Where to rent in London

sare88 · 31 October 2012 at 6:48PM

My boyfriend and I are currently living with my parents whilst we save up some money. We want to get a 1 bed flat in London but all the ones I've seen are way too expensive. Our budget is probably £1300 a month including bills.

I want to be in a decent-ish area, within a 10 minute walk of a tube station, and up to a 40 minute communte from Barbican station. Can anyone recommended an area where we could rent a 1 bed for this price, or am I being unrealistic? I'd like somewhere with a few pubs/bars and shops too as we're both mid-20s and quite sociable.

Miss_Havisham · 31 October 2012 at 7:21PM

I lived in east London for 30 yrs and rental properties can be found for less than £1000 a month (no bills included). Have a look on Rightmove for areas such as Stratford, Bow, Whitechapel or further out to Romford, Ilford. All these areas are close to good public transport links into London. There's a real vibrant mix of cultures - generations of east-enders (not Dot Cotton) and more diverse nationalities.

North of the Barbican there are places such as Islington, Stoke Newington, Kings Cross etc but I don't know them so can't advise.

good luck, it's a big challenge - you might be best finding the type of flat you're after by looking on Rightmove then going to check out the various areas.

Nan_Dingle · 31 October 2012 at 7:24PM

What about along the Caledonian Road?

The improvements to Kings X/Regent Quarter are transforming that area into a media centre as Google move in, the Guardian and Saint Martins College of Arts and Design are there so and it's getting more pubs and venues like the Kings Place centre. Commute would Picadilly line to Kings X, then Circle to Barbican, about 20 mins.