Need help on London neighbourhoods for DD!

[ThatCandidPearlFinch]

Hi everyone, I have been reading some threads on here and thought some of you may be help me out.

My DD (24) will be moving from Paris to London in the summer for a new job. It's based beside the Westfield in Stratford, near what I believe was the Olympic village. She is used to big cities as went to uni in Dublin and then lived in Paris, but neither of us have spent any time in London apart from a few weekend trips when she was little.

The only memories I have of the East End are from my mother that trained as a nurse there in the 50s, so needless to say I'm clueless, and my ideas of the area are not up to date. From google, seems it has changed a lot.

She is adamant about living alone, so want somewhere safe enough for her without too long of a commute, maybe 20 minutes? She is typical of her age, into pilates, ice coffee, etc., not big into drinking or clubbing though, she's more bookish. I'm not sure where would balance this, since the younger and livelier areas seem to be a bit noisier than she would like, but places without all the matcha and yoga stuff could bore her still. She is also moving with a wee sausage dog, so safety whilst walking him early in the mornings is something to consider. She is also thinking of buying a car to visit us more easily, so preferably want to be outside of the congestion fee area.

She is saying she would like to walk to work, as she does now, but I'm not sure if that is possible in her price range. Her budget is in and around £1,800-£2,000 including bills for a decent one bed. Somewhere like Maryland or Forest Gate seem to be reasonably priced, as are some areas closer to the city like Bow, Mile End, Stepney Green.

Appreciate any suggestions. She's decided her heart is set on some development in the "East Village" of Stratford, seems to be lots of parks and cool pubs etc, but I don't think her budget would stretch. She's reluctant to consider anywhere else...

Thanks in advance!

Would she consider sharing to get East village? The vibe of Stratford is very different to Forest Gate!

I would avoid the old side of Stratford unless she manages to find a flat right near the station in budget. Leyton and Leyton midland are would both be good options and would be walkable with a short bus or train if it was raining.

Where in the country are you? This might slightly change where in London is best to get out to visit you. Does she have any friends in London she'd want to visit?
Victoria Park Village is also 'villagey', right near Victoria Park and lots going on for younger people.
Stratford does have great transport links into central London and other areas.

Area around Roman Road and Victoria Park in Bow/Mile End is great. She’d get a one bed for that budget.

Stratford. Lots of nice new apartments to rent on her budget, at least that’s what DP pays for his!

Some blocks are posher than others so will be more pricey.

Hackney Wick or by Victoria Park if she wants more of a hipster vibe.

I lived in Maryland but that was years ago. I'd look at renting in Stratford itself in the new village blocks, its all happening there. Be upfront about the dog and offer a massively increased deposit against damage.

Thanks everyone!

Hi, we were based in rural Aberdeenshire but moved to Ireland to be closer to DH's parents during covid. Still have my family Scotland so she will be trekking to both, but her health issues make long trains difficult so she will hopefully have the car for the long drive and ferry trips.

She does have friends from uni, but all are based in west London. She is not mad on the idea of a long commute, again because of the health issues. Stratford being so well connected is another reason why she fell in love with East Village, since it's not too far away from the city.

I'll let her know about Victoria Park, thanks!

Hi, I've raised sharing with her (my preference) but she's lived alone for two years and not eager to go back. She suffers with IBD and found that hard to manage living with strangers, which I do understand since it takes a toll on her mental health and can be awkward at times. It's also part of the reason she wants to be closer to Stratford rather than further away, so she can run home at lunch if there are issues. I've seen similar about Stratford online, there do seem to be cheaper flats nearer to the station rather than over at East Village. Is the Broadway relatively ok, or would you have a rough estimate of how far from the station is fine? Thanks!

Hi, thats good to know, thank you! My mum's memories of that part of the city aren't great, but I know a lot has changed since the 50s... Her boss mentioned some of the other younger people in the office lived around there so it seems like a safe bet now! Thanks

Hi, yes she's not fussed much about the posh flats, but East Village is just a touch too pricey! I have seen that some parts of Stratford are a bit less safe than others, do you have any pointers on that?

My cousin mentioned Hackney Wick, I was a little shocked by the graffiti but from looking online it seems very young and "cool". Might be a bit too loud for her since there seems to be a big party scene there. It does seem a little cheaper than East Village, and its a very short cycle to it, so she may be willing to expand her horizons that far!

Thanks

Hi, yes she is dead set on East Village, but even the studios are more than £2,100 p/m. I am happy to help her out with a deposit for the dog, he's done wonders for her mental health and whilst I'd be happy to take him, I know she would struggle without him. She will have a reference from her Parisian landlord about the dog, who has been no trouble (either noise or damage), so hoping that may help.

Thanks!

If she’s lived alone in Paris and Dublin then she sounds confident in urban living?

Stratford Broadway area is fine. It’s less “in” than the Village area, and it’s taken a while to become more salubrious, but there’s a big Unite student accommodation development and the University of East London has a campus there so there are lots of young students away out and about in the area and facilities which have grown around to meet their demands.

Hackney Wick is also quite nice nowadays. Around the canal is busy and lively, especially at weekends, but it’s not as noisy as the appearance might lead you to believe. Graffiti is just London standard - and a lot of it is intentional “artistic” graffiti rather than decay.

It depends on the sort of vibe she likes. East Village is fine, but it’s sort of removed from London proper, in a similar way as Canary Wharf. East Village is quite family orientated (loads of people with young children, so safe and relaxed). The bit by Stratford station is still pretty rough. Where did she live in Paris and did she like it? We could recommend some similar places. I’ve lived in both Paris and London (not Dublin!), and currently living central London now.

Romford Road is quiet shit so if she can’t afford east village she needs to be careful of the old side of the Stratford centre.
There’s a few buildings right between the station and the Stratford centre that would be ideal imo, not sure if they 100% fall in her price bracket but there’s more value there for sure.
I wouldn’t go very far from the station at all to be fair, I lived nearby until very recently and if I lived alone I wouldn’t want to be walking around on the far side of the Stratford Centre on my own. The Westfield city bit is the new bit.

Hackney Wick is young but definitely a bit rougher around the edges and lots of clubs and bars so it sounds like it might be a bit lively.

Victoria park is nice but not particularly cheap, or that close to nip back at lunch.

Hi, yes she's not overly concerned about London at all, but she did say the size of it was still a bit shocking when looking at how far some flats are from work when they don't seem to distant on the map! It's more my old fashioned misconceptions of East London that have me so invested in the search...

Stratford broadway seems like a good compromise, the "brunch" places in East Village attract her but they're not far away.

Her friend had the same idea about Hackney Wick, lots of cool places to go. Not far from her beloved East Village either!

Thanks

Great to know! I've see some flats in Gerry Raffles square and Stratosphere tower which may hit the mark? I think Hackney Wick may be a touch too loud, just based on where she's lived before which has been very residential.

Thanks again!

If she can afford those it would be ideal as a next best thing to the East Village imo and still a super close walk away!

Hi, she has actually also considered Canary Wharf. She's not too fussed about it "feeling" like London, she's more concerned about being close to work and not too far (max 30 mins) from somewhere Central London-ish.

She has lived near Odeon in the past but moved near to Boulevard des Invalides since getting her dog. She does find it a little quiet (in terms of cool bars and cafes), and was thinking of moving closer to Odeon again but she decided that it was far too busy and full of tourists. Where she is now has the park for the dog, and isnt far from Saint Germain which she frequents for coffees etc. If there is anything similar in London I'd say she'd be happy to live somewhere similar enough!

Thanks

Thats brilliant thank you. I was concerned they were too far into the less safe parts of Stratford but they may be a good middle ground. She has also just sent me a flat in the Mogul Building which doesn't seem far from the East Village, and is about £300 p/m cheaper than it.

Thanks again!

Hampstead Heath is lovely, friends of mine are really happy in Wimbledon.

I loved the time I spent in Blackheath.

My friend has just bought in Hackney, hoping it will be a good investment as there’s no currently a tube station but they’re meant to be building one

There is no tube line being built at Hackney 😂

Have a look at Victoria Park Village area of Hackney. Lots of coffee shops, restaurants, some independent shops, close to Victoria park.

Hackney Wick! Definitely. Loads of flats there many very new. There are quiet areas near the Island and the V&A. Great for transport - overground trains and shot walk to Stratford and al the trains there. Very up and coming area with Sadlers Wells etc

Sorry, to rephrase, there was talk of in it Crossrail 2 plans and he hopes it will happen.

Either way, he’s enjoying it

I assume she will also need some form of doggy day care for the little sausage dog, so being near to a park makes that more likely. Agree parts of Hackney might be good.