Moving from West London to East London

[zambezie]

We currently live in Chelsea/Sloane Square. It’s very nice but we are not wealthy (renting) so feel a tad out of place in the area. There’s very little community here as many residents are in their other homes or overseas. We moved here because Dp used to work here.

We both now work in the City of London. So we are thinking of moving East to Spitalfields or perhaps Clerkenwell. Appreciate these are not really that far East but they have an East London vibe. Surprisingly, rents really aren’t hugely cheaper.

Has anyone made such a drastic move in terms of “vibe”?

I'm not sure moving from one part of London to another is as drastic as you are suggesting.

Those are both fairly central. It's not very drastic and the vibe is pleasant in both places. Many people will have made more drastic vibe changes in the course of one bus journey. I wouldn't over-think it, but I would explore more.

I disagree with previous posters about there not being much of a difference. Sloane Sq and Clerkenwell are completely different in terms of vibes. Shoreditch, Clerkenwell, Old ST are much more 'urban', grittier and faster paced. It's not as sanitised and the demographic is very different.

I'd suggest spending weeknights and weekends in the places you're thinking of to get a feel for the area. If I was a 'Sloaner' I'd find moving to Clerkenwell difficult.

But they don't feel they fit in with the Sloaners and they work in the City, so Clerkenwell shouldn't be a big shift.

DS moved from South Ken to Shadwell and much preferred it. He found it more central and there were obvious signs of a community with little shops, kids playing football etc. Yes , the City is largely a weekday area but the increase in flats has meant that there is a population all week. Clearly it is economically mixed but he prefers that.

@Pinkdelight3 fair point. I read it as not liking the lack of community but still liking the area. If they don't like the Chelsea area but want community then one of the villages might be good if they're happy with a short commute.

I've lived in both Clerkenwell and Shoreditch.

I hate Sloane Square area, however.

I LOVED Clerkenwell - 6 years I lived there and walked to work in the City. It's GREAT. Friendly coffee shops and quiet enough, super central and you can walk to Soho. Plenty of garden squares and whatnot. I would recommend. None of the pretentious crap you get with K&C.

EC1 is not "gritty" at all. You've got Sadler's Wells there! It's basically The Guardian as a postcode.

I'm not sure a move from Sloane Square to Clerkenwell is one to fret about. Many residents will also be in their other homes or overseas. You'd have to move further into Hackney or south to Wapping/ St. Katherine's to find more of a community feel, and even then you're going to be surrounded by tourists and Monday to Fridays.