Moving to London

Im thinking of moving to London in the new year but would like some advice on where to live? What areas are recommended? What areas should I avoid? Any advice on where to look for house shares? Sorry for being so open in my questioning.

Maybe tell us a bit more about your budget, what kind of environment you like, and what you will be doing while you are here - it will help give more specific answers.

I am moving to London on a whim. I just want to experience London life (for better or worse) as I have been living in Norwich for quite sometime. I have about £700 a month to spend (I know this won't go far) and am looking either for a studio or house-share. I have no idea of distances in London i.e how long would it take to cycle from Forest gate to Covent garden? I would like somewhere that has its own amenities (shops, bars maybe some sports facilities etc) but is still a reasonable distance from The West end, Brick Lane et al.

Ta for sorting me out that bike the other day, it is awesome.

I live on the Forest Hill side of Catford SE London and always encourage people to move SE. It is a forgotten area of London by most and good to buy in, however perhaps not best for renting. In terms of location, everywhere is good on a bike. I cycle in most days and it takes about 45 minutes. A good areas in SE London is Telegraph Hill which is near New Cross and Depford etc. I think this whole area is changing a lot and might be quite interesting to live in. Reminds me of how Camden used to be a long while ago.

I used to live in West Hampstead when I rented and this is a nice area, lots of shops etc and a really nice ride into town though South Hampstead, St Johns Wood and Regents Park along the back streets. About 20 minutes.

As a shameless plug of one of my projects have a look at http://www.londonprofiler.org (doesn't work on old IE, but everything else). This allows you plot a series of data about areas on google maps. A good one might be to plot the IMD (Index of Multiple Deprivation - i.e. how scary an area is) and then use the Nestoria tab to overlay house data (for sale or for rent). This should help you to find an area which isn't too rough and has reasonable rents.

I really like Catford and SE in general and I would encourage anyone new to London to explore the areas that are not usually on the radar. It seems most people new to London move to Clapham for some reason.

"It seems most people new to London move to Clapham for some reason."

because they're antipodean?

or rich and plan on having children and like to wear birkenstocks?

Or those funny rubber shoes. I have seen a lot of those there.

Clapham is a funny old place if you ask me. There are much nicer areas that are equally expensive (e.g. Blackheath - nicer in my opinion). All I can say is look where all the shootings in London have occurred this year, I think most are very close to Clapham and you don't get this to the same extent in other areas which are nice.

£700/month for rent?!?!? You can live really central for that if you want a house share. You'll be fine. If you're heart is set on a studio, then I recommend further out as you won't get much for that.
If you really want to get into London and be at the center of it all then don't move south. I agree with ads that it's great for buying and actually "living" but like he said you'll be a 45 min cycle from everything and much longer if you dare feel like taking public transport.
I've lived in New Cross Gate, Shepard's Bush, Maida Vale, Leytonstone, Bow, Bayswater, Spitalfield's and Bethnal Green. I can only speak from that experience to say that I only want to live east. Bethnal Green is fantastic! 20 min ride to Oxford Circus, but usually the parties are within walking distance. You have a big Sainsbury's in Whitechapel and a really sh*t Tesco's nearby. However we also have Spitalfields and Bricklane to get fruit and veg from.
It isn't good for someone who is seeking the easy life though. The standard of living is much lower than other neighbourhoods. It's only a great place if you want to go out at night, meet up with people, etc.. I reckon it's best if you're of a creative mind.
If you'd like a higher standard then I'd say check around Maida Vale/Portobello, less space in your flat for your buck but more, erm, trees and quiet.

forest gate to covent garden is 30 - 40 mins depending on how quick u are and whether it is windy.

forest gate is in east london and an increasingly asian area and lively. it is one of the cheaper areas of london.

i have never used it but i hear the gum tree website is good for house share.

i would not worry about the area. you can get everywhere quick on a bike in london. and i dont think there are no go areas in london. (there is nowhere i would not go). i would concentrate on finding nice / like minded people to live with and that is within your budget.

hey ads thats an interesting website you've made..

Being a central (covent garden, bloomsbury, soho and fitzrovia) lettings guy (apologies), you won't find a studio around this area i'm afraid. Most agents use per week rental figures as makes it look less scary, your budget equates to roughly 160pw which means that you could get a one bed round Brixton, Camberwell (my patch) or most definately a flat share in central london, it depends on how much you like your own space. If new i would recommend living with people as will have instant mates to show you around.

London can feel daunting at the beginning but you soon learn the ropes and it becomes a much smaller city. I live near Bellenden road in Peckam Rye/Camberwell/East Dulwich and i have to say, its feckin awesome. ED has some cool bars and shops and doesnt have the attitude of Clapham etc... theres also a bike jumble just down the road at herne hill too :)

I cycle to the west end every day and it takes me 25 minutes, 20 to borough market and 25-30 to canary wharf, its ace!!!!!!! Go on... do it do it do it!

Fuck it. It's 6am, I'm at work again, rode through the pissing rain and I'm working New years eve and new years day. Anyone wanna hire/marry me so I can join our friend Vinz in the big smoke?

Can't you get in on a student visa?

That'd be great... If I were still a student...

What kind of job are you looking for?

Put it out there, someone on the forum might know someone who knows someone etc etc..

Anything that sponsors a visa pretty much. Mostly the last post was just bitching about being at work for slim to dick money and wanting to go drink warm flat beers with the mates. [/being a pussy]

you mean ale at the jerusalem after a day on the road?

the jerusalem in clerkenwell? The one in the old knights templar building thing?

you mean the knights templar on chancery lane, right?

maybe my company could sponsor you, but we'd have to put you to work.

not servicing sailors, but digging holes and moving bricks and such with occassional bicycle errand duties.

I thought you could only get sponsored if the job couldn't be done by English people?

lpg hey ads thats an interesting website you've made..
Ta, I think the site is really useful for anyone interested in moving to London. Me and the boys in my office have done lots of other interesting Geography stuff too, e.g. http://www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk

Back on the off topic, I think the law states that a job has to be advertised within the UK with EU visibility. I.e. if nobody in the UK nor EU wants the job then it can be advertised / offered to a non EU migrant.

if that's the rule, it isn't working.

I don't know anything about it though

I think it is.. all the English bog off to Spain and leave the Stirling jobs for Aussies.. working a treat ;)

RPM maybe my company could sponsor you, but we'd have to put you to work.

not servicing sailors, but digging holes and moving bricks and such with occassional bicycle errand duties.

Yeah? What company is this? Lord knows I'm familiar with bikes and carrying shit.

Yeah I think that is the rule, however to be enforced a company would only be called on not following it, i.e. if there was some sort of discrimination claim by someone who was interviewed. In academia where I work most if not all jobs are advertised on jobs.ac.uk which is considered an international/EU advertisement. If I advertised a job in the Metro (i.e. UK) and only had foreign migrants apply, I would probably have to re-advertise on an EU based site. You have to be able to show that there is nobody in the UK or EU suitable for the job. At UCL where I work as it is a large organisation we follow the letter of the law, however smaller companies may not.