How to decide area to buy a flat in London?

Nickfirsttimebuyer

Hello,
I've been living for the last 10 years in East London (Stratford, Bromley by Bow, East India, Limehouse) & I'm looking to buy a 2 bed flat in Central London to live in. I cannot decide which area though therefore I'd like some help from you. I am working in Liverpool Street and I want a residential & quite area which is safe & has good and regular commute during day and night...
Budget up to £450K
Areas of interest: Tower Hamlets, Walthamstow Highams Park, Greenwich, Deptford, Dulwich, Wandsworth, Battersea
Any help would be much appreciated please 🥺🙏

Noneforit999

Is it not worth looking for something near the Elizabeth Line considering it goes right into Liverpool Street? Maybe something near Custom House? or Woolich?

gwynlas

They are very diverse areas can you not be more specific what your requirements are? What do you like to  do when you are not at work?

Nickfirsttimebuyer

I'm a 36 year old man that likes to socialise and go out therefore I need an area which is well connected to Zone 1! Initially I was thinking to buy a freehold house in Zone 5-6 however I changed my mind and a 2 bed flat in Zone 2-3 would be preferred based on my lifestyle. I'm looking for a residential area which is also up and coming. Any ideas?

arthurdick

Hi,  I have lived in a few of those places you mention, also I have looked at buying in a few.

Out of the areas that you mentioned, I would pick Greenwich or Battersea, I have lived in Greenwich before and may be soon buying there again, I love it there. Battersea is nice, we were looking at buying around Lavender Hill. or Battersea Park Road.  
 Also some other area's to consider, Ladywell,  nice little village in Lewisham Borough,  with good transport connections, Eltham, ok but does not have that London feeling at all, Clapham Junction, brilliant transport connections, not a bad feeling place, has the London feeling, Woolwich is ok but I would not want to live there, Plumstead is cheaper with a bit better feeling, Rotherhithe is ok also Bermondsey  both got good London feeling, if you ignore the crossbow incident, Lewisham, not as bad as it's rep, I have lived there a few times, all places I have mentioned are as safe as anywhere.  Brockley and New Cross are ok but could be a bit less safe  Pimlico, lovely village feel in the heart of London with some lovely local pubs, maybe too dear but you may find a 1 bed there..

Most of the places are as safe as your lifestyle really, if you are the type to act like Lord muck in the Five Bells in New Cross, then it might not be that safe but if you are the type to just sit down and have a pint somewhere and say hello to people, you should be ok.  me and the missus have had a drink in most pubs around London, ranging from Plumstead to Pimlico, never once had any trouble, and most pubs we stay for a good 4-5 hours. We have always found the places with the worst reps have the best atmospheres.  I must point out that the pubs were over a span of 40 years, we ain't raving alcoholics, we just love fun.

Peckham and Brixton may also be worth looking at.

DullGreyGuy

arthurdick said:
Rotherhithe is ok also Bermondsey  both got good London feeling, if you ignore the crossbow incident

Thats part of the London feeling no?

Nickfirsttimebuyer said:

Budget up to £450K

What are you expecting for your budget? Will you buy a former council flat? Would you be ok with 50m2 but two beds rather than a larger 1 bed? Outdoor space presumably optional?

Nickfirsttimebuyer

Bermondsea and Rotherhithe are within my top list indeed. With my budget I'm expecting a 2 bed flat, approx 60sq m with a balcony. The main reason of that post was advice on areas to consider. Much appreciated 😊

DullGreyGuy

Nickfirsttimebuyer said:

Bermondsea and Rotherhithe are within my top list indeed. With my budget I'm expecting a 2 bed flat, approx 60sq m with a balcony. The main reason of that post was advice on areas to consider. Much appreciated 😊

You have to consider what you want to be able to suggest areas. 

There are no properties for sale in Rotherhithe in your budget that meet your requirements unless you are happy with ex-council. There is 1 flat with ground floor space, rather than a balcony, but the service charges in that building are circa £8k as there are a lot of major works required 

arthurdick

DullGreyGuy said:

arthurdick said:
Rotherhithe is ok also Bermondsey  both got good London feeling, if you ignore the crossbow incident

Thats part of the London feeling no?

Nickfirsttimebuyer said:

Budget up to £450K

What are you expecting for your budget? Will you buy a former council flat? Would you be ok with 50m2 but two beds rather than a larger 1 bed? Outdoor space presumably optional?

Yep the crossbow incident is a good point (no pun intended) about being part of the London feeling.

user1977

arthurdick said:

DullGreyGuy said:

arthurdick said:
Rotherhithe is ok also Bermondsey  both got good London feeling, if you ignore the crossbow incident

Thats part of the London feeling no?

Nickfirsttimebuyer said:

Budget up to £450K

What are you expecting for your budget? Will you buy a former council flat? Would you be ok with 50m2 but two beds rather than a larger 1 bed? Outdoor space presumably optional?

Yep the crossbow incident is a good point (no pun intended) about being part of the London feeling.

Surely every area in London has "incidents" you require to ignore!

EssexHebridean

There is a gorgeous little 2 bed maisonette up for sale in Highams Park at the moment - more like a little house in fact, and within your budget too... Highams Park used to be a fabulous place to live when I was there years back - I'm afraid I have no idea what it's like now though! Definitely meets to requirement of being easy to access Central London though!  It does have the advantage of being the correct side of the river, too...