Moving to London

Ivana_Tinkle

We can give you better-targeted advice if you can tell us a bit more about your priorities - would you rather be right in the thick of things, or would you prefer the suburbs (or even further out)? Do you want recommendations for cheap-but-not-awful areas, or are you willing to pay more to get exactly what you want? Or some sort of compromise between these?

princeofpounds

You are then free to live in some of the best value (due predominantly to their lack of tube) suburbs of London in the SE where you will find some lovely housing in leafy suburbs.

This is true by the way. It's hard to beat the value-for-living quality in the SE.

Some reasons are

- the lack of tube (although the rail services across south london are often better than the tube in every respect except frequency and sometimes late night running).
- the lack of escape route home; many people pick a side of London based on access out to get back to family. There's only Kent in this direction!
- Sleepiness - the suburbs out this way can be very pleasant, but they aren't generally that vibrant and they can feel more like commuter areas than a part of london life in a way that some suburbs do.

But if things like that are not priorities it can be a gret option. I say that as someone who has visited frequently but never lived over that way, so no particular bias.

bluecheese1987

I currently, live in Clifton in Bristol. It would be nice to live in a similar area in London but I really doubt this will be possible.

bluecheese1987

@Ivana Tinkle Really good point. I suppose my priorities are- firstly price and the cost of rent, second, commuting distance to the office. thirdly, I would like to live somewhere relatively safe- I know all areas have their gd and bad bits.

Thanks again guys.

Its great to have a community of people who area really open to helping each other. Thanks.

Tancred

bluecheese1987 wrote: »

@Ivana Tinkle Really good point. I suppose my priorities are- firstly price and the cost of rent, second, commuting distance to the office. thirdly, I would like to live somewhere relatively safe- I know all areas have their gd and bad bits.

Thanks again guys.

Its great to have a community of people who area really open to helping each other. Thanks.

Check this website for crime: www.police.uk

Quite an eye opener.

DunPin

bluecheese1987 wrote: »

My difficulty is that I don't know London at all. Where is affordable? There have been rumors of a salary increase that will standardize us at around 26-29k p/a.

I would be moving with my partner who should take home approx. the same- but probably slightly less to start with.

I would hope to have a 1 bedroom flat not too far out- is this realistic?

Have you thought about Clapham Junction, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond, Wimbledon etc, it'll take up to 40 minutes of your day each way for commute but the rental prices are cheaper although you'll be paying through the nose for rail fare, nice areas too, if I were you, I'd live in a shoe box myself as I like to be nearer the action but based on cost, you could look towards the aforementioned areas

isisini

That makes it a lot easier OP! Clifton is indeed a lovely place to live - if I were going for somewhere similar but on a budget I'd look at somewhere like East Dulwich or Earlsfield or Herne Hill in the south or Crouch End in the north:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-42845198.html <- example of what you could expect for your money.

These feel quite leafy and villagey but still have nice pubs and restaurants.

tim123456789

The description of Earlsfield as leafy and villagey doesn't match my experience of the area.

Cycrow

thats a simlar size place to mine. althou i only pay £700 a month out in Zone 6.

takes me just under an hour to cycle into central london

jayss

On spareroom (and or easy room mate I forget which) you can search for studios and 1 beds by travel zone, this will give an idea of areas you can afford. Remember most london rents are quoted weekly.

Living a bit further out on a train line as suggested also helps the affordability of groceries as you're more likely to have a proper supermarket and not just an expensive local/metro version.