Topic: Living in London

[Crosby Nick]

What are the options? West End I would say.

Just had a quick look on there, from the options I would say it's the Westminster - Big Ben - Victoria option. It's also not far from Paddington Station but that's tied in with Notting Hill which is further out of the centre.

[Johnny Foreigner]

What are the options? West End I would say.

I have westminster/victoria/big ben as one, chelsea/knightsbridge/harrods to the west, mayfair/piccadilly/soho  up north and then a few more..

[Johnny Foreigner]

Comes under Mayfair - Picadilly - Soho on Hotwire. Right in the top left corner.

cheers

[Crosby Nick]

Comes under Mayfair - Picadilly - Soho on Hotwire. Right in the top left corner.

What are the options? West End I would say.

Just had a quick look on there, from the options I would say it's the Westminster - Big Ben - Victoria option. It's also not far from Paddington Station but that's tied in with Notting Hill which is further out of the centre.

Glad to be of no help whatsoever!

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆☆]

Glad to be of no help whatsoever!

As normal

[Mouth]

Sorry for crashing, but trying to book hotel close to marble arch through hotwire..

Problem being and IJFGI - what area would Marble arch being classifed under ?

thanks a lot for any pointers

Regents Park Holiday Inn isn't that far from Marble Arch. The Radisson Blu is virtually on top of it.

No idea of prices though.

If you just want to search for hotels in the area, then Marylebone is probably what you want to put in. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/hotels+marylebone/@51.5188741,-0.1498955,15z/data=!3m1!4b1

[La Vecchia Magpie]

London RAWKites! I love London and i'm aiming to visit in February, does anyone know if you can just go up the Shard to use the bars, just for a few drinks? Or.....?

[Mouth]

London RAWKites! I love London and i'm aiming to visit in February, does anyone know if you can just go up the Shard to use the bars, just for a few drinks? Or.....?

Yes, but there is a secret phrase you have use to get you in.

Go to reception and say three times in a loud clear voice "god is great"

[Guz-kop]

Is there anywhere in zones 1-3 it's possible to live alone in an ok-ish 1 bed flat (not studio) for less than £1000pcm? Living with other people in SW London at the moment and spending loads on rent. Will be changing jobs in July and would like to find a place of my own. It won't be long term though - not that I can afford a deposit for a place anyway. I'm undecided on area really but wondering if anyone has found bargains?

[Crosby Nick]

Just had a little look on zoopla - Acton is cheaper and on the Piccadilly Line. It's definitely less salubrious than some of the other areas around there, but you benefit in the price you pay for property.

Acton Town is on the Picc Line but Acton is quite spread out and the station is a bit of a walk from the High Street. There's a few Acton stations on the Central Line too plus an overland station in there somewhere. Basically it's massive!

[Claire.]

Only place I ever lived in London that felt like the rent was worthy of the space I got was Woolwich. I doubt that's the case any more as the area has lots of development now and Woolwich Arsenal is lovely, can probably still get a place there for £1k a month, it'd be brand spanking new but for that price it'd more than likely be a studio. It seems a right old trek but the DLR into Bank in 25 mins, there's also the mainline train to London Bridge/Waterloo and the boat is a lovely way to travel, that runs to embankment.

[SalisburyRed]

London RAWKites! I love London and i'm aiming to visit in February, does anyone know if you can just go up the Shard to use the bars, just for a few drinks? Or.....?

You can. Just be prepared for it to be really busy if you go in the evening, particularly on a Friday or Saturday.

[JG-7]

A quick one for you London RAWKites (I hope this is the most appropriate thread) - I'm working in London on Thursday (around the Islington area) and I won't have enough time to get home to watch the game. I'm looking for a pub/bar that I can go to on my own and watch it, I don't mind if it's a tube or so away, but preferably on the way back to London Liverpool St.

[Crosby Nick]

The following places as places to live (buy):

Woolwich
Southall
Hayes

Yes or no? (Thinking Woolwich at the mo)

Can only judge Southall and Hayes by my daily commute (and stations are never the best indication of a place) but based on that I would say...Woolwich.

[Claire.]

Don't know what type of properties you're looking at or the prices, but I loved living in Woolwich. As an area it's deffo on the up, expect with the developments that are in progress as well as the crossrail that that will continue.

That being said I did only live in Woolwich Arsenal and I don't know where you're looking. I also lived in Greenwich, too, and it's bloody lovely there.

[Crosby Nick]

Minge of a commute to Ealing though.

From Southall? It's about 5 minutes by train, a few bus options or a short cycle. Yeah, a right pain in the arse!

[muyuu]

Only place I ever lived in London that felt like the rent was worthy of the space I got was Woolwich. I doubt that's the case any more as the area has lots of development now and Woolwich Arsenal is lovely, can probably still get a place there for £1k a month, it'd be brand spanking new but for that price it'd more than likely be a studio. It seems a right old trek but the DLR into Bank in 25 mins, there's also the mainline train to London Bridge/Waterloo and the boat is a lovely way to travel, that runs to embankment.

More than £1K a month I'd say. £1K is what a room is going for these days. With expenses, 1bed/studio should set you back around £1.6K a month in Woolwich.

[End Product]

Thanks for the help when i posted earlier last year about living london.

Due to work it looks like i am going to have to stay down south but have enjoyed living down here.

Looking at buying a place, budget of about 130k, which means going to be on the outskirts like dagenham ebsfleet etc

anyone got any recommendations or anybody bought a place with a similar budget, not fussed about the area i'm hard like prefer rough pubs to wine bars.

but commuting time into london central being short would be a plus.   

thanks 

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

I live in Harold Wood, about 20 minutes from Dagenham - my fiancee is from there and his family live there. Can you get a house there for £130k...?!? When I moved from Ireland to live with him here, he didn't want to live there anymore. We got a place further out. He's a bit miserable about the area now and what it has become - run down, local born Dagenham people moved away from the area, crime etc... He wouldn't go back for all the money in the world. His family have moved away and his parents are looking to move away too.

Just my two pence worth.

EDIT: Are you looking for a house or a flat? 1 bed?

[End Product]

I live in Harold Wood, about 20 minutes from Dagenham - my fiancee is from there and his family live there. Can you get a house there for £130k...?!? When I moved from Ireland to live with him here, he didn't want to live there anymore. We got a place further out. He's a bit miserable about the area now and what it has become - run down, local born Dagenham people moved away from the area, crime etc... He wouldn't go back for all the money in the world. His family have moved away and his parents are looking to move away too.

Just my two pence worth.

EDIT: Are you looking for a house or a flat? 1 bed?

Thanks Ciara, yep want to avoid a studio if possible.

[WEST HAM PAUL]

Thanks Ciara, yep want to avoid a studio if possible.

I take Ciara's advice & avoid Dagenham as well . You'd be better off putting extra 15-20 mins on your commute than live around there. Harold Wood, Hornchurch & Upminster are better

[Azi]

Random Bump,

I'm in London for the weekend for a wedding on Saturday night, near the Stratford centre anyone got any suggestions what to do Friday/Saturday ?

[J_Kopite]

Go out in Shoreditch, huge selection of bars, pubs and clubs populated with loads of cool people although beware of hipsters.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Random Bump,

I'm in London for the weekend for a wedding on Saturday night, near the Stratford centre anyone got any suggestions what to do Friday/Saturday ?

If you don’t want to go far, there’s a few bars and restaurants outside Westfield shopping centre near Gary Neville’s football café and a casino inside the shopping centre. Otherwise you can jump on the train to anywhere in London really as Stratford is a public transport hub.

[Crosby Nick]

Happy Diwali! Sounds like the Battle of the Somme is being re-enacted in West London.

[The G in Gerrard]

Happy Diwali! Sounds like the Battle of the Somme is being re-enacted in West London.

Looks superb outside at the moment

[Alanslad]

Happy Diwali! Sounds like the Battle of the Somme is being re-enacted in West London.

Cool. No evidence of Diwalli visible in Ellesmere Port.

[aaronaldo]

Hey Guys,

Not sure if this is the right thread, but can anyone recommend any cheap hotels in London?

Trying to organise a reunion with the uni lot and london seems to be the place of choice at the moment. Ideally i think its going to be a weekend in december.

Thanks!

[Claire.]

Any particular area you're looking at? The usual Ibis/Travelodge etc are all over the city and you can usually get great deals for the weekend cos the working week is when they're most busy, particularly the ones in zone 1.

[Azi]

Ha! I'm gonna be near Stratford for almost a week but from Sunday. Westfield has some decent places to eat. It's standard fayre, but still pretty good. Agree with whoever said go to Shoreditch/Brick Lane area, though. Much more atmosphere around there. Enjoy.

Ended up going into Camden market, before ending back at westfield shopping center, must admit was really impressed with the food court not the usual fast food pish i usually see/eat.

[lfcgeez]

Hi.. I'm taking the Mrs to London for a weekend in a few weeks and we'll have 4-5 hrs to kill on the Saturday before we go to a show. I'm looking for things to do in the afternoon other than the usual tourist type places.. Can anyone suggest any hidden gems that would be worth a visit ? Cheers.

[meady1981]

Hi.. I'm taking the Mrs to London for a weekend in a few weeks and we'll have 4-5 hrs to kill on the Saturday before we go to a show. I'm looking for things to do in the afternoon other than the usual tourist type places.. Can anyone suggest any hidden gems that would be worth a visit ? Cheers.

Where you gonna be staying/seeing show and are you talking educational/cultural or fun times/alcohol?

[lfcgeez]

Staying near St Pancras and the show is in the West End.. Got from 11am til around 5ish to spare. Not too bothered about drinking so looking for more fun/cultural ideas really. We've both done all the usual Tower of London, London Eye, Buck Palace, etc so maybe Lang those lines but less obvious. Maybe obscure guided tours or something like that..? Open to any decent ideas really

[meady1981]

Staying near St Pancras and the show is in the West End.. Got from 11am til around 5ish to spare. Not too bothered about drinking so looking for more fun/cultural ideas really. We've both done all the usual Tower of London, London Eye, Buck Palace, etc so maybe Lang those lines but less obvious. Maybe obscure guided tours or something like that..? Open to any decent ideas really

If it's a decent day and you want to just walk about, given you're in St Pancras, Regent's Park is one of the best parks in London. Also walking the regents canal through Camden or Primrose hill is nice.

Directly north of Kings cross the whole area is being rejuvenated and by granary square there is the illustration museum, the skip garden, open air swimming pond etc and loads of good places to eat. Dishoom is a cracking curry.
http://www.gasholder.london

Good museums round kings cross are the welcome collection and the British museum but may be packed. Dunno, I base what I like around how little people I can be around so this is good http://apeaceoflondon.com

[Crosby Nick]

A favourite hangout of Wayne Rooney's.

Took me a couple of minutes there but felt extra rewarded for laughing at it.

[meady1981]

Took me a couple of minutes there but felt extra rewarded for laughing at it.

I'm still struggling

[Crosby Nick]

I'm still struggling

Try moving the imaginary space back one.

[meady1981]

Try moving the imaginary space back one.

I'm in! Very good.

[Craig S]

If it's a decent day and you want to just walk about, given you're in St Pancras, Regent's Park is one of the best parks in London. Also walking the regents canal through Camden or Primrose hill is nice.

If you go to Regents park, walk along the path at the north end behind the zoo, near the bottom of primrose hill. You can get a decent view of the tigers, camels, and a few others from the park, without having to pay for the zoo.

If you are there walk to the top of primrose hill to get a cracking view over the city.

[Crosby Nick]

If you go to Regents park, walk along the path at the north end behind the zoo, near the bottom of primrose hill. You can get a decent view of the tigers, camels, and a few others from the park, without having to pay for the zoo.

If you are there walk to the top of primrose hill to get a cracking view over the city.

Yeah nice in Primrose Hil, couple of nice pubs at the bottom of it too.