Where should I look for accommodation in London?

danlowry

So I start a new job in September, and I'm looking for accommodation that is both affordable and reasonably easy to commute from. My office will be very close to Liverpool street station, so that is where I need to be able to commute to and from.

My budget is around £600-700pm, and I would ideally like to be within 30 minutes from Liverpool Street Station, and within 45 mins from South Kensington as that is where my girlfriend lives.

Could anyone give me any recommendations as to the kind of areas I should be looking at? I'm obviously not looking at anything particularly fancy, but I would rather avoid any really rough areas.

Also, on this budget would it be essential that I share a flat with other people, or would it be possible to rent my own flat under a landlord/landlady?

Responses will be much appreciated!

Bluebonnie

No chance of finding something self contained on that budget IMHO, unless you are prepared to go further out.

Have you budgeted additional funds for council tax and utilities, or does your budget sum include them?

What about your season ticket/oyster card, which could be £200 a month for somewhere within 30 minutes of Liverpool Street?

mail2z

I would not rule out the possibility, some areas in east london on the tube route or national rail route so Liverpool st is accessible will be around 30 mins. These will be in zone 4 or higher though.

Cornucopia

Rightmove is showing Studios in Zones 3-4, and 1-beds in Zone 5-6 for that budget.

You may get slightly better VFM in SE London - perhaps Forest Hill? This is commutable to Liverpool St (Shoreditch High St station) via London Overground in about 20 mins, and to South Kensington via Charing Cross in about 40 mins.

danlowry

The £600-700 a month budget was for accommodation only. I know that I will have to pay transport costs and bills on top of this.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, now going to spend many hours flat-hunting....wish me luck!