Would you live in Central London or Zone 2/3?

[pinktinge]

We are going to move flats soon.

Option 1: Live in the middle of Zone 1 (near St Paul’s) and be able to walk to work in 20 minutes. Flat in a block with porter, balcony, urban setting.

Option 2: Live in leafy Zone 2/3 borders, 35 mins commute to work on tube. Garden flat in a victorian house.

I would prefer to enjoy the super central urban lifestyle but dh prefers something a bit more relaxed.

I hate Clapham so I'd vote central!

Option one! I live in Zone three, lovely terrace with a small garden walkable to three parks and tube/shops. But I'd love to live further in. My kids and four pets prevent that currently, but some day.....

Do you have children? When it was just me and DH neither of us cared about a garden but with children we use it so much more.

Then absolutely go for that. I never lived around there, but used to spend lots of time at the flat of a friend who lived down a little passage by Middle and Inner Temple, and I loved the slight air of otherworldliness at weekends.

Definitely garden flat in Clapham. I would be concerned about service charges etc rocketing in a portered block. I moved from zone 1 to Clapham/balham for more space and a garden and I absolutely loved it. It is more peaceful and there's lots of green space. My only alternative suggestion would be, if budget allowed, to find a garden flat on fringes of zone 1, eg Angel. But that would probably be ridiculously expensive. But in an ideal world- could then have the more villagey atmosphere (rather than living in the actual city which I find a bit meh) but able to walk into Bloomsbury/anywhere.
Out of your two choices I'd definitely recommend Clapham/balham?

If Clapham / Balham means commuting on the Northern line, then no way Jose.

I assume you are renting so if you really hate where you choose you can always move on.

perhaps if you choose central you can spend a bit of time exploring the further out options

Depends what you like doing. If it's just you and your H, no pets or kids and you work full time, then I'd live in zone 1. You can walk to bars, restaurants, theatres, galleries, the river.

I live in zone 2 but have kids, pets (that I need to walk and which need a garden), schools and a friendship group here.

Option 1, no question.

For those who say the City is dead on the weekend - why is this a problem?😊

I said "meh" not dead!

If you don't have kids then central

Option 2.
Its so easy to get anywhere from Clapham, after all you have 3 Tube stations, Rail, + London Overground. Having a garden is a real plus. Best of both worlds for you & your DH.

It's nice to be able to pop into shops/bats/cafes/restaurants within short walking distance and many don't open at the weekend in the City.

Yes this - the advantage of being central is that you can step out the block and life is right there. If you have to bus/walk/tube it you may as well be in Clapham! I don’t know clapham well but assume there will be more life at the weekends

Option 1.And it's not dead at the weekends anymore.Lots of people around on the Saturday and Sunday when I stayed recently and a quick hop over the bridge to Southbank/walk East/West and its all going on.Walking to work is a treat too.

Is a proper decent balcony? As in big enough for a clothes horse (and allowed to have them), a sun lounger, room for plant pots/mini greenhouse etc.
If yes - I would be happy with a balcony like that rather than a garden.
I live near Balham/Clapham and personally I don't like the area very much.
The traffic (especially around the common) is ridiculous.
I wouldn't want to live in Zone 1 now (I have a child) but if I was living the "no kids, job in central London" life - I think it would be nicer than Clapham.

Islington may have everything you are looking for! How old are you? Clapham/balham has a lot of young Aussies. The green spaces are always packed.

I’d quite like the quiet of St Paul’s on a weekend as a nice contrast to midweek! But as I get a bit older (40, no kids, love London but also love a bit of a community feel) somewhere around Highbury & Islington would be my dream.

The tube journey from Clapham would be a nightmare I think though! It’s not far but super busy

Leaving aside the area, conversion flats come with their own issues, esp lack of noise insulation. So the garden flat idyll might not be all that…purpose-built and properly soundproofed all the way, for me at least. Beware conversions…

I’d do the St Paul’s option. Or somewhere else very central - Notting Hill, Bayswater, Marylebone etc.

How old are you? This probably makes a difference.

Thanks for the further replies!

We are both 28, no kids, work an average of 9am-8pm during the week (or longer..)

Yeah ok, given you are 28 and work long hours id stay central.

lets face it, you will eventually move further out. But with no kids yet… enjoy central London!

What about a different part of Zone 1 - we lived in Wapping overlooking a leafy park, easy walking distance to the city, but felt less manic. Lovely ornamental canals too.

Where is your office? I can’t stand Clapham/Balham, feels like an early 20s gap year place for antipodeans! I did live there for a while! I’m not keen on St Paul’s, there not a lot going on, could you do Clarkenwell? I loved living there, great mix of things to do, community vibe, easy walk to the city (I was working at Liv St).