Question for Londoners...

[China Doll]

Well actually, anyone who knows London quite well.

As some of you may know from my constant hand wringing, hair pulling whinging on various other topics on AB I am looking for a room to rent in London. I've joined all the usual forums etc.. so that's not a problem.

Howevere I've been quite stubbon about looking mainly in South East London and it's been pointed out to me (several times) that realistically I work in central London and I should consider options in North London too as I'm spending a lot of time travelling (3hours in total a day)... When I finished recoiling in shock and horror at the suggestion I have to admit it does make sense for me to look there too.

I don't know North London very well at all and so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for me of nice areas in North London, preferably with a Victoria or Northern Line Tube Station.

Cheers
China

[tigerlily11]

I used to live in the Stratford and Forrest Gate areas.
I like Forrest Gate because it leads on to Wandstead flats.
But that was 20 odd years ago now.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

[WoWo]

The idea it takes longer or is more difficult to get from South London than it does from North London is total rubbish.

However if you want to live in a dump go for North London.

The fact you have mentioned the Northern and Victoria Lines only serves to make the point. Both are rubbish, over crowded and totally unreliable.

Where exactly will you be working?

[keyplus90]

My Dear China, why don�t you consider West London. I can always create some room for you.

[raysparx1]

Hi China, move to East or preferably west London, travelling from west or east is far easier than across, most of North London is crap, unless you can afford Finchley, golders green area, good luck, Ray

[eash]

I have a friend who lives in Essex and works near Russell Square in London and it takes her an hour door to door.
I know this doesn't really help but thought it might make you re-consider living in London maybe?

[China Doll]

Hi all,

I already live (and like living) in London in the south east not a million miles away from Peckham. It already takes me about an hour and a half to get in to work (buses really awful of late, no idea why!). Anyway.. I figured that maybe I was being a bit fussy trying to find somewhere in my current location and it does make more sense to be closer to work with the journey I guess.

West London I don't really know at all but I always had the impression it was rather posh and expensive?

I just don't want to live in East London full stop. :c(

I've been told Stanford Hill is nice, Highbury and Islington are ok, I quite like Camden anyway and then after that I don't know owt about North London.

[China Doll]

I work bang in central London Wo Wo.. L. Square/Oxford Street etc...

[jno]

the Northern line is still called the misery line, isn't it? There may be a reason for this. The Victoria line is better; plus there are the Bakerloo, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines. These will whisk you away fairly quickly (a lot less than 3 hours a day, anyway). If you want somewhere moderately buzzy you might consider the Queen's Park/Kensal Rise area or Islington. If you don't mind living in inner suburbia, but handy to the West End, the Jubilee and Victoria lines get there fast. None of this is super-cheap (nowhere near a tube station ever is) but they're mostly reasonable, I think.

[sara3]

I'm mortified! I'm from NW London (Colindale, on the Northern line) and really, it's okay!

the main point to make is that the better areas of London are going to be pretty pricey. you get what you pay for, and you need big bucks.. sorry.

[Quinlad]

Jeeeesus. How are you getting to work? Are you being carried on an old lady's back?

I live in South East London (Tulse Hill) and I can get to Oxford Circus in 40 minutes.

[jno]

and China doll = moll, right, Pickle?

[China Doll]

Sara - Don't be too mortified, it's not your fault I think N.London is a hole! ;0)

Don't even start with the cockerneyness... Pickle and jno! Mole indeed... how very dare you!

Quin - How in blazes are you getting to Oxford Circus in 40 mins?! At the moment I'm getting a bus to Waterloo or Vauxhall and jumping on a tube from there to get to the station nearest me. And I don't think Tulse Hill is that far from me!

[China Doll]

Ah... well that's not too bad then IAP! I'll be looking at your link in more depth tomorrow evening as I'm being pulled in ten different directions at the moment (see Family) and won't have time to have a really good trawl through til then. I've started having a nosy though, cheers poppet.

Triggs - I could do that but not only would the commute be a bit harsh I suspect the idea of never seeing a blue sky again might get to me ;0)

[SKA]

Is seven sisters north? All I know it's on the victoria line - I think...

[China Doll]

It is SKA but I've been there and I'm sure as hell not moving there!

[WoWo]

China Doll - it seems the bus is your problem, total waste of time going on the bus.

You need to get yourself a place near a main line train station, I live in Hayes, on the edge of Kent really nice area, very cheap and train takes 35 mins to Charing Cross, and thats a long way out of town, not suggesting you move there but just highlighting that even that far out it's relatively quick on the train.

You already seem to be in the right area, you just need to get on those trains rather than the bus. Takes 15 minutes from Peckham Rye to London (08:32 arrives at Victoria at 8:47) and then a short tube ride (9 minutes according to the TFL website). So add on 6 mins to get down the tube and make connections that's a 30 minute journey.

The places you mention Angel, Camden, Highbury and Islington are all half decent but it costs a fortune to live around there.

No doubt much of North London is OK, but same with South London, I just find it really odd that people disregard South London completely when in reality the difference in distance (as everything is pretty central) is the width of a river.