Moving To/Living In London Megathread - ALL QUESTIONS TO GO HERE

who the fug

Nicoleide wrote: »

Is Acton Town a good area to live in your opinion? what do u think of Putney instead? is the lack of a tube station around Clapham is not balanced out by the great train system that seems to be down there?

Bollix

Once you figure out the overground, you will be hard pushed to notice any difference North or South of the River

djpbarry

Nicoleide wrote: »

Is Acton Town a good area to live in your opinion?

I know absolutely nothing about it I’m afraid – I’ve only pass through it on my way to/from Heathrow on the tube.

Nicoleide wrote: »

what do u think of Putney instead?

Putney’s a nice area I suppose, but a bit awkward to get to Shepherds Bush from there, no?

Nicoleide wrote: »

is the lack of a tube station around Clapham is not balanced out by the great train system that seems to be down there?

That’s a very difficult question to answer – it really depends on what your lifestyle is going to be like. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time visiting various different parts of London, then being near a tube station makes life a bit easier. If, however, you’re travelling is likely to be limited to commuting for the most part, then it’s not such a big deal. It’s no coincidence that rents tend to fall as you move away from tube stations!

Nicoleide

djpbarry wrote: »

I know absolutely nothing about it I’m afraid – I’ve only pass through it on my way to/from Heathrow on the tube.
Putney’s a nice area I suppose, but a bit awkward to get to Shepherds Bush from there, no?
That’s a very difficult question to answer – it really depends on what your lifestyle is going to be like. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time visiting various different parts of London, then being near a tube station makes life a bit easier. If, however, you’re travelling is likely to be limited to commuting for the most part, then it’s not such a big deal. It’s no coincidence that rents tend to fall as you move away from tube stations!

thanks for ur help!

yeah Putney sounds a bit ackward for the reason u mentioned.
I was also thinking of Wimbledon but again does not seem to be linked extremely well.

In fairness by the sound of things said on this thread sounds quite important to be within a walk distance from a tube station. I was also thinking of Ealing Broadway. I heard lots of good stuff about it.

cheerio

Louche Lad

Nicoleide wrote: »

thanks for the advice.

Is Acton Town a good area to live in your opinion? what do u think of Putney instead? is the lack of a tube station around Clapham is not balanced out by the great train system that seems to be down there?

cheers!

Yes, the lack of a Tube station around Clapham Junction is a problem if you want to do a lot of socialising north of the river, though the Overground would help. By the way: the Clapham Junction area is not actually in Clapham, but in Battersea.

The train system at Clapham Junction is a great plus - I was thinking some time ago of buying a house in Battersea because of the train service (specifically, the easy access to Brighton), but I wrongly thought house prices were too high (one of my biggest mistakes).

BoDiddly

I lived in Roehampton, which is between Putney and Wandsworth, and found the transport links excellent. The 74 bus ended and started there and the route via Putney included Shepard's bush, I also cycled from Roehampton to Hammersmith which only took about 20 minutes. Hope this is of some use albeit it was over 15 years ago.

Nicoleide

Louche Lad wrote: »

Yes, the lack of a Tube station around Clapham Junction is a problem if you want to do a lot of socialising north of the river, though the Overground would help. By the way: the Clapham Junction area is not actually in Clapham, but in Battersea.

The train system at Clapham Junction is a great plus - I was thinking some time ago of buying a house in Battersea because of the train service (specifically, the easy access to Brighton), but I wrongly thought house prices were too high (one of my biggest mistakes).

yeah I saw on the map that as u said Junction is asctually Battersea rather than Clapham. They seem pretty close though.

Nicoleide

BoDiddly wrote: »

I lived in Roehampton, which is between Putney and Wandsworth, and found the transport links excellent. The 74 bus ended and started there and the route via Putney included Shepard's bush, I also cycled from Roehampton to Hammersmith which only took about 20 minutes. Hope this is of some use albeit it was over 15 years ago.

surely I will take this bit of advice in great account as I really like the area around Putney. Thanks a lot!

steve9859

Nicoleide wrote: »

surely I will take this bit of advice in great account as I really like the area around Putney. Thanks a lot!

Putney is quite easy for Shepherds Bush - tube to West Brompton (4 stops), walk 5 metres to the next platform and overground to Shephers Bush (2 stops). And the buses are good. If you are thinking about Putney you need preferably to be living near the High Street, rather than Putney Heath or Putney Common, which are actually quite far away - somewhere between the upper and lower richmond road is affordable with your budget, or toward Wandsworth like the other poster said. (and Wandsworth has the cheapest council tax in the whole country!!)

The Wimbledon Branch of the district line gets a bad rep, but I have always found it fine. if you travel before 7.30 in the morning it is quite quiet - only around 8 does it get so busy that your face is pressed against the glass. It is pretty reliable - havent had a problem in 6 months, though I do travel quite early. (Bikes are the way forward though!!)

Putney is great at the weekends - river, open space (inc. Richmond Park), Thames Path and good eating, drinking too - doesnt really feel like being in London

Nicoleide

steve9859 wrote: »

Putney is quite easy for Shepherds Bush - tube to West Brompton (4 stops), walk 5 metres to the next platform and overground to Shephers Bush (2 stops). And the buses are good. If you are thinking about Putney you need preferably to be living near the High Street, rather than Putney Heath or Putney Common, which are actually quite far away - somewhere between the upper and lower richmond road is affordable with your budget, or toward Wandsworth like the other poster said. (and Wandsworth has the cheapest council tax in the whole country!!)

The Wimbledon Branch of the district line gets a bad rep, but I have always found it fine. if you travel before 7.30 in the morning it is quite quiet - only around 8 does it get so busy that your face is pressed against the glass. It is pretty reliable - havent had a problem in 6 months, though I do travel quite early. (Bikes are the way forward though!!)

Putney is great at the weekends - river, open space (inc. Richmond Park), Thames Path and good eating, drinking too - doesnt really feel like being in London

Hi Steve,

Thanks for very good pieces of advice.

What you mean when you say that Putney doesnt really feel like being in London? What the classical feeling taht London may have that you won't find in Putney. I am quite new to London so for me any piece of info may be essential

I will need to be in sheperds bush around 9/9.30 every morning so I guess that I would be getting the rush hour in its best but if by bycicle putney - sheperds bush is feasible, well why not!
do you think that for 1300/1400 for month can I find something decent around Putney/Wandsworth?

many thanks!

djpbarry

Nicoleide wrote: »

do you think that for 1300/1400 for month can I find something decent around Putney/Wandsworth?

Is that your total budget for rent, bills and council tax, or is it just for rent?

Nicoleide

djpbarry wrote: »

Is that your total budget for rent, bills and council tax, or is it just for rent?

no that just for rent for 2 people so to this we will need to add council tax and other bills

steve9859

Nicoleide wrote: »

Hi Steve,

Thanks for very good pieces of advice.

What you mean when you say that Putney doesnt really feel like being in London? What the classical feeling taht London may have that you won't find in Putney. I am quite new to London so for me any piece of info may be essential

I will need to be in sheperds bush around 9/9.30 every morning so I guess that I would be getting the rush hour in its best but if by bycicle putney - sheperds bush is feasible, well why not!
do you think that for 1300/1400 for month can I find something decent around Putney/Wandsworth?

many thanks!

I just mean that Putney has bags of open space, its beautiful beside the river, good parks (just beside Kew Gardens and Richmond Park as well) - just feels less built up. But at the same time, the west end is only a few tube stops away.

You would get somewhere for that. I know for a fact there are 2 bed furnished mansion flats going in Kenilworth Court just by Putney Bridge for 1400 a month. check primelocation.com - that will give you an idea - will have loads of stuff round wandsworth as well. council tax for a flat in that range would be £1000 or just under a year (compared to £1500 for the same flat across the river in fulham)

Country lane

Hi,

Having lived over that way...i'd recommend Chiswick. You have the river, lots of restaurants, parks good transport links, lots and lots of celebs from or live there ranging from Ant & Dec, to Helen Mirron, Phil Collins, Hugh Grant, Dara o'briain, Timothy Dalton, etc. Acton is good if you are into the Antipodean & Polish 20 something party scene.

Putney is also lovely, but you might as well look at Barnes and Sheen too as they are just that side of the river too.

steve9859

Barnes, Sheen will be cheaper as well. You just need to decide how much you want to be on the district line. For me, personally, its priceless having the tube as an option, right there. But you pay for that.....

Chiswick is nice, and am a regular visitor to the pubs there by the river, but was too far out for me.

Fact is, everyone will talk up their own part of town, like I talk up Putney. Get hold of a map, overlay the tubes and overland trains, and pick somewhere that looks connected enough for what you want, fits what you want to be near (parks, river etc), and use that website to check asking prices

Choccie Lover

What's the Boston Manor Area like? Anyone have any opinions?

Nicoleide

steve9859 wrote: »

I just mean that Putney has bags of open space, its beautiful beside the river, good parks (just beside Kew Gardens and Richmond Park as well) - just feels less built up. But at the same time, the west end is only a few tube stops away.

You would get somewhere for that. I know for a fact there are 2 bed furnished mansion flats going in Kenilworth Court just by Putney Bridge for 1400 a month. check primelocation.com - that will give you an idea - will have loads of stuff round wandsworth as well. council tax for a flat in that range would be £1000 or just under a year (compared to £1500 for the same flat across the river in fulham)

Well thanks so much for your tips. I never came across primelocation.com, I will defo have a look at it. Yes I dont know but for what I read, Putney would suit me well; the only concern I have is with regard to the transportation (it seems that everybody hates the district line) and I also would need to stay in a place with good links to the airports in general (for this I mean being not too far from Victoria station for example)

Before I was reading a few people on here saying that you need to know what your priorities are and then accordingly look for a suitable place...well my idea is to find a place where whitin 30 mins or less (even better) I am in work in Sheperds Bush, where a couple of times per week I can play football in a park or go for running, and also it would be quite important for me/us having a good scene in terms of culture, arts and why not good places to drink and listen to some good live music either during the week or at weekends well I know that I am asking for the perfect place that maybe does not exist or very hard to find! however said that, does Putney or places nearby like Barnes have this kind of atmosphere and requirements in your opinion?

thanks so much for helping me out with all these info.

Nicoleide

Country lane wrote: »

Hi,

Having lived over that way...i'd recommend Chiswick. You have the river, lots of restaurants, parks good transport links, lots and lots of celebs from or live there ranging from Ant & Dec, to Helen Mirron, Phil Collins, Hugh Grant, Dara o'briain, Timothy Dalton, etc. Acton is good if you are into the Antipodean & Polish 20 something party scene.

Putney is also lovely, but you might as well look at Barnes and Sheen too as they are just that side of the river too.

what is the closest and best tube station for Barnes and Sheen?
Many thanks for your time!

what do you think of Ealing Broadway as place to live? I read good stuff about it. would you recommend it?

cheers

djpbarry

Nicoleide wrote: »

...it seems that everybody hates the district line...

It’s one of the oldest and slowest of the tube lines and sections are frequently closed for engineering works, especially at the weekends. That said, the trains are probably among the most comfortable.

Nicoleide wrote: »

...and I also would need to stay in a place with good links to the airports in general (for this I mean being not too far from Victoria station for example)

Clapham Junction ticks that box. But then, so would Acton and Ealing (both on the Piccadilly Line).

Nicoleide wrote: »

...also it would be quite important for me/us having a good scene in terms of culture, arts and why not good places to drink and listen to some good live music either during the week or at weekends well I know that I am asking for the perfect place that maybe does not exist or very hard to find! however said that, does Putney or places nearby like Barnes have this kind of atmosphere and requirements in your opinion?

I’m no expert on Putney, but in my experience, it’s a little subdued – I don’t think you’ll find much in the way of live music around there.

Nicoleide

djpbarry wrote: »

It’s one of the oldest and slowest of the tube lines and sections are frequently closed for engineering works, especially at the weekends. That said, the trains are probably among the most comfortable.
Clapham Junction ticks that box. But then, so would Acton and Ealing (both on the Piccadilly Line).
I’m no expert on Putney, but in my experience, it’s a little subdued – I don’t think you’ll find much in the way of live music around there.

Thanks Barry !

Country lane

Ealing is a nice enough spot...but the other areas referred too are that bit nicer, not least because they have the river. You mention playing football, and another benefit of Putney would be that Fulham Irish train there if that is what your after. Ealing is that bit further out, and your considering that sort of distance going out of London...then Richmond would be a better option in my opinion.

Boston Manor is fine, but you would probably find most of your socialising is elsewhere, whereas in the likes of Richmond, Chiswick, Putney even Ealing etc..there is lots to do socially.

Nicoleide

Country lane wrote: »

Ealing is a nice enough spot...but the other areas referred too are that bit nicer, not least because they have the river. You mention playing football, and another benefit of Putney would be that Fulham Irish train there if that is what your after. Ealing is that bit further out, and your considering that sort of distance going out of London...then Richmond would be a better option in my opinion.

Boston Manor is fine, but you would probably find most of your socialising is elsewhere, whereas in the likes of Richmond, Chiswick, Putney even Ealing etc..there is lots to do socially.

thanks for that

somebody lately was mentioning Richmond as a good place, is it not too out of way? and also I was wondering if staying by Putney Bridge tube station would represent the best spot for a place to rent around Putney area.

cheers

Country lane

Why dont you do some dry runs when you are over? Draw up a final list of say 5 towns, buy daily travel cards and take the tube to all the areas you are interested in over a couple of days? That way you will know where feels right to you. Only you will know that at the end of the day.

Nicoleide

Country lane wrote: »

Why dont you do some dry runs when you are over? Draw up a final list of say 5 towns, buy daily travel cards and take the tube to all the areas you are interested in over a couple of days? That way you will know where feels right to you. Only you will know that at the end of the day.

ah yep this was what I was going to do next week when I ll be over for 3/4 days to sort out the usual stuff (bank,NI etc)

thanks a mil

djpbarry

Nicoleide wrote: »

somebody lately was mentioning Richmond as a good place, is it not too out of way?

I would say so, yes. It's a nice place, but a bit too conservative for me.

As for football teams, they're everywhere in London. If you find a common, you can be sure that there will be several teams playing on it come the weekend.

Nicoleide

Louche Lad wrote: »

@Nicoleide: Which road in Battersea have you been offered a room in? I might be able to advise on suitability.

Hey Louche

this should be the road
Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3NQ

it is not that close from clapham junction as I was told in the first place ( only 7 mins...) it should take at least 23 mins according to google maps...

S.M.B.

Nicoleide wrote: »

Hey Louche

this should be the road
Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3NQ

it is not that close from clapham junction as I was told in the first place ( only 7 mins...) it should take at least 23 mins according to google maps...

That's definitely not a 23 minute walk. I did that exact route numerous times when I worked by Battersea bridge and it's closer to 7 than 23. Even the platform you'd be going to is on that side of the station (although that entrance seems to be temporarily closed at the moment).

I'd say it's a leisurely 15 minute walk and a decent paced 10 minute walk.

Anyway, don't let googles calculations put you off viewing that place.

Louche Lad

Nicoleide wrote: »

Hey Louche

this should be the road
Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3NQ

it is not that close from clapham junction as I was told in the first place ( only 7 mins...) it should take at least 23 mins according to google maps...

Ah, sorry, don't know that bit of Battersea. It looks quite awkward transport-wise. I reckon buses are the only practical means of getting in and out. Just looking at it on Google Maps and Street View, I have a generally uncomfortable feeling but I can't quite put my finger on why.

Nicoleide

S.M.B. wrote: »

Nicoleide wrote: »

Hey Louche

this should be the road
Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3NQ

it is not that close from clapham junction as I was told in the first place ( only 7 mins...) it should take at least 23 mins according to google maps...

That's definitely not a 23 minute walk. I did that exact route numerous times when I worked by Battersea bridge and it's closer to 7 than 23. Even the platform you'd be going to is on that side of the station (although that entrance seems to be temporarily closed at the moment).

I'd say it's a leisurely 15 minute walk and a decent paced 10 minute walk.

Anyway, don't let googles calculations put you off viewing that place.

hey cheers for the advice. Tuesday I will view the place myself and I'll stroll around the area to see how it works out for me. The good thing is that just beside battersea park.

thanks!

Nicoleide

Louche Lad wrote: »

Nicoleide wrote: »

Hey Louche

this should be the road
Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3NQ

it is not that close from clapham junction as I was told in the first place ( only 7 mins...) it should take at least 23 mins according to google maps...

Ah, sorry, don't know that bit of Battersea. It looks quite awkward transport-wise. I reckon buses are the only practical means of getting in and out. Just looking at it on Google Maps and Street View, I have a generally uncomfortable feeling but I can't quite put my finger on why.

thanks, no worries!

djpbarry

Nicoleide wrote: »

Hey Louche

this should be the road
Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3NQ

it is not that close from clapham junction as I was told in the first place ( only 7 mins...) it should take at least 23 mins according to google maps...

Yeah, that leaves you well over a kilometre from a train station. That'd be too far for me personally. However, I do believe there is a bus from Battersea Bridge Road to Shepherd's Bush. The problem is, if you want to go somewhere else, you'd be a bit isolated.