Where should we live in London: commute-phobic DINKs edition
September 28, 2015 7:31 AM   Subscribe

Mr Fish and I have finally moved to London! I'll be working near Old Street Station, Mr Fish is working in Coventry but only needs to commute once a week or so. Tell us what Rightmove and Zoopla won't.

We've budgeted around 1,700gbp per month, but I'm quietly hoping to find something a little less than that. Our ideal neighbourhood would be on the quiet side, lots of young families, decent options for cafes and restaurants, but not too gentrified. I'd love access to a park and gym.

We previously lived in Amsterdam, so I'm already suffering from sensory overload even in our little Notting Hill sublet. I work in advertising, and we're prioritizing a shorter commute, as I often work stupid long hours and a long commute on the tube sounds horrific.

So far, honestly, the areas we're looking at are '1 mile away from Old Street Station' because that's what the real estate search engines allow, but I feel we need to be a little more tactical.

So tell me - which neighbourhoods should we be looking at? Would a slightly longer commute be worth it to live somewhere a bit more peaceful?
posted by nerdfish to Home & Garden (9 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
I recommend my home, Walthamstow. It's on the Victoria line, so easy access to Euston (~15 minutes), where Mr Fish will catch the train and you can change to the Northern Line, or you could even take the 55 all the way to Old Street. It's a very chill area with lots of families, good transport links, and relative peace and quiet.
posted by toerinishuman at 7:57 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


Would a slightly longer commute be worth it to live somewhere a bit more peaceful?

Yes. If that is the most important thing for you. I live near the marshes in Walthamstow and when I get off the tube you can feel the difference. The air is lighter, its quieter. I know my neighbours and we have gardens. Actual proper gardens, with sheds and beanpoles and things....

On that note, I would suggest Walthamstow, but it's not direct to Old Street, it's not bad, but changing makes things more of a hassle (its handy for the victoria line to Euston and Coventry though).

Look at the journey times for the trains from Old Street, in 15/20 minutes, you could be somewhere much quieter...
posted by Helga-woo at 8:00 AM on September 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Best answer: You might find Mapumental useful - it can give you maps showing areas within a given transit time of a location. Set the location to the postcode of Old Street and see what you get.
posted by crocomancer at 8:15 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]


a long commute on the tube sounds horrific.

In my opinion it really isn't if you stick to one tube line. Many people have to change lines multiple times and that is where the stress and rage builds up.

I think you may find it easier if you expand your area to anywhere that is on the same tube/overground lines as Old Street. You have plenty more options that way, and a commute which consists of sitting on the same train for 40 minutes or so is actually pretty good by everyday commuter standards here. My commute is an hour, but since I don't have to change lines, I don't find it too stressful.

If you can find somewhere on the Bank branch of the Northern Line or the National Rail Great Northern Route, you will be able to take one train directly into work at Old Street, which is really not that bad in terms of a commute into Central London. If you find a place towards either end of the line you will even manage to get a seat! The areas at either end of the Northern Line are nice residential areas with everything you've said you want in a neighbourhood. I would look at anywhere beyond Zone 2.

I would imagine it would prove both difficult and hideously expensive to limit your apartment search to within a mile of Old Street, smack bang in the middle of Central London. You will get much more bang for your buck if you are willing to move a bit further out.
posted by Ziggy500 at 8:32 AM on September 28, 2015 [5 favorites]


Anywhere along the Northern line will be an easy commute to Old Street - but try to go south of Balham or north of Stockwell. All the Clapham stops are expensive and a nightmare to get on the tube in the morning. North of Old Street will also likely be too expensive for you, ie Angel/Islington area.

Tooting should still be in your price range and will be about a 40 minute commute with no changes and likely a seat. Tooting has been hailed as the next up and coming neighborhood for a while now. My friend with two young kids lives there and is always raving about it and I think it ticks all your boxes about young families but not too gentrified. And yeah, loads of parks.

I don't know many neighborhoods along the Victoria line, but changing at Stockwell to the Northern line is super easy (straight across) and is also a prime spot to get a seat because loads of people change there. Brixton/Stockwell could be worth a look but not as many parks and let's say a bit rougher around the edges. I like going to Brixton for a night out, but not sure about living there.
posted by like_neon at 8:33 AM on September 28, 2015 [5 favorites]


Only you can decide if a longer commute is worth it for a more peaceful neighborhood, but I can at least offer one general tip for minimizing your commute: prices seem to depend on how far a flat is from central London, rather than on how long you will actually spend in transit.

Just to clarify that, let me give a concrete (albeit simplified) example:

• Flat A has a ten minute walk to Swiss Cottage tube station, and then a 20 minute ride into central London.
• Flat B has a five minute walk to Kilburn tube station, and then a 25 minute ride into central London.

Both flats have a 30 minute total commute. But Kilburn is three stops farther out on the Jubilee line, and as a result, whether you are buying or renting, you will pay less for Flat B than for Flat A.

So, once you've figured out how long a commute you can live with, play around with the Transport for London journey planner and find the farthest-out stations you can live near while still staying within your acceptable commuting time. Then look for flats that are a few minutes walk from those stations.

You will end up paying less money for the same commute.
posted by yankeefog at 8:42 AM on September 28, 2015 [1 favorite]


Picking up on Ziggy500's comment, the areas on the Victoria Line north around the Zone 3/4 boundary might be an option: Wood Green, Bounds Green, Bowes Park, Muswell Hill, Ally Pally. South of the river? Yeah, Tooting. I have friends in Earlsfield, which is quiet and family-friendly, but wouldn't fit your commute at all.

I'd agree that a longer commute without changes on a train (or bus) is pretty tolerable, especially if you're far enough out of town to snag a seat on the way in, or leaving late enough to have a seat on the way back.
posted by holgate at 10:30 AM on September 28, 2015


This is exactly what Find Properly is for. You set a budget, the place(s) you visit and your maximum commute time and it'll give you a list of apartments that fit the bill.
posted by A Kingdom for a Donkey at 9:22 AM on September 29, 2015


You should live in Bowes Park!

20 minutes direct on the train to Old Street
A smattering of lovely local bars/restaurants/shops (The Step, Vrisaki)
Definitely not too gentrified but close to Muswell Hill if you want a wider selection of restaurants etc.
A brand new gym has just opened on Myddleton Road and there's also a little outdoor gym (and ping pong table) overlooking the New River
There are lots of little parks locally and Alexandra Palace/Park is very close
Lots of young families
You will be able to find something nice under your budget

It's a great place to live, there are quarterly markets and lots of community stuff going on. Memail me if you have any questions!
posted by Lotto at 2:44 AM on October 29, 2015


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