Clapham vs Holborn

[ironingboarde]

Looking at moving to a new flat. My dp prefers Holborn but I prefer Clapham. We are mid 20s

Clapham: I like it because it's more residential, beautiful buildings, has a young vibe, we have friends who live there. The downsides are the rush hour tube to work. The flat we are looking at is a large two bed on a garden square in Clapham Old Town.

Holborn: Walk to work in 10 mins. Super quick to get anywhere in central. Rent is more expensive but about the same price as Clapham Flat + Commuting costs. It's a slightly smaller two bed flat. I find it a bit hard to 'switch off' being so central.

Clapham: much more pleasant place to spend your weekends/long summer evenings in than Holborn, and easier to get to other lovely locations in SW London (Richmond, Wimbledon etc) too

Have you experienced the rush hour tube at Clapham Common?

Neither sounds great. Northern line in rush hour is absolutely dire.

How about Bloomsbury or clerkenwell? Both absolutely central, walkable everywhere, but also neighbourhood vibes at the weekend.

Holborn, obviously. I don't like Clapham anyway, but why would you want to be stuck way out on the Northern line when you could walk to work?

Holborn just for the shorter commute. Clapham is pretty naff imo, what about somewhere east?

Anywhere but Clapham. Weekends are horrible, full of stag and hen dos, people throwing up in the street. I really hated living around there. Does it have to be either/or? There are so many lovely places to live in London.

Kentish Town.

I think I know which square you mean and it's beautiful, you will not come across any stag/hen do's there (I live in Clapham and can't say I've noticed them very much anywhere else but I don't go out on the High St at night). I don't need to commute but taking the tube daily at rush hour would be a major drawback for me.

Do you have any family or friends who live outside London who you visit regularly? If they are an easy journey from Clapham Junction - and that covers quite a wide area - or on the south coast then great but it's a real pain driving across London or schlepping into central London to catch a train to see them. We add about an hour onto our journey driving up to Brent Cross to catch the M1 when we go to visit our extended family.

I’m a seasoned Londoner and can find things to like about most areas, but I really dislike Holborn. It has a seedy, transient, low-end tourism feel at night. Just not a nice vibe.

Holburn. You've got lovely squares - AND - you're a short walking distance from the river, Borough Market, the National Theatre, the Royal Opera House etc. you can tickets to the ballet/ opera for £17 (up in the Gods), there are £20 for National Theatre plays - then there's the British Museum which is free - the LIFE you can have....

40 mins is not a short walking distance imho

Holborn all day. I lived near Sicilian Avenue for a bit (many years ago - I lodged with an old dear for 28 quid a week! That was a bargain even in 1995). Very quiet at weekends - but you're literally minutes from 'hustle and bustle' if you want it.

I'm not really a fan of Clapham. Too many chaps called Benjy with their collars up.

Clapham tube stations are all horrible at rush hour.

Holborn - preferably more towards Bloomsbury but it's not far.

Out of those choices, Holborn definitely. Love being able to walk to work and get to all the attractions easily. At weekends it's easy enough to spend time out of the local area as the tubes won't be too bad.

Holborn is eerie at the weekend, and a bit busy/grotty otherwise. Clapham is lovely, especially around the old town and the square you are talking about, with the common right next to it. Also so convenient to get to Gatwick!

As for the the tube, it’s not so bad if you get on before around 8.15.

The northern line is called the misery line for a reason. I’d have sold a kidney ru live in Holborn at your age.

I lived in Clapham for years - it's great but the northern line is a bit of a nightmare. Holborn doesn't have much of a community. I throughly recommend Angel though - best of every world and then some! Plus you can still walk most places xx