Moving to London

[Singh]

I've got through to the third (and final) stage in the recruitment process for a new job, it will see me relocate to London. Although I've not officially been offered the job yet, with a late May start, it makes sense to start looking for somewhere to stay immediately so I'm prepared 'if' I get offered the job (should find out first week of May). I will be based in Mayfair so am looking for accommodation ideally within a thirty minute commute from Green Park station. I will only be in London five days a week, so I don't need anything fancy, but it must be clean with a private bathroom and kitchen, I don't want to share. My budget is £1,000 PCM. Parking isn't an issue either as I'm planning to leave the car at home.
Does anyone have any tips/ideas or know of any properties to suit my criteria?
I've short listed this one, 17 mins from Green Park and looks like exactly what I need. Does anyone know the area, what's it like?

http://www.outlet4property.com/prope...d--nw6/2537858

Thanks in advance.

[limoncello]

yes i know it well, friend of mine lived just off the high street, and i got a place for another friend from italy down the other end in a similar place to the one advertised, and i lived for many years in golders green / hendon. far as im concerned it was quite a nice place to be, the tube station end is a little worse than the maida vale end, used to be a bit of drug activity late at night, more finding needles in doorways rather than gangs though and never physically saw anything. few bars and pubs nearby,

maida vale end is better, less shops and activity late at night. its worth seeing where it is, though from their literature which didnt seem to specify an exact location it is moments away from both the tube station and regents park. if you are at the maida vale end its still a good 30 minutes brisk walk down to marble arch.

close by youve got west hampstead, expensive area but quite villagey lots of bars and resteraunts, and in other directions some places you wouldnt want to go. basically london has good areas flanked by terrible ones so nothing you can do about that.

off the high street round the back you can park, it can be quite tight but ok if your away from the shops.

most of your neighbors will probably be in a similar position to you or foriegn students etc

would i stay/ live there in your position, yes i would , i would rather live in west hampstead but will probably be a trade of in price. worth looking though

[Singh]

Thanks, it's good to get an opinion from someone that knows the area. I've short listed it for viewing. I was born and raised here in Leamington, I love it here, no crime really and everyone is really friendly/polite. It is always a big shock to me when I venture out into the city, so I just want an area that is half decent for my stay in London, that way I can adjust/adapt fairly quickly to London life.

[limoncello]

you may be more at home in west hampstead then, lovely area

[HPsauce]

My 10 cents worth on moving to london....
I went there aged 18 from a midlands suburb to go to Uni and only moved out again (aged about 30) to raise a family. My wife still works in Westminster.
My kids in turn have moved to live in London, though 1 of the 3 is currently in Windsor.

I always lived as close to the centre of town as I could, and my kids try to do the same. Busy areas with lots of facilities and a real "buzz" are what we all like. A walk, short bus ride or handful of tube stops at most to Uni or work was my aim and achievement. I do NOT like the commuter suburbs further out.

Lived in Maida Vale (not far from Kilburn) for a couple of years - that was good. Hackney for a while (handy and cheap) and Streatham too. All about as far as I would go.
But mostly I was close to the West End - Russell Square, Marylebone etc.

You may well find that there is a real North/South of the river divide, and it's as much cultural as physical. I'm a North of the river man....

[PsYcHe]

And the taxis

'Oi ain't gowin dawn sarf of the rivva this time o night guvnor!'

Stick to the North...

[Architex_mA8tey]

Originally Posted by PsYcHe

And the taxis

'Oi ain't gowin dawn sarf of the rivva this time o night guvnor!'

Stick to the North...

Oi I live south of the river at batter on sea. It's near st. Reatham lol
Battersea is a great area. Near Chelsea nice parks and shops and I can walk to Clapham Junction station and be in Waterloo in about 6-8 minutes for central London (and still park my car at home!).

I'd agree that Maida vale and hackney are ok areas too, but would also add hammersmith and barons court plus Kensington are all ok. If you're working in central London try and get on the west side as close as you can near to the mainline station to get back home too