Graduate moving to London - Help please

I am a long time lurker, used to ride fixed a bit in the countryside and when I was at uni in Bristol. Started to do a bit of road cycling but injured my IT Band and haven't really got back onto two wheels yet through fear of more injury. I often read threads on here, friendliest forum on the interweb is my go to place for opinions in the capital, not the best market research but better than nothing.

This is where I am. I graduated, moved back to parent's house over summer, applied for job, went to interview in Shoreditch, got offered job, I accepted it today.

Problem. I need to relocate, 170 miles (ish) south-eastwards. I've only been to London about 5 times in my life, I'm quite uninformed. For those who think I should start my career elsewhere; I figured this is an opportunity I have to take, if I don't like in 6 months after probation period then I can try something else.

Is it naive of me to think that I can rent an air b'n'b next week, scroll around spare room listings and find a healthy room for 600pcm (bills inc), somewhere within 30min cycle to Hackney Road (E2), with a nice landlord, in a flat share with really interesting young professionals, before next Friday? Where I can live freely outside the hours of 8:30-5:30, go to edgy contemporary theatre and dance performances, ride bikes around regents park, easily fall in love with wonderful people who dream big, cook faux-artisan vegan meals for us all to enjoy, ride Herne Hill classics on something italian and shiny and genuinely say "I'm great" when someone asks me how I'm doing?

Or is reality 800pcm in a vermin infested cupboard with white collar lads who play COD, drink and use tindr as a sport and in 3 months my dreams, bank balance, hope and libido have withered away to reveal I'm an insecure, lonely, cynical 20-something like others in Hackney, trudging through the grey city in the rain hoping I'm young enough to still travel the world and do something interesting? (I asked someone already and they said E9 / E8 / E5 which are my potential new digs, is an area being overly developed and most tenancy's don't last long with owners eager to develop and increase rental income.)

I stumbled into the Ace Hotel looking for a toilet and was aghast to see a whole hotel run by people from an Apple advertisement. I'm a veggie but eat poorly, teetotal, built like a cyclist, lack confidence, and don't have access to social media. The radiant glow from these youthful and trendy individuals was alarming and made me feel inferior and almost a failure, is this sort of supreme creature of Instagram perfection a regularity? For I fear I would become alienated very quickly, I come from a deprived area where ploughing contests and speed shearing are displays of machismo, most people are ill, nearly always slovenly and unpretentious yet keen to help each other, mental disability is common (almost expected) and where many spend their weekly income on TLC (Tinnies, Lotto & Ciggies). The stark contrast is scary as what little I have seen makes me feel I would be be an outcast. Part of me hopes that there is space in London for everyone including me.

Opinions welcome, hopefully this can be of help to others in a similar position

What areas should I be looking at next week?
How do I find great flatmates when I know nobody and am quite shy?
Any stories from a recent relocation to the capital?

Some people use gumtree or similar to find a room to rent.

Come to London and go wild. There are many bands of misfits you can join, lfgss being one.

You can also try Spareroom and also ask about in this thread

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/218660/?offset=175

Just give it a go. Don't be too daunted about it, look at it as a new experience. I moved here 8 years ago and while it was hard at first you do slowly find your groove.

You'll be fine. Everyone feels like that and acts like they don't.

When you do make it over, come to east drinks and meet some nice weirdos.

I'm not sure you really appreciate what and exciting and life changing opportunity this is for you.

London is the greatest city in the world and you are about to stake your claim.

Good luck.

Thanks, I will make my claim. My head is in two places; my home and my future. Its hard as they aren't compatible.

Thanks @Poetic, I have posted there too.

When I first came to London I was convinced everyone would do a lot of beak, but that's not really the case.

You can get it, sure, but I thought there would be a lot more.

London's different to the rest of the UK in some ways, more exciting, but you can lead a pretty average lifestyle here if you try. That's what I aspire to.

Hope this helps.

Pm me with phones number/email I have a small bedsit that may suit you

Thanks all - can anyone offer guidance on what a warehouse conversion is / is like?

Usually a pile of shit. Get a room in a flat built as a flat. Or a house. Conversion is a byword for badly repurposed dwellings IMO.

Have a look in south east London, IMO the easiest place for you to find a fairly normal but lively atmosphere and fairly easy ride to Shoreditch. Lewisham, Catford, Sydenham, Honor Oak, Deptford are all achievable price-wise and a good balance of hip/normal. But I'm biased cos I live there.

BTW one of THE BEST first posts in a thread I've seen in a long time. Funny and honest and suitably quirky. Hope to hear more from you sir/madam!

The only thing I'd add is don't expect to find a house share you like thinking as long as you've got the money you can have it. In my experience of the last couple of years, there's so many people looking for the same room that you often have to "audition" for the room. They invite you for a drink to see if they like you and it can get a bit annoying.
Best of luck though. It's a move you won't regret. You're welcome to join a couple rides with me and my misfit bunch of idiot friends when you get a bike up and running.

If you want the best of both worlds, move to SE4/13/6 where you're in shooting distance of lots of interesting areas like Peckham and wherever is now the 'new Peckham' - but also 25 mins ride from Kent's lanes. Even within the M25, there's great ~2 hour rides to be had.

You're more likely to meet people who are likeminded in London than anywhere else in the world. I'm sure there are plenty on this forum. Or you could check out EC1 Collective - they seem like your new crew.

And get a £15 foam roller for your IT band issue and get cycling. You'll get the most out of London that way.

BTW one of THE BEST first posts in a thread I've seen in a long time. Funny and honest and suitably quirky.

I have nothing to contribute here but to agree with this

One of my friends recently posted this on facebook. Let me know if you want contact details

"Anybody looking for a room? One has just become free in my place - £480 per month excl bills, Homerton area of Hackney/Clapton, parks and rivers adjacent, nice pubs and restaurants in the area. Start date 1st Oct but possibility for earlier than that. Pix coming soon, lemme know if you or anyone you know is interested!"

I lived in a warehouse conversion in bow for a few years. The flats were very solid and we heard not a peep out of our neighbours. The only problem with warehouse conversions imo is that of the heat retention of the exposed brick in the summer.nthe flat was like an oven in the summer.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29329315.html

This is my old flat. I sold it a couple of years ago. If the building you are looking at is anything like this, it will be very solid, and as below, very hot ! Don't underestimate the noise either if you are in a main road, the solid walls and hard floors make for a very noisy flat too.

Pretty sure a lot of people would disagree with that. Great city, but far from greatest.

@trapestate just roll with it and give it a shot. I'm trying to do the opposite of you to move the hell out of here and that for me, is intimidating; but fuck it, what's the worst that could happen!
If you wanna do warehouse conversions, you'll have a bunch of fun. I've done a few legally and illegally. Some people were entirely wrong for it. Wanting to make it a 'home' with the reality that it takes a lot of work and dedication to make it so, with it all unfortunatly crashing around them when the place gets sold. Others just lived there for shits and giggles, which works out well, but sometimes that attracts a lot of unruly people, and so, trouble.

Best part of it is I met some of the most interesting people I think I ever will.

It's all pretty expensive now, especially out east. with cheapest I saw recently floating around the £800 mark for a corner space. Manor house still has a few that haven't been sold to be turned to clone flats. Also, heating heating heating. If the place has a glass roof or isn't insulated. You'll fucking hate it.

Good thread

I'd recommend choosing a big house share with young people likely to be in the same boat.

If you go for a 3 bed with people in their late 20s / early 30s it's more likely they'll have an existing friendship groups.

A young massive house where you'll meet lots of people, their mates and mates mates is the best way to go.

Thanks for the tips and offers, keep them coming. I've ruled out warehouses, living on a houseboat, renting a bedsit. Just to narrow it down and for ease of commute I'm sticking to north of the Thames for now.

@hugo7 sounds logical, hopefully there is a teetotal house of 23yr olds who are avid Radio 4 listeners, I'd do well at impressing them with my critique of yesterdays Any Questions.

I have bought a smartphone so I can use internet when I come down in the week, hopefully will pounce on stuff as it gets listed. Even practising my disgruntled expression for when I have to look at someone who stops the tube doors from closing.

I live in SE23 and work in Soho- 35 minutes on the bike. Don't discount SE as too far away/too difficult. Of course, if you want to live in East London then it's not so helpful.

Almost all hipsters of London have moved to SE now.

I'd be impressed if you could critique yesterdays Any Questions.

A bunch of uninteresting, uninspiring halfwits.

I have my kitchen radio fixed to radio 4. Then again I am 31 so maybe it's to be expected when you hit your 30s :-(