areas

[nannon]

(have put this in Home:Property section too!!!)

Does anyone know a website where i can get an honest and reliable information about places to live?
I'm planning to relocate to London at the enf of the year to live with my boyf. who lives there all his life. I'm just a bi concerned that his idea of 'nice' and 'safe' are slightly different to mine!! Would be interested in crime levels etc...
Thanks

[annie0000]

Try this

http://www.upmystreet.com/

[Octavius]

plenty of Londoners on here. You could always list a few of your b/f's "nice and safe" places and get opinions.

As with all areas anywhere in the world, there will always be an element of nice and not so nice, and safety is a personal condition based on comfort factor and sensibility.

[raysparx1]

I am from London, although I don't live there now, I am there a lot and have relatives etc in London so maybe I can help you, what part is he suggesting ?

Just remember Most parts are safe, it is not as bad as it is painted, so please don't be over worried about it.

[nannon]

Thank you.
Umm so far we have been looking at... Wembley, Harrow, Ealing, and Kingston-upon-Thames.
As the above said there are always good/bad aspects of places but on the whole are these 'good' areas?
Thanks

[Emz26]

I used to live in Kingston-Upon-Thames if you need any information about that.

[nannon]

that would be great - is it a nice area to live?

[whiffey]

A great aspect of Kingston is the river. You can walk all the way down to Hampton Court Palace, then you've got Bushey Park, etc. Richmond Park is close by. Very good shopping centre too.

[Emz26]

I had a flat overlooking the Thames which was lovely - Expensive but lovely. There are bits that I would steer well clear of, The Cambridge and Kingsnympton Park Estate are just two for example. It is great for shopping and has a fantastic nightlife, lots of nightclubs, bars/pubs and restaurants. As for crime, I never had any problems while living there and I understand the crime levels are quite low. Lower than the other places you mentioned. There is a train station in the centre and a large bus station providing great links to just about anywhere in London/Surrey. It's close to the M25 and the A3 if you drive.
I would really recommend it. If I were to move back that way, it would definately be there.

[nannon]

Thats great thanks - i think out of all the areas i mentioned i prefer this one - not sure my boyf is as keen!! I'd hate to live anywhere near an estate of any kind - the thought just terrifies me! Have seen some flats by the river and they are way out of my expenses (just renting at the moment - make sure it works out!) but most of the other ones seem reasonable.
Is it straightforward to get to centre of London from there - how long roughly would it take? I am applying to three different Uni's, Southbank, Kingston and London Met - i realise there will be some travelling for me!! Obviously if it turned out to be too far we would moe somewhere more ideal - at the moment i don't know what Uni i will be going to!!

[raysparx1]

Hi nannon, well I can only agree with whiffey, (blimey) I lived in East Twickenham for a while, by Richmond Bridge, I love that area, Not far from Kingston Emz has summed it up perfectly, that is the best of the ones you picked, Then I would go for Ealing, great Common, good transport links, underground and buses, good restaurants etc, then I would go for Harrow, some nice parts there, not far from Wembley, as for Wembley, No disrespect to the place, but No Thanks, any other areas you think you would maybe like to be just say, I know west London paricularly well, Notting Hill, Bush etc, good luck, it is a great place to live, Ray

[Emz26]

There is a direct train from Kingston to Waterloo where you can pick up the tube and then its just a few stops to central London. Very straightforward.

[nannon]

Oh i getting quite excited now!! thanks!!!

[Emz26]

Or get a bus just down the road into Richmond and pick up the tube from there!

[nannon]

What would be you totally "never in a million years" places to live in London. I think from what ive heard Tower Hamlets? Was looking at a uni there but everyone said it was such an awful area!

[raysparx1]

If you are thinking south of the river Greenwich or Blackheath are lovely places to live, especially Greenwich

or if you go eastwards, Loughton area is nice, very near Epping Forest

[raysparx1]

Tower Hamlets is a crap hole, so are big parts of Lambeth, if you go little further say to Surrey Docks, sorry Surrey Quays, I lived there for several years, is fine, gone upmarket now, nice park there, Southwark Park, and great pub at rotherhithe, " The Mayflower" overlooks the river.

[Emz26]

http://www.met.police.uk/crimefigures/index.ph p

This link gives you all the latest crime figures.

[nannon]

oh thanks - that sit e is scary!!! It sounds like so many crimes but i guess there's loads of people and stuff!""

[Emz26]

It does make it look bad, but yes there are loads of people and crime on the whole has reduced year on year.