26k. Lots of people are trying to sell.

Careful buying in the Barbican right now. It is falling apart and service charges for next year alone are around 26k. Lots of people are trying to sell.

Not that surprising- service charge includes heating, and while they were repairing some roofs when I was there it's a big estate and something will always need fixing. I'd guess the cost of repairs has rocketed as it has everywhere else. For sure I'd rent there though.

I have friends who lived on the lovely side streets off Spitalfields - with 2 kids. Loads to do, beautiful flats and walking distance to work. I don't know how they cost up against other parts of the city though. Clerkenwell was always the desired area when I worked in the city - loads of pubs/restaurants but not as busy as Liverpool Street. For community, you'll know your neighbours and there's exercise classes/yoga etc with other local people. Many might be expats or more transient but it's still a great trade off for quality of life/commute.