Commuting Across London

[Amelioratio]

Perhaps the wrong place to ask but..... I am starting work in Wimbledon next summer and need to find somewhere reasonably affordable to live within commuting distance. Any ideas? I've looked into Romford and Basildon...

[Buenchico]

I can't work out why you're looking for somewhere north of the Thames.

I know that places like Romford and Basildon are far more affordable than Wimbledon itself (or, even more expensive, areas like Richmond) but I would have thought that Croydon might make a lot more sense. Any extra costs of housing would probably be offset by the far lower commuting costs. (Wimbledon is directly accessible from Croydon, on Tramlink).

Driving from Romford or Basildon to Wimbledon either means paying �8 per day congestion charge (and suffering horrendous traffic in central London) or going right round the M25 and coming back in on the A3. The train journey takes about an hour and a half and would involve travelling on the Tube at peak times (which is certainly no fun during a heat wave). Tramlink from Croydon takes about 20 minutes (which would give you about 2� hours extra leisure time every day).

For other possible alternatives, south of the Thames, check out areas such as Clapham, or possibly Balham.

Chris

[oldmegan]

I absolutely agree with the previous answer. Just study the tramlink map and pick a place on there. The tram is quick and cheap and reliable. Romford and Basildon are on another planet in terms of getting to Wimbledon. Good luck!

[sense4all]

Romford and Basildon are on another planet full stop! I suggest a visit sharpish, so you can see just how difficult that would make life if everything was running properly, imagine what happens when the links don't flow : Nightmare. Balham is an up and commer in terms of prices a lot of Relocation agents are interested in it at the moment.
Trawl thro these sites for clues :

http://www.croydon.gov.uk/atoz/?atoz=A

http://www.croydon-tramlink.co.uk/

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/whereilive/

All joking apart what made you think of Essex. If you are not a native of the South East fiddle around with the map on the this is local london site to get oriented. Enjoy.

[vehelpfulguy]

Do you realise how big London is ?

As a guess I would say it is 50 miles from one side to the other.

I was born and brought up in Putney (west London) and for years had only even been to East London once (to a football match at West Ham).

Getting from one side of London to the other is no easy task.

Wimbledon is SOUTH WEST LONDON.

So try to live in SOUTH WEST LONDON.

Driving anywhere in London is a nightmare.

Commuting charges (train, bus fares) do mount up, as does travel time (you dont want to spend an hour before and after work each day), so try to live as near to your work as possible,

[mightywease]

Would agree with everyone here - you really need to be looking south

Raynes Park has a direct train link to Wimbledon as does Sutton and Carshalton (though the latter doesn't is the Thameslink so doesn't run late). Also on the Thameslink line is Wimbledon Chase, Morden South and West Sutton

Morden, Colliers Wood and South Wimbledon have excellent bus links to Wimbledon.

The tramlink goes through Mitcham Junction to Croydon - ver convenient

If you want to be closer to central London then look at Earlsfield with its direct train link to Wimbledon or Waterloo

Plus on the district line there's Wimbledon Park and Southfields - though the latter is bit more expensive.

Loads of choices! And, of course, South London is best!