O/T Moving to London

[Will 58]

After living in Bournemouth for the past few years I'm now packing up and moving to London.

There seem to be heaps of cheap, decent apartments going in Docklands. Does anyone know anything about this area? Isle of Dogs in particular? Apart from that I was thinking of Islington/Finsbury Park, but it seems you get much more for your money in Docklands.

Are there any other Brighton fans living in this area?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[Gwylan]

Blimey, last time I looked Docklands was horrendously expensive. Where in particular where you looking? If you move away from the river towards New Cross it's cheaper and Deptford is cheaper.

My girlfriend comes from that area so if you want any specific info, PM me.

I lived in Finsbury Park for three years, it's a bit of a shite place.

As a rough rule of thumb, south is cheaper than north and east is cheaper than west, but there are pockets where the reverse is true.

 

[dwayne]

Are u sure there's cheap apartments in the Docklands?? If u can get cheap accomodation there go for it, it's a great place to live.

Where are u working in London??
and where did u live and work in Bournemouth??

I'm not the biggest fan of Islington, there's nice parts but the majority of it is a shit 'ole.

As for me well, I've lived in SW,NW and NE London and my fave is SW (close to the city, lower crime rate, top totty etc) Have u considered Battersea, Clapham, Parsons Green/Fulham or Earls Court?? all nice places and not too dear.

 

[dwayne]

Blimey, last time I looked Docklands was horrendously expensive. Where in particular where you looking? If you move away from the river towards New Cross it's cheaper and Deptford is cheaper.

My girlfriend comes from that area so if you want any specific info, PM me.

I lived in Finsbury Park for three years, it's a bit of a shite place.

As a rough rule of thumb, south is cheaper than north and east is cheaper than west, but there are pockets where the reverse is true.

New Cross and Deptford are pretty grim, especially Deptford (where they moved alot of Brixton dealers too)

...but don't forget that SW5 covers Earls Court and South Ken

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It's very unfashionable to say this, but I'm going to speak up for SE16. Now that the Jubilee Line is there, it's handy for central London and Canary Wharf. Lots of open space (Southwark Park, in particular). Some interesting riverside heritage. And not completely gridlocked with traffic.

The downside is Millwall FC, of course, but that's easily avoided by keeping well clear of what I would call South Bermondsey. Proper Rotherhithe, on the other hand, is OK. And much cheaper than the docklands north of the river.

 

[dwayne]

It's very unfashionable to say this, but I'm going to speak up for SE16. Now that the Jubilee Line is there, it's handy for central London and Canary Wharf. Lots of open space (Southwark Park, in particular). Some interesting riverside heritage. And not completely gridlocked with traffic.

The downside is Millwall FC, of course, but that's easily avoided by keeping well clear of what I would call South Bermondsey. Proper Rotherhithe, on the other hand, is OK. And much cheaper than the docklands north of the river.

Nah Surrey Quays and the like are very trendy at the moment, If I was buying, I would buy there, good value still.

 

[Gwylan]

Nah Surrey Quays and the like are very trendy at the moment, If I was buying, I would buy there, good value still.

It is, that's why I was surprised that there was somewhere cheap in the neighbourhood.

There was a cottage round the corner from Mrs Gwylan's old flat that went for £600,000 last week and that was nothing special.

 

[tedebear]

Alot of the Docklands properties are now extortionate... and to be honest with you I don't see why.... the bars and pubs here are a little sterile to say the least and its a big trip into town....unless you're a banker that works all hours of the day and it doesn't matter - the night life around here I find pants....

I work here because I get paid well - and frankly I'm glad to leave at the end of the day...

Surrey Quays as mentioned above is nicer but again - still expensive..most people I work with who live this way are from Greenwich, Blackheath etc...

 

[Wozza]

Don't like the Isle of Dogs personally. It's pretty soulless with crap pubs and shops. DLR is okay but infrequent off-peak and the nightbus service ain't great.

I'd head for Islington, Clapham or Balham - where there's a bit of life.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It is, that's why I was surprised that there was somewhere cheap in the neighbourhood.

There was a cottage round the corner from Mrs Gwylan's old flat that went for £600,000 last week and that was nothing special.

How painful do I find these prices?

My grandparents lived in a 3 bedroomed flat (with a garden) on Lower Road for 50 years. They rented the place from the private landlord, who eventually sold it to Southwark Council. This meant that, in about 1980, my grandmother acquired the famous "right to buy" at the maximum discount, reflecting the length of her tenancy.

But no. "I'm too old to get into home ownership". And "You don't want to be burdened with the responsibility of inheriting this place when I die".

Thanks grandma. Exactly how much are three bedroomed flats with gardens selling for these days, within 100 yards of a Jubilee Line tube station?

 

[bhaexpress]

Trouble with Dockalnds is that there's not a while lot there but apartments. A real shortage of shops, banks and post office.

Be wary, 'Docklands' abodes may not be in Docklands at all but on the DLR. You can end up in some fine slum areas that way.

 

[tedebear]

Trouble with Dockalnds is that there's not a while lot there but apartments. A real shortage of shops, banks and post office.

Be wary, 'Docklands' abodes may not be in Docklands at all but on the DLR. You can end up in some fine slum areas that way.

Very true!!

Also a Danish chap I work with (mad as a hatter!!) bought a shoebox down near the Four Seasons Hotel on the wharf - aparently you can't swing a cat in there but you can see the Thames through the kitchen window - all for the bargain price of £250k..... and he complains of being bored on the weekends.... great lifestyle !!

 

[oatsy]

Yeah would agree with everything said. Had mates who lived in Docklands and found it too isolated. Finsbury Park is OK, lived there for 3 years, but it can be pretty dodgy and theres nowhere to go out really unless you go down to upper street and islington.

Whereas South London is cheaper, about a million more bars and you're closer to Brighton!!

 

[Man of Harveys]

London is a shithole. Live in Brighton and commute.

 

[Brixtaan]

Don't do it Will.
You will get trapped and never be able to leave.
Over the years it will eat away at your very character,leaving you a shadow of your former self.

Stay away from anywhere in the East,S/East,N/East.
You won't be able to afford Clapham unless your wealthy,
Don't be scared by Brixton's rep, it is very near to central,the crime is hyped up, and there is plenty of life/cheapish accomodation.
Best bet for now if on your on your own is to share through a website called www.flatshare.com/ or www.sharemyflat.com (i could be wrong on the name).
Good luck.
My mates have a flat in Brixton(a good one) that they have a room they're looking to fill(unfortunately a Wolves fan and a Scumhampton).
Let me know if this appeals.

 

[dwayne]

Don't do it Will.
You will get trapped and never be able to leave.
Over the years it will eat away at your very character,leaving you a shadow of your former self.

Stay away from anywhere in the East,S/East,N/East.
You won't be able to afford Clapham unless your wealthy,
Don't be scared by Brixton's rep, it is very near to central,the crime is hyped up, and there is plenty of life/cheapish accomodation.
Best bet for now if on your on your own is to share through a website called www.flatshare.com/ or www.sharemyflat.com (i could be wrong on the name).
Good luck.
My mates have a flat in Brixton(a good one) that they have a room they're looking to fill(unfortunately a Wolves fan and a Scumhampton).
Let me know if this appeals.

I disagree about Clapham, if u are on over 25k a year (which I suspsect alot of people in London are) then it's affordable.

I like Brixton, but I would still recommend some of the less trendy areas of South West london over it, Battersea, Earls Court and Parsons Green and cheaper parts of Fulham are all a stones throw away from the most expensive areas in London and are infinitely cheaper.

 

[Wilts]

London is a shithole. Live in Brighton and commute.

Far better idea.

Live in Reading and commute. Its a bit cheaper than London, but its only 25 minutes on the train and there's 30 trains per hour to the City. Best shopping in the South, 7th in the UK, connections to wherever you want to go to in the UK, a place with plenty of history, access to Windsor, Henley, etc if you really want it, and for everyone who reckons its a shithole, about 50% of it is nice and the housing market has slowed down now. Plenty of pubs and bars, but not enough clubs yet. 3 junctions on the M4 to get to, M25 is 15 miles away, Heathrow 15 miles away. 17th biggest place in England, 21st in the UK... and so close to the City.

Can't go wrong, its the best place to live in the UK! Biased, me? Never....

 

[London Calling]

I hope this helps firstly, most people born in London or migrants, only really knoe "their" area of london.

Most north Londoners think south London is a sh*t hole and vice -versa.

I live in east/north London and its definately got the most tradional London character. And that means its good points and bad.

Obviously south London especially around Clapham is great for Brighton.

I am always surprised that inner west London has always got great bar streets etc and seems to have a lot of village areas.

Personally, I have always lived in east London, its bloody cheap to the rest
of London, especially West London, and seemingly, now central Brighton.

I am surprised you've found anywhere cheap in Docklands! Unless you're around south docks etc ie Deptford, which for north Londoners still has a reputation.

Interstingly nearly all areas in London, whatever their reputation, have graet bits, which surpass any where else in the UK.

I live in Dalston its has such a reputation but I live in a three floor victotain house with a 70 foot garden,
beat that!

Like the others have said, if you want more help, pass us a line.

LC1

 

[Wilts]

Agree with that about the north/east... the north east bit in the local authority of Havering is very nice.

Depends exactly how *nice* you need a place to be, though. If you can handle Clapham then its well worth it.

 

[Wozza]

3 junctions on the M4 to get to, M25 is 15 miles away, Heathrow 15 miles away. 17th biggest place in England, 21st in the UK... and so close to the City. Can't go wrong, its the best place to live in the UK!

This sounds a bit like David Brent recommending Slough. Nice one.