If you had £3,000 a month to rent a one bed, where in London?

[Pekky]

So DP and I are moving to London for work. We’ll both have promotions but work will be very very demanding. We’ll both work near Bank.

Our plan is to do these jobs for a few years to build up a good flat/house deposit. Our combined take home pay after pensions will be £150k p.a.

I think a budget of £3,000 for a flat sounds reasonable on that salary. For us location is more important than flat interiors. But if we just get a one bed we shouldn’t need to compromise too much.

Where would you live?

Bloomsbury or Clerkenwell.

South side of Tower Bridge. It would make for a lovely walk to/from work on a sunny day.

My DC rent in Bloomsbury and love it there. It's expensive but really central. DC also works in the city.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/152136287#/?channel=RES_LET

I'd be looking at Bermondsey, behind London Bridge station or near Barbican. The city is very empty on the weekends and can feel a bit lack luster once out and away from places like Bank. Both those areas have reasonable residential and community feels

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153163262#/?channel=RES_LET

This is stunning: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149841587#/?channel=RES_LET

Seconded !

This might be nice, Thames views https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/152702090#/?channel=RES_LET

weekends are surprisingly busy around Liverpool Street, Spitalfields and leadenhall, lots to do. Nice restaurants, good shopping, city in walking distance

Bit over budget www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153094748#/?channel=RES_LET

Ooh, lovely location. It would be so nice to live in the heart of Bloomsbury.

If i was going to spend £3k on rent I'd want to stay in a building like this. Stunning on the outside and the inside is lovely with those high ceilings

Spitalfields would be great if you like the bustle. (I'm a Londoner so I seek peace and quiet.)

I guess it depends whether you want bustle at the weekends or peace- I'm like @Chipsintheair and would crave peace! It also depends what you like to do the evening: bars or something more sporty or cultural? Also, would you prefer something like a flat in Georgian conversion or a new build? With your budget, and for ease of commute to Bank I'd be looking at Bloomsbury, Clerkenwell, Spitalfields, Barbican, Farringdon, or somewhere around Bermondsey Street.

South of the river for me - Borough for a really easy walk to work or a little further into Kennington/Lambeth.

I think it depends on the lifestyle you want. How old are you? What do you enjoy doing etc?

If you are young and saving for a first flat then personally I would live a little further out and have more money to save without compromising your socialising budget. Places like Bloomsbury are lovely but generally younger people can't afford to live there so they feel a bit dead and lacking in a proper community.

You could get a great flat in Shoreditch for £2500 and save the extra towards your deposit. It's also a bit more lively.

Clerkenwell used to be where City folk lived - it's beautiful especially near Exmouth Market or side streets off Farringdon. Walking distance to Bank, beautiful period houses and flats, loads of pubs and restaurants/cafes and walking distance to the river and canal too. Sadlers Well and Angel walking distance for theatre and great night life.

Is it just me horrified by the idea of spending 3000 a MONTH on rent?!

Well OP mentioned take home money after pensions is £150k pa. Which is £12.5 per month so no in that sense £3k a month isn't much for the location. That's only 25% of their monthly money.

Primrose Hill. It is touristy but very pretty. Might not get much for 3k though. Regent's Park and the Hill are nice. Otherwise Clerkenwell as others have said.

Lovely as the St George's Drive property is it is on a very busy road so I'd avoid.

Marchmont is wonderful- having vicarious lifestyle envy here! Used to live there as a student oooh 25 years ago...

I love the Pimlico flat but it's a bit of a hike to Bank!

I know families in Bloomsbury (primary age children) and they've mentioned how great the sense of community is there. That might be for families, rather than adults without children, although there are plenty of academics, postgrad students, doctors, teachers, etc.. It's also quite an artistic community. Areas further from the centre do tend to have more young people who've moved into London to find work, though.

Not sure why people are recommending places requiring a commute -- they'll save several hundred pounds a month and lots of time by living within walking distance, and there's so many great neighbourhoods especially for young people.

I also like Bermondsey and the walk across the bridge is invigorating. The views!