Where to buy in London

jee

I would try to go a bit more North London, Hampstead area is really nice and easy to get into town.
Stratford and Bow area- I'm with the other posters who say to steer clear. I lived there and unless you like police sirens all night, neighbours kicking off over very little, stabbings every other day, not being able to walk home from your station late it's not for you.

Kirri

olly300 wrote: »

Your comment reminds me of someone I went out to a club with once in a well-known rough area of London.

He was so frightened of being mugged or stabbed that I'm sure someone from outside the area would have obliged. Due to the shoes he was wearing and the bag he was carrying the locals would worked out he was a waste of time.

I am probably as far removed as possible from the sort of person that you would have gone to a club with... or behave in that way. I've lived in London all my life (unfortunately).

if people want to live in these areas that is up to them but there are other places in London where you don't have to be right in the middle of it hence I find it bizarre some of the areas that get 'recommended'.

newbian

jee wrote: »

I would try to go a bit more North London, Hampstead area is really nice and easy to get into town.
Stratford and Bow area- I'm with the other posters who say to steer clear. I lived there and unless you like police sirens all night, neighbours kicking off over very little, stabbings every other day, not being able to walk home from your station late it's not for you.

I'm wondering if you looked at OP's budget...Hampstead?!

froupie

Someone mentioned Greenwich, I'd second that. Its also an area (along with Vauxhall) that has big redevelopment plans in the near future.

Personally, after 7 years in Crouch End (north London) I sold up and moved east and move to Loughton tomorrow. I like being on the Central Line, while still feeling a bit "villagey" at weekends.

Walthamstow Village also has big thumbs up.

Goldiegirl

My husbands cousin used to live in Walthamstow Village and now he's in Woodford Green, quite near Woodford underground station.

Now we can get the high speed train from Kent to Stratford International. It's only a short hop on the Central Line to Woodford and I find it very leafy and villagey round there.

demontfort

sinbad182 wrote: »

Who actually does/says this stuff?!

The only place I've heard this nonsense spouted is the property section of the Standard where they are trying to flog some awful Lego lookalike development in places like canning town or Stratford.

Surely normal people will just admit these places are tips, but are necessary to move up the property ladder?

People do write this type of nonsense look at post number 6 or if you want a real laugh read this:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/a1577835-Whats-it-really-like-to-live-in-walthamstow

sinbad182

demontfort wrote: »

People do write this type of nonsense look at post number 6 or if you want a real laugh read this:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/a1577835-Whats-it-really-like-to-live-in-walthamstow

Jesus Christ, I missed post 6. Walthamstow, Kensal Rise and Kensal Green all recommended in one post! That's just nasty or a plain old wind up.

mileslondoner

What is not to like in West/North Bow?

* Green areas: Victoria Park, Mile End Park, Wennington Green, Chisenhale Conservation Area, Regents Canal

* Transport: direct 24 hour buses to Liverpool Street (8 and 205), short walk to Mile End (Central, H&C) or Bethnal Green (Central or National Rail), 10-15 min easy cycling journey to Liverpool Street

* Shopping: Roman Road market (currently reinventing itself with some decent street food stalls and nice cafes), Westfield Stratford (short journey on 339), new Tesco in Cardigan Road (due to open soon), short walk to Broadway Market

* Interesting places: original Pie & Mash shops on Roman Road, Pellicci on Bethnal Green Road, Soho Gym at Bow Wharf, Brick Lane - all a short walk away

I am not sure if a new build is the best idea but I would definitely distinguish between Stratford (chaotic, loud and without any local community feel) and Bow (green, improving, still good value for money considering commuting times).

bowlhead99

sinbad182 wrote: »

I'm sure St Albans is very nice, in fact I know it is, I've been there several times.

Living in the city has more to offer if you're under 40 and can afford somewhere decent area wise though.

sinbad182 wrote: »

Jesus Christ, I missed post 6. Walthamstow, Kensal Rise and Kensal Green all recommended in one post! That's just nasty or a plain old wind up.

I must have missed the post where you told us where you would buy a 2+ bedroom place in London with a budget of 350k.

So far we've learned that getting 3 bedrooms in nice St Albans doesn't work for you because it's not very exciting and the travel is expensive, and everywhere else mentioned (Stratford, Canning Town, Walthamstow, Kensal, Leyton etc etc) that you deigned to comment on is just plain horrific or a nasty joke.

So while we wouldn't dream of disparaging whereever it is that you actually live, I'm sure we're all on the edge of our seats wondering what gem you'd pick out for a little over a third of a million pounds with good access to Lpool street. And presumably it has to be London Proper rather than cheating and going for a commuter belt place in the home counties. I'm on the edge of my seat. :cool:

bowlhead99

If you're aiming for a particular work location but are flexible with area, have you seen commutefrom.com? Basically you pick a destination and acceptable commute times and it throws up a bunch of options overlaid on a transport map, like this

For example if you can handle a tube change in the morning and a zone 4 travelcard you could live somewhere that drops you down into Moorgate in 20-30 mins and then a couple of minutes on the tube to Lpool st. Without lowering your standards from some of the other places mentioned you could be far enough out for more personal space without having to resort to living in Essex.

I only suggest that particular trainline because I've been quite happy living in Palmers Green/ Southgate areas (N13/N14) in recent years while working on the east side of the City and there are some nice bits as well as the inevitable naff bits you find everywhere. If you're a bit further west there's the choice of Piccadilly line to KGX as well as overground to Moorgate so not at all tricky to get into central London on a weekend or back after a night out.