cheap - and commutable to central London - possible?

mummytofour

I would rent at the start to see how things go.

Gingernutmeg

I'm sorry but I really, really, REALLY wouldn't recommend Plumstead or Shooter's Hill, or anywhere in that area (SE London, and the bits of north Kent that have adopted the nastier parts of the London 'attitude' without any of the benefits that living in London actually brings). It's a vile area, full of crime and unfriendly people and really not a nice place to be - I've lived in London for a good few years and I've never felt so unsafe and unhappy as I did when I lived round there. It might be up and coming in twenty or so years but it's definitely not somewhere I'd ever recommend to anyone right now (I lived in that area for a year and I can't tell you the relief of moving away). And there's no way on earth that you'd find a decent three/four bed house for £800 pcm - we were paying £700 pcm for a two bed place, and that wasn't a 'nice' property. Also, if by any insane chance that you do move there and decide to rent, avoid the letting agents in Plumstead like the very plagues of hell.

somabc

I find the SE area to definitely be the cheapest in London, some parts are rough but that is why it is cheap! 2-3 bedrooms for £800 pcm should be possible if you are lucky. There are some nice parts as well, Greenwich, Charlton, Blackheath and so on.

The trouble with commuting is the high cost of train travel eg from parts of kent eg Canterbury would cost you nearly 6,000 a year for a season ticket. So the further out you go the cheaper rents are offset by higher travel cost / time.

If your traveling to bloomsbury the mainline train to Kings X / St Pancras is what you want, as the connections from South London will not be good at all.

Look at towns along these routes.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?sEvent=NetworkMap
http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/EMTrains/YourJourney/OurNetworkAndStations.htm

Running_Horse

Also on a Kent theme, the line that goes to Tonbridge, Marden, and Staplehurst might be worth a look.

northstar23

Running_Horse wrote: »

Also on a Kent theme, the line that goes to Tonbridge, Marden, and Staplehurst might be worth a look.

The country villages along that line into the Weald of Kent are lovely but property prices are seriously high as its classic commuter belt terratory.

If that area is an option just look a touch further down the line at Canterbury. OK so its my home city and I'm a bit biased but its a great place to live, house prices aren't too bad and there is a choice of two mainline stations into Charing X or Victoria, both around the 1h 30m journey time.

somabc

Having been on the train from Ashford / Canterbury fairly frequently I can say you will find the long train journey tedious. It will take at least 90 mins to Charing Cross and then you have to face the tube to get to bloomsbury (at least another 30 min).

Thats a 4 hour commute there and back when you have to go to London.

Running_Horse

The downside to Canterbury is two universities mean you are likely to have student neighbours. Faversham is OK (lovely old cinema), and a little nearer London. Staplehurst and Marden are within a £180,000 budget, although Tonbridge would probably mean 2 beds and tiny rooms anywhere near the station. Just to confuse the issue further, Lenham, Maidstone, and Charing are all nice.

WebJunkie007

I agree with mummytofour - before you buy anything make sure you rent for a while in the area that you're interested in. Long commutes really aren't that fun and trains coming into London in the morning rush can be PACKED (not to mention expensive - so insult to injury really).

I'm in South East London and have no complaints - as a tip the prices in SE tend to be low at the moment and I think that this is mainly attributed to not being part fo the tube network. However the East London tube line is being extending south in 2010 and certain areas will be much better connected in the future; if you pick wisely I predict it could be a good investment.

morg_monster

somabc wrote: »

Having been on the train from Ashford / Canterbury fairly frequently I can say you will find the long train journey tedious. It will take at least 90 mins to Charing Cross and then you have to face the tube to get to bloomsbury (at least another 30 min).

Thats a 4 hour commute there and back when you have to go to London.

FYI its ten minutes on the tube from charing cross to russell square and thats with a change at leicester square. but at any rate most places in bloomsbury would be a bit of a walk from a tube stop - what part of bloomsbury is it? i would find somewhere that goes into KC or St P - easily walkable and also a very quick bus down woburn street if it's p*ssing it down! Also these stations cover so much of the country you'll have a huge choice of places to live. i don't have any more specific suggestions though, sorry.

hethmar

The DLR is opening next month in Woolwich, been brought forward. I dont think its such a terrible area - there is massive regeneration already going on - its got some really interesting old buildings, - similar to Greenwich, a big market . - the free ferry across the Thames which is of quirky interest let alone convenient, a river bus and now new quicker bus routes on target, a virtually complete new shopping centre is also being built. No, I think the place could improve very quickly with all this happening now.