Living right in Central London

[Pickle2]

Used to own a tiny flat in Fitzrovia 10 yrs ago. Absolutely loved it great part of town to be. Gutted when I sold it on.

Some cracking pubs with plenty of new media and student eye candy. Whats not to like?

[xchaotic]

Any experience of people living right in the center of London? And I mean Covent Garden or Westminster, no, I don't mean Richmond or Kew Gardens sorry.... :-)

What is it like if you have children to be there?
Sounds like afterall it is not that incredibly expensive as people might think.

Funny, I went through the same dilemma a week ago, having just moved to London. Not knowing much about different areas, I first went for central, cheap and horrible (Lambeth), but, at least in my view, that's no place to raise your kids.
Then I looked in Covent Garden etc, basically just minutes from where I work.
The flats are really tiny (for instance no doors - you walk straigh out of the lift, beds come out of walls - kinda cool but only as a pied d'terre) as space is expensive.
Assuming that yours or my family could live in such a cramped space without killing each other, once you do get out, it's equally crowded on the street, to the point where you can't walk around with a baby's pushchair. There are no big supermarkets, the closest thing to it I use atm is Tesco Metro near Piccadilly Circus, but the prices are 50% higher because you can't get the big items, plus there's a limited selection anyway, I have no idea why people are even bothered to use the cars in the centre as it's far quicker to just walk.

In contrast you can get a nice flat, with a private garden in Kew for half the price you mentioned. I hate to waste so much time on the commute, but the financial side is almost neglible (ca £120 pcm - Kew is still Zone 3).

So guess which way I went?

[alreadypacked]

Any experience of people living right in the center of London? And I mean Covent Garden or Westminster, no, I don't mean Richmond or Kew Gardens sorry.... :-)

What is it like if you have children to be there?
Sounds like afterall it is not that incredibly expensive as people might think.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...inBedrooms%3D2

I lived in W1 for a while, bedroom window on to the street, 4am bin collection every day followed by 5am deliveries

[sasguru]

I lived in W1 for a while, bedroom window on to the street, 4am bin collection every day followed by 5am deliveries

The homeless hostel is not very well positioned, eh?

[Rookie]

I lived in W1 for a while, bedroom window on to the street, 4am bin collection every day followed by 5am deliveries

Was it the one with the red light?

[Francko]

I lived in Amsterdam for a while, bedroom window on to the street

[OwlHoot]

Any experience of people living right in the center of London? And I mean Covent Garden or Westminster, no, I don't mean Richmond or Kew Gardens sorry.... :-)

What is it like if you have children to be there?
Sounds like afterall it is not that incredibly expensive as people might think.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...inBedrooms%3D2

I lived just off Leicester Square some years ago, and it was OK apart from the lack of a large supermarket nearby.

Also the slamming of taxi doors, sirens, screeching of brakes, and Hooray Henries or Jack the Lads (hard to tell the difference from a distance) kicking up a row half the night could be annoying.

Also, the West End is literally heaving with people on friday and saturday night, which isn't to everyone's taste (certainly not mine).

[HairyArsedBloke]

I lived in W1 for a while, bedroom window on to the street, 4am bin collection every day followed by 5am deliveries

I lived in W1 for years and loved it.

I've just found the flat I used to own offered to let for 500pw. I'm tempted to phone up the agent to see if it's been let out because it won't sell. If so, maybe I should buy it back? I miss that flat so much. It broke my heart when I sold it, but it had to go.

Maybe not. Being on the run and all that. They might find me.

[scooterscot]

when living in london some broughs charge over £1500 for the year)

You don't know you're born, here in Edinburgh may council tax bill is £2200.

[sasguru]

You don't know you're born, here in Edinburgh may council tax bill is £2200.

Read it and weep:
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/Home/Co...on.htm#howmuch