Moving to London

[Crazy Diamond]

Well it seems that I might just be set for a permanent position at my place of work. I'm doing a three month contract at the moment but it sounds as if they want to keep me on.

As I discussed on another thread not so long ago, I am commuting from Shawford up to Crystal Palace. Our offices are moving to Holborn however, but commuting takes up a lot of my day, energy and money. £442 for six trains every day, getting up at 5:30am and getting home at about 7:15pm to go to bed at 9:30pm in fact.

With all this in mind I'm looking to move to London, or I should say back to London, I lived there from birth until the age of six in Motspur Park. I'm looking for something out west on the Central or Piccadilly Line and wondered if anyone had any advice. I know we've a decent west London Saints representation on here - your thoughts guys?

[Thedelldays]

Used to live in Camden town when I worked at the FCO....Pretty central-ish. Mega expensive

My mate lives in feltham. It's alright round there. Not overly expensive, it's near twickenham and about 25 mins into Waterloo

[Tokyo-Saint]

The city link train is not bad and stops in Holburn as well. Not what you are looking for but might open up some new options for you.

[Hatch]

Osterley / Isleworth areas are about 30 mins to Holborn on the Tube.



Are you still getting the 6.49 from Shawford?

[wireframebox]

I'm out in Southfields on the District line. Nice area, but fairly quiet. Perfect if you like Tennis though as its walking distance from Wimbledon.

Depends what you're after and what your budget is?

[Manuel]

I know you specified West, but just to give some perspective about travel times. I used to live in Lewisham (S.East Zone 2) and got to Chancery Lane every morning in 40 minutes door to door. Packed smelly train to London Bridge of course, then Northern Line, then Central. A bit longer if you want to sit and read the paper on the Docklands Railway. Get a bit more house for your buck and I found it fine.

[ben05]

I have just moved from East London to Wimbledon. Both have their advantages. I work around Chancery Lane so if you are looking for somewhere good on the central I would say Stratford is a great bet (after the Olympics have died down). Holborn in 25 mins. Waterloo in 20. Great transport links and “should” be up and coming after the regeneration of the area. Stratford is quite cheap too. If you’re looking west places like Acton are getting a better reputation. That’s on the pic.

[buctootim]

Echo the post above, South east London - much more affordable and there are some good parts, like Denmark Hill, Dulwich, Tulse Hill and catch the train in to London Bridge in 15 minutes.

[Crazy Diamond]

Osterley / Isleworth areas are about 30 mins to Holborn on the Tube.

Are you still getting the 6.49 from Shawford?

Sure am, with me old man.

I'm out in Southfields on the District line. Nice area, but fairly quiet. Perfect if you like Tennis though as its walking distance from Wimbledon.

Depends what you're after and what your budget is?

I reckon I can spend about £900 PCM at the moment, I'm guessing and hoping that a permanent position will result in a pay rise. Wimbledon is a place close to my heart so I thought about looking around there but I really want as few changes with trains as possible, hence looking at the Piccadilly and Central lines.

I know you specified West, but just to give some perspective about travel times. I used to live in Lewisham (S.East Zone 2) and got to Chancery Lane every morning in 40 minutes door to door. Packed smelly train to London Bridge of course, then Northern Line, then Central. A bit longer if you want to sit and read the paper on the Docklands Railway. Get a bit more house for your buck and I found it fine.

Yeah the new office will actually be closer to Chancery Lane than Holborn. Sounds good advice though, cheers.

I have just moved from East London to Wimbledon. Both have their advantages. I work around Chancery Lane so if you are looking for somewhere good on the central I would say Stratford is a great bet (after the Olympics have died down). Holborn in 25 mins. Waterloo in 20. Great transport links and “should” be up and coming after the regeneration of the area. Stratford is quite cheap too. If you’re looking west places like Acton are getting a better reputation. That’s on the pic.

Yeah Acton was one of the first places I thought of, have seen a nice few places around there. Also looking at Ealing.

Echo the post above, South east London - much more affordable and there are some good parts, like Denmark Hill, Dulwich, Tulse Hill and catch the train in to London Bridge in 15 minutes.

Yeah I'm currently around that way at the moment, we're based at the Crystal Palace athletics stadium. West Norwood looks like a nice area, can't seem to find any places there though. My mother is from Kennington originally, not too far away from there, my father is from Mitcham. All familiar areas, basically.

[Turkish]

Bermondsey. Anywhere else is bottling it.

[so22saint]

I used to live in Pimlico - great central location, walk home from an evening in Soho / west end, not as expensive as Belgravia, awesome transport.

Local pubs are mainly a bit **** mind you

[Crazy Diamond]

Bermondsey. Anywhere else is bottling it.

I thought your advice was to avoid London at all costs, in a rather Alan Partridge way. Or was that Dune?

I used to live in Pimlico - great central location, walk home from an evening in Soho / west end, not as expensive as Belgravia, awesome transport.

Local pubs are mainly a bit **** mind you

Pimlico is probably too expensive for me... Yep, checked and no results in my price range.

[Thedelldays]

telling you....around Feltham, twickenham and Richmond way
not far from M25, 25mins (on the quick train) to Waterloo and far enough out of central london madness

[bridge too far]

telling you....around Feltham, twickenham and Richmond way
not far from M25, 25mins (on the quick train) to Waterloo and far enough out of central london madness

My son lives in Twickenham - hugely expensive as is Richmond.

[Crazy Diamond]

telling you....around Feltham, twickenham and Richmond way
not far from M25, 25mins (on the quick train) to Waterloo and far enough out of central london madness

No results I'm afraid Mr. Days, thanks for the heads up though.

I found a few nice gaffes but then forgot about bills and council tax. Ouch.

[Tamesaint]

You could do a lot worse than move to Ealing. I lived there 25 years ago and it used to be a top place. Friends still live in the area and although it has changed it is still a good place to be. Very convenient for the Holborn area.

[adriansfc]

I' in Brixton at the moment, but moving to another area in a few weeks. Not too sure where yet to be honest. Brixton and Herne Hill isn't bad, alright value for money. Lived in Balham, Clapham, Canary Wharf, Croydon and Borough.

Clapham and Balham have just become too expensive, but Tooting/Streatham/Brixton are like 5 to 10 mins walk away and much cheaper. Borough is brilliant, zone 1, near everything, good atmosphere but you need to get lucky finding a place as cheaper places don't come up often. There are still bargains out there though, all depends if the landlord is greedy or one of several just happy to fill the room and not having put up rent in years.

I'm looking at Borough, Tooting, Putney, Southfields, Crystal Palace at the moment but could end up anywhere really.

[adriansfc]

No results I'm afraid Mr. Days, thanks for the heads up though.

I found a few nice gaffes but then forgot about bills and council tax. Ouch.

If you want to be out of central london madness and a bit west then Barnes and Putney are great. Both feel more villagey and have some great pubs, parks etc and are more affordable.

[Sour Mash]

You could do a lot worse than move to Ealing. I lived there 25 years ago and it used to be a top place. Friends still live in the area and although it has changed it is still a good place to be. Very convenient for the Holborn area.

Yep based on the scope given in the OP, Ealing is the best bet.

[Thedelldays]

If you want to be out of central london madness and a bit west then Barnes and Putney are great. Both feel more villagey and have some great pubs, parks etc and are more affordable.

you live in London..?

do you rent in a shared house..or rent a whole flat? what sort of costs etc involved in that

[Turkish]

I thought your advice was to avoid London at all costs, in a rather Alan Partridge way. Or was that Dune?

.

I'd oly recommend moving to London if you move to proper areas and live with salt of the earth Londoners. Bermondsey, Eltham, Bethnal Green, Lambeth Proper working class London areas. Go there and eat jellied eels. Go in proper pubs, go and sit in people's front rooms and drink tea from Charlie and Diana's wedding tea cups. Watch reruns of Marry Poppins and learn all the words to Step in time. Learn cockney rhyming slang and go on and on and on and on about how you are related to the Krays or the Richardsons. Become a cheeky little chappie and walk along with your head bobbing from side to side. Become a proper person. Do it. Move to London.

[Thedelldays]

I'd oly recommend moving to London if you move to proper areas and live with salt of the earth Londoners. Bermondsey, Eltham, Bethnal Green, Lambeth Proper working class London areas. Go there and eat jellied eels. Go in proper pubs, go and sit in people's front rooms and drink tea from Charlie and Diana's wedding tea cups. Watch reruns of Marry Poppins and learn all the words to Step in time. Learn cockney rhyming slang and go on and on and on and on about how you are related to the Krays or the Richardsons. Become a cheeky little chappie and walk along with your head bobbing from side to side. Become a proper person. Do it. Move to London.

[ben05]

Sure am, with me old man.



I reckon I can spend about £900 PCM at the moment, I'm guessing and hoping that a permanent position will result in a pay rise. Wimbledon is a place close to my heart so I thought about looking around there but I really want as few changes with trains as possible, hence looking at the Piccadilly and Central lines.


.

Living in wimbledon I can get the District line to Blackfriars or the overground in via city thames link. 3 min walk to chancery lane from there so its best to keep that in mind. 900PCM is loads for somewhere nice in zone 3 if your Flat/house sharing. With that budget places in zone 1 like kennington or shoreditch could be a option

[adriansfc]

I'd oly recommend moving to London if you move to proper areas and live with salt of the earth Londoners. Bermondsey, Eltham, Bethnal Green, Lambeth Proper working class London areas. Go there and eat jellied eels. Go in proper pubs, go and sit in people's front rooms and drink tea from Charlie and Diana's wedding tea cups. Watch reruns of Marry Poppins and learn all the words to Step in time. Learn cockney rhyming slang and go on and on and on and on about how you are related to the Krays or the Richardsons. Become a cheeky little chappie and walk along with your head bobbing from side to side. Become a proper person. Do it. Move to London.

So you recommend moving to London in 1985 then?

[dellboypete]

Wimbledon to Wloo overground train every few mins. I often walk to Holborn/Grays Inn Road (about 20mins briskly) but there are loads of buses from Wloo to Holborn area literally every half minute at peak times (the olympics has screwed up the traffic north over Wloo bridge at the moment - but usually its only a few mins on the bus to Holborn)

[doubleonothing]

I'm in Tooting at the mo which has some nice areas and some complete dives. I like Balham and Clapham but as said above expensive.

Wandsworth, Southfields and Putney?

[Crazy Diamond]

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated...

You could do a lot worse than move to Ealing. I lived there 25 years ago and it used to be a top place. Friends still live in the area and although it has changed it is still a good place to be. Very convenient for the Holborn area.

Ealing is absolutely ideal - I found around six places I liked, but then forgot that they didn't include bills or council tax. Ealing/Acton is my first choice.

I' in Brixton at the moment, but moving to another area in a few weeks. Not too sure where yet to be honest. Brixton and Herne Hill isn't bad, alright value for money. Lived in Balham, Clapham, Canary Wharf, Croydon and Borough.

Clapham and Balham have just become too expensive, but Tooting/Streatham/Brixton are like 5 to 10 mins walk away and much cheaper. Borough is brilliant, zone 1, near everything, good atmosphere but you need to get lucky finding a place as cheaper places don't come up often. There are still bargains out there though, all depends if the landlord is greedy or one of several just happy to fill the room and not having put up rent in years.

I'm looking at Borough, Tooting, Putney, Southfields, Crystal Palace at the moment but could end up anywhere really.

I'll give Borough a look - I just assumed that anything remotely close to the centre of London would be out of my price range. If you're thinking of moving to Crystal Palace, I'd probably look at West Norwood, not too far away but a better area.

If you want to be out of central london madness and a bit west then Barnes and Putney are great. Both feel more villagey and have some great pubs, parks etc and are more affordable.

I used to live in an area that apparently is now called West Barnes, I'm keen for something a bit closer than that.

Yep based on the scope given in the OP, Ealing is the best bet.

Yep I have a feeling it is too

I'd oly recommend moving to London if you move to proper areas and live with salt of the earth Londoners. Bermondsey, Eltham, Bethnal Green, Lambeth Proper working class London areas. Go there and eat jellied eels. Go in proper pubs, go and sit in people's front rooms and drink tea from Charlie and Diana's wedding tea cups. Watch reruns of Marry Poppins and learn all the words to Step in time. Learn cockney rhyming slang and go on and on and on and on about how you are related to the Krays or the Richardsons. Become a cheeky little chappie and walk along with your head bobbing from side to side. Become a proper person. Do it. Move to London.

Right. Well my mother's half of the family are born and bred in Lambeth, my grandfather was from Vauxhall, my grandmother from Kennington. Apparently there was a side to the family that was a bit nawty so keep your lipped buttoned down or I'll trace them and get them to give you a going over. Know what I mean?

Me personally, I'm from Winchester and am a classy fellow.

Living in wimbledon I can get the District line to Blackfriars or the overground in via city thames link. 3 min walk to chancery lane from there so its best to keep that in mind. 900PCM is loads for somewhere nice in zone 3 if your Flat/house sharing. With that budget places in zone 1 like kennington or shoreditch could be a option

I saw a place in Kennington, great location just down from Vauxhall but no pictures of the inside of the flat. Just the one place though on a property search unfortunately. As I have mentioned, I have roots from Kennington and know it a bit. Shoreditch isn't my bag at all. I'm not flat/house sharing, I'm avoiding that like the plague. Have had enough of that from university.

Wimbledon to Wloo overground train every few mins. I often walk to Holborn/Grays Inn Road (about 20mins briskly) but there are loads of buses from Wloo to Holborn area literally every half minute at peak times (the olympics has screwed up the traffic north over Wloo bridge at the moment - but usually its only a few mins on the bus to Holborn)

Trying to avoid overground trains in general but I like Wimbledon so will bear it in mind.

I'm in Tooting at the mo which has some nice areas and some complete dives. I like Balham and Clapham but as said above expensive.

Wandsworth, Southfields and Putney?

Putney or Southfields would be nice. My father's side of the family came from Wandsworth, my grandfather even worked for Wandsworth council. I went to see a place on Garratt Lane, it was an absolute ****hole.

[Turkish]

Right. Well my mother's half of the family are born and bred in Lambeth, my grandfather was from Vauxhall, my grandmother from Kennington. Apparently there was a side to the family that was a bit nawty so keep your lipped buttoned down or I'll trace them and get them to give you a going over. Know what I mean?

Me personally, I'm from Winchester and am a classy fellow.

Dont you go trying to make out you're a proper person you cockney wannabe melt. I'll iron you out like a pair of trousers sunshine. Proper people are real Londoners. Dockers, Labourers, van drivers. Proper people from proper places. You'll never get it.

[wireframebox]

No results I'm afraid Mr. Days, thanks for the heads up though.

I found a few nice gaffes but then forgot about bills and council tax. Ouch.

Wandsworth... cheapest council tax in the country...

[Crazy Diamond]

Dont you go trying to make out you're a proper person you cockney wannabe melt. I'll iron you out like a pair of trousers sunshine. Proper people are real Londoners. Dockers, Labourers, van drivers. Proper people from proper places. You'll never get it.

My grandfather was a courier. Does that count?

The fact I'm thinking of west London kind of rules out any cockney wannabe-ness, I have to say. Did you fail your O level geography?

Wandsworth... cheapest council tax in the country...

£0 I believe.

[Turkish]

My grandfather was a courier. Does that count?

The fact I'm thinking of west London kind of rules out any cockney wannabe-ness, I have to say. Did you fail your O level geography?



£0 I believe.

Proper people dont do O levels you plum, plank, melt. Proper people leave school at 14 with nothing and become boys done good in the building trade or selling stuff out the back of the car. You Don't get it do you treacle.

[SNSUN]

Used to live in Camden town when I worked at the FCO....Pretty central-ish. Mega expensive

My mate lives in feltham. It's alright round there. Not overly expensive, it's near twickenham and about 25 mins into Waterloo

Very chavvy area. Good for public transport though, and they're desperately trying to improve it but you get a lot of trouble around there. Hounslow avoid likewise.

Ealing is a good area, but if I could personally live anywhere in London (my missus won't allow it in spite of the fact she works in Twickenham) I'd live in Putney. Lovely area. My friend lived in Earlsfield too, that's a peaceful area. I lived in Chiswick years ago - loved it.

[wireframebox]

Very chavvy area. Good for public transport though, and they're desperately trying to improve it but you get a lot of trouble around there. Hounslow avoid likewise.

Ealing is a good area, but if I could personally live anywhere in London (my missus won't allow it in spite of the fact she works in Twickenham) I'd live in Putney. Lovely area. My friend lived in Earlsfield too, that's a peaceful area. I lived in Chiswick years ago - loved it.

I can vouch for Earlsfield too, great overground route to Clapham/Waterloo. It's busy but very regular. House prices/rent there is pretty high though! Some decent pubs and restaurants there.

[Draino76]

I may have a room available inWhitechapel for 800.

[Crazy Diamond]

Proper people dont do O levels you plum, plank, melt. Proper people leave school at 14 with nothing and become boys done good in the building trade or selling stuff out the back of the car. You Don't get it do you treacle.

Alright geez. You've got me.

Very chavvy area. Good for public transport though, and they're desperately trying to improve it but you get a lot of trouble around there. Hounslow avoid likewise.

Ealing is a good area, but if I could personally live anywhere in London (my missus won't allow it in spite of the fact she works in Twickenham) I'd live in Putney. Lovely area. My friend lived in Earlsfield too, that's a peaceful area. I lived in Chiswick years ago - loved it.

Have heard plenty a bad thing about Feltham. Would dearly love to live in Chiswick but that's way out of my price range.

I can vouch for Earlsfield too, great overground route to Clapham/Waterloo. It's busy but very regular. House prices/rent there is pretty high though! Some decent pubs and restaurants there.

I went and saw a flat dead centre between Earlsfield and Wandsworth Town, £590 PCM and it was ****ing terrible.

I may have a room available inWhitechapel for 800.

Feel free to PM me, though I should say I'm looking for a place just for me, not really open to sharing a place - I'm sure you're lovely, but I did it for three years as a student and have had enough of it.

[shurlock]

Thought about going up north -Holloway/Finsbury Park? Quicker to Holborn that way and bit more of a buzz than SW London.

[Crazy Diamond]

Thought about going up north -Holloway/Finsbury Park? Quicker to Holborn that way and bit more of a buzz than SW London.

Have thought about it briefly. North London is not really my bag but if push comes to shove then I'll probably give it some more thought. Cheers.

I've found three properties and am making enquiries. They're in Ealing and Wimbledon Park, one of which I really like.

[wireframebox]

I went and saw a flat dead centre between Earlsfield and Wandsworth Town, £590 PCM and it was ****ing terrible.

Not surprised! That's half the price of our 1 bed in Southfields!

[Crazy Diamond]

Not surprised! That's half the price of our 1 bed in Southfields!

Walked up the stairs, foot nearly went through. Landlord didn't even seem bothered.

The property in Wimbledon Park is a matter of minutes from Southfields station, Albert Drive. What's it like round there?

[sambosa75]

I live in Fulham but have also lived in Earls Court, Holland Park and Kensington Olympia in the last 10 years. If you want to stay on the Central Line, Shepherds Bush and Acton aren't too bad. I personally would try and stay on the Piccadilly line though. Love going out in She Bu and it's great for Westfield but wouldn't really fancy living there.

Good luck with the move though. If ever Saints are on TV for away games oop north we tend to get a pretty good crowd in the Famous 3 Kings in West Kensington. Maybe see you in there at some point!

[stu0x]

Feel free to PM me, though I should say I'm looking for a place just for me, not really open to sharing a place - I'm sure you're lovely, but I did it for three years as a student and have had enough of it.

£900PCM is in my experience an unrealistic budget for a decent 1 bed in a decent area. You will end up with a hovel in somewhere nice, or a nice place in a horrible area.

By the way all tube lines are not created equally... If you're stuck on Central or Picadilly Lines, blue wins over red every day of the week.

But then again, if it were my decision, I'd take the hit of a few extra minutes and find somewhere on the District Line. Cooler, quieter, less packed, and it actually goes to nicer places.

And I'd seriously consider sharing. 900 sheets all in will get you half of a very decent place in somewhere like Putney. Or it will get you all of a studio flat in somewhere like Mitcham. Not a difficult choice.

Oh, and it goes without saying, but avoid ex-council like the plague. And avoid (99% of) Lambeth like something even worse.

[wireframebox]

Walked up the stairs, foot nearly went through. Landlord didn't even seem bothered.

The property in Wimbledon Park is a matter of minutes from Southfields station, Albert Drive. What's it like round there?

Albert drive is ok, good location for the station. Most of the places on the hill are ex council though. I'm the other side of the railway on the grid.

[so22saint]

last place I lived before moving to Winch was East Sheen. Near Mortlake Station, cheaper than Pimlico, lovely pubs and curry houses, near the river

[Tokyo-Saint]

Just come back to Motspur Park mate, probably just as quick into Waterloo as Southfields is into town.

[Goalie66]

I live in Woking. 25 minutes to Waterloo. 50 minutes by car to StMary's 14 miles Heathrow. 30 minutes Gatwick 10 minutes M25. Affordable housing .Good theatre and shops and excellent local schools.

[kwsaint]

Well it seems that I might just be set for a permanent position at my place of work. I'm doing a three month contract at the moment but it sounds as if they want to keep me on.

As I discussed on another thread not so long ago, I am commuting from Shawford up to Crystal Palace. Our offices are moving to Holborn however, but commuting takes up a lot of my day, energy and money. £442 for six trains every day, getting up at 5:30am and getting home at about 7:15pm to go to bed at 9:30pm in fact.

With all this in mind I'm looking to move to London, or I should say back to London, I lived there from birth until the age of six in Motspur Park. I'm looking for something out west on the Central or Piccadilly Line and wondered if anyone had any advice. I know we've a decent west London Saints representation on here - your thoughts guys?

Have you tried Egham?

[Saint_DB]

I live in Borough, I pay 910 PCM (similar to your budget) and it's a nice (but quite small) 2-bed ground floor flat in a gated development. Having said that, it's 910 per person PCM, so if I wasn't sharing with 1 other person it would be way, way out of my price range.
Good transport links, Northern line from Borough station or a 5-min walk to London Bridge. Easy 15-min trip to Waterloo for Saints games / visiting family down south.
35-minute walk to Moorgate for me every day.
A few good bars and restaurants on Borough High Street.

Full of Americans who just LOVE the market though at this time of year.

[JackanorySFC]

I live in Fulham but have also lived in Earls Court, Holland Park and Kensington Olympia in the last 10 years. If you want to stay on the Central Line, Shepherds Bush and Acton aren't too bad. I personally would try and stay on the Piccadilly line though. Love going out in She Bu and it's great for Westfield but wouldn't really fancy living there.

Good luck with the move though. If ever Saints are on TV for away games oop north we tend to get a pretty good crowd in the Famous 3 Kings in West Kensington. Maybe see you in there at some point!

I remember reading on SaintsForever that the Staua Bucherest away game was on in there via some mental overseas satalite they had, being on a banning order at the time and not being able to travel out there I decided to make my way down there (took a good hour from where I lived in Surrey Quays). Met a group of about 5 rather confused Saints fans in there that I ended up watching US Ice Hockey with as the game wasn't being shown anywhere in the world it seemed.

Quality boozer though!

As for my advice to the OP, go up north, lived in Islington for a couple of years and loved it, the Upper St area is my favourite in London (can't wait for Arsenal away), Holloway Rd quality too (if a bit more "urban"), Muswell Hill, Ally Pally etc all good. Dead easy to get to Holborn (by bus it's 20 mins from where I lived in Highbury Corner) - don't underestimate the qualities that getting a bus has over the brain numbing monotony of the tube...

No nothing of West London, worked East for 9 years and Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Bow etc are all decent with good links into Central London.

Anyway, wherever you go enjoy it - London is one of the World's great Cities, try and see as much of it as possible.

[Draino76]

I didn't realize so many of you buggers were close by!!!

I like the sound of hooking up with fellow London Saints in the 3 Kings pub for example. Who is about August 19th?

[Crazy Diamond]

I live in Fulham but have also lived in Earls Court, Holland Park and Kensington Olympia in the last 10 years. If you want to stay on the Central Line, Shepherds Bush and Acton aren't too bad. I personally would try and stay on the Piccadilly line though. Love going out in She Bu and it's great for Westfield but wouldn't really fancy living there.

Good luck with the move though. If ever Saints are on TV for away games oop north we tend to get a pretty good crowd in the Famous 3 Kings in West Kensington. Maybe see you in there at some point!

Cheers fella. I'd like something on the Central line as it means not changing, Holborn is on both the Pic and Central but Chancery Lane is the closest to my new office and that's Central.

£900PCM is in my experience an unrealistic budget for a decent 1 bed in a decent area. You will end up with a hovel in somewhere nice, or a nice place in a horrible area.

By the way all tube lines are not created equally... If you're stuck on Central or Picadilly Lines, blue wins over red every day of the week.

But then again, if it were my decision, I'd take the hit of a few extra minutes and find somewhere on the District Line. Cooler, quieter, less packed, and it actually goes to nicer places.

And I'd seriously consider sharing. 900 sheets all in will get you half of a very decent place in somewhere like Putney. Or it will get you all of a studio flat in somewhere like Mitcham. Not a difficult choice.

Oh, and it goes without saying, but avoid ex-council like the plague. And avoid (99% of) Lambeth like something even worse.

Hmm. The place I like the look of most is ex-council. It's been refurbed, the area is nice. Having second thoughts now. Sharing = no no no.

Albert drive is ok, good location for the station. Most of the places on the hill are ex council though. I'm the other side of the railway on the grid.

Yeah I've been checking it out, it is an ex-council place but it has been done up to a nice standard. As I just said, thinking twice now though...

Just come back to Motspur Park mate, probably just as quick into Waterloo as Southfields is into town.

Trying to avoid overground rail travel. Motspur Park didn't have a lot going for it when I left in '95 and seemed to be going downhill quite quickly. My old school was one of the worst in the country and there were constant bad stories about the secondary school, for example.

Have you tried Egham?

No, again, overground so I'm looking elsewhere. I have a friend who lives there though, or lived there at least, haven't spoken to him for over a year. Friend of my ex, very messy.

I live in Borough, I pay 910 PCM (similar to your budget) and it's a nice (but quite small) 2-bed ground floor flat in a gated development. Having said that, it's 910 per person PCM, so if I wasn't sharing with 1 other person it would be way, way out of my price range.
Good transport links, Northern line from Borough station or a 5-min walk to London Bridge. Easy 15-min trip to Waterloo for Saints games / visiting family down south.
35-minute walk to Moorgate for me every day.
A few good bars and restaurants on Borough High Street.

Full of Americans who just LOVE the market though at this time of year.

Interesting.

I remember reading on SaintsForever that the Staua Bucherest away game was on in there via some mental overseas satalite they had, being on a banning order at the time and not being able to travel out there I decided to make my way down there (took a good hour from where I lived in Surrey Quays). Met a group of about 5 rather confused Saints fans in there that I ended up watching US Ice Hockey with as the game wasn't being shown anywhere in the world it seemed.

Quality boozer though!

As for my advice to the OP, go up north, lived in Islington for a couple of years and loved it, the Upper St area is my favourite in London (can't wait for Arsenal away), Holloway Rd quality too (if a bit more "urban"), Muswell Hill, Ally Pally etc all good. Dead easy to get to Holborn (by bus it's 20 mins from where I lived in Highbury Corner) - don't underestimate the qualities that getting a bus has over the brain numbing monotony of the tube...

No nothing of West London, worked East for 9 years and Whitechapel, Bethnal Green, Bow etc are all decent with good links into Central London.

Anyway, wherever you go enjoy it - London is one of the World's great Cities, try and see as much of it as possible.

I absolutely hate busses and with good reason, but I'm told in London they're not too bad. I just know what I'm doing with the tube. I may have to venture north as I'm not seeing much in W/SW at the moment. Cheers.