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.

The problem is that we both want to be able to walk to work, but we work in completely opposite directions. So St Paul’s/Barbican area is slap bang in the middle

would you have shops close by in the zone 1 flat..?...years ago i lived in covent garden when there wasnt much around there then and had to travel out to get shopping etc...it was so quiet in evenings and weekends and i loved it.

If you love zone 1, zone 3 will feel like living in the Hebridies.
Having lived in zone 1 and moved out for more space, green, schools etc to zone 3, it felt like I'd moved to another planet. To everyone else it seemed like a lovely and extremely busy party if london but it was just so suburban. Very different mindsets and ways of life in the people around me. It was awful. Moved back to zone one.

Option 1 for me.
Being able to walk to work is great - nice exercise and money saving. And right in the heart of the city.

A garden flat in Victorian house - the garden will be overlooked by the flats above. 35 minutes each way on the tube, all of those other commuters coughing on you, plus the expensive of travel. No thanks.

If I want green space I'd have to go right out of the city for proper countryside. A small suburb garden isn't worth it to me.

I've got to admit that all this talk of Zone 1 / Zone 2 / Zone 3 reminds me of Hunger Games😬 (disclaimer #ilivenorthofwatfordgap )

< totally misses point of thread>

Weren’t they called ‘District’ 1, 2 or whatever?

@CutPiece yes probably - but 'zone' / 'district' ........ it's all the same 😂x

Central for now. Plenty of time to move to an outer zone. I wouldn't move to Clapham either - much better places to live in London within the same price range.

Of course St Paul's is nicer than bloody Balham. Don't even think about it.

Out of those 2 choices, option 1. We lived in zone 1 for 15 years and it was great being within easy reach of everything. Our area was more buzzy than St Paul's but I don't think living in a quieter area is too much of a problem, it's not far from anywhere if you want more nightlife. But with your working hours you probably won't have much of that during the week, and at weekends it's nice to leave your immediate area a bit anyway to feel like you're going out out.

With shops, everything is delivered now so you don't need to worry about that. The cost of a porter is a bit of a pain but it's good for receiving deliveries if you are at work all day (in our Victorian house it's harder now as there is nowhere to safely leave a parcel).

We have moved out to zone 2 now, but still live a 20 min walk from work and that makes a huge difference to quality of life. It's great never worrying about public transport issues and just not experiencing the collective stress of commuting (even a fairly short journey).

Given your long hours option 1. After a long day a quick 20 min walk home is what you'd most likely want. Also no tube issues ever, won't have to get on it I summer when it's hot and sweaty! Save money and get more exercise.

I for one woukdnt mind a quiet area on weekends sounds lush lol

Plus being so cental you can walk to most green spaces.

From St Pauls it is a few minutes walk to Millbank/Globe and not much further to Borough Market (under a mile). Lots going on there at the weekend.

I live in Westminster- vey quiet at the weekends but only 20 minutes walk and you are in Covent Garden.

I loved living in Clapham but would go for central. You can afford a decent flat with outside space, well managed and guarded. Being able to just pop out for all that London has to offer is an unmatched experience. No taxi will ever refuse to take you home.

If DP's desperate to do some gardening and doing it vertically on the balcony isn't enough for him, get an allotment 🙂

I work close to St Paul's/Barbican and when the kids have left home will move back there again. It's a great place to live and walkable to so many places.

If Clapham means a Northern Line commute I wouldn't personally. Grim.

I've no idea why a PP tbunka it is a mission to get to the West End from St Paul's. It's walking distance!

At your age I'd go for central London (but why on earth St Paul's?)

Northern line is horrible, Clapham/Balham nothing special.

Edit: sorry, just saw you explained why St Paul's.

I've lived in Piccadilly and also south of Trafalgar Square, then after that in Battersea. Zone 1 more fun by far.

I’ve done both: I lived in Ealing Common in my 20s, then bought a flat by Tower Bridge. Both great, but central much more fun, and not commuting was brilliant. I used to walk all round the city at weekends when it was empty - loved it.

Clapham / Balham - Nope

Wimbledon / Wimbledon Park / Southfields - Yes

Central for me, no question.

Definitely Option 1. Living in Central London is fabulous!

I'd definitely go for option St Paul's.

Clapham is most definitely not all it's cracked up to be. Loaded with the same 20 somethings cramming onto the common when there is a bit of good weather.

Balham a bit better but more young family vibe.

If I was you I'd love walking to work and I don't think st Paul's is that dead at the weekend but you can walk anywhere central anyway.

Def option 1, sounds ace.

I wouldn’t go to Clapham. Isn’t it full of freshfromunigraduatetrainees? But then I really don’t like the whole SW London vibe at all. Gack.

I much prefer Islington/parts of Shoreditch and further out if you want space Blackheath/Greenwich. Each to their own tho.

If it’s Clapham-Balham then I’m guessing it’s actually Battersea you’re looking at between the commons or maybe nightingale triangle?? It’s a bit of a different vibe there to Clapham Clapham, and mostly young families. It’s not where I’d choose to live if I didn’t have young kids and wasn’t all about the prep schools and playgrounds… In your position I’d go with the city flat.

I'd go with option 1 if I were in your situation. You can always move further out later.