Moving to London: advice required

[Professor]

I am starting a new job in London shortly and I need to decide where
to buy a house. I will be working at UCL which is near Euston
railway station and Euston Square tube station. Being a country lad
I am not ready (yet) to ride in London on a regular basis so I want
to buy a house in a an area from which it would be easy to commute
using public transport. Any suggestions?

[mysteryjimbo]

Dont do it!

[Professor]

Dont do it!

Bit late for that, I am afraid.

[thor]

Depends a lot on your budget!

However, take in account the frequency of operation of any public transport solution.

[wyrdness]

Dont do it!

Seconded. Have you seen London house prices or our public transport system?

[Anonymous]

Dont do it!

Seconded. Have you seen London house prices or our public transport system?

Houseprices - same as up here in York. But on a pro-rata basis. Cost of living reflects the wages and vice versa... its all comparative.

Public Transport - yeah.. you got a system in place. We havent. 8)

Id love to live in London.

[lukemillar]

I am starting a new job in London shortly and I need to decide where
to buy a house. I will be working at UCL which is near Euston
railway station and Euston Square tube station. Being a country lad
I am not ready (yet) to ride in London on a regular basis so I want
to buy a house in a an area from which it would be easy to commute
using public transport. Any suggestions?

Budget is key here! Otherwise I'd recommend Primrose Hill or Highgate - Both very nice areas, not too ra, close enough to Euston to not have a massive commute, but I'd imagine a small 1 bedroom flat would be something around £300,000+ :shock:

Generally speaking I'd look north rather than south, especially working in Euston, you'll get better transport links, bus, tube, overland etc.

[skidmarx]

Transport in London aint so bad really, considering other places. If you really have NO idea where you want can be, then as a starting point I would get a copy of the London underground map and start your research along the northern line heading out of London to the North. Budget will determine how close you can get!

[Kate]

I would suggest renting for a few months before buying. I would also suggest thinking about things like your budget for rent/mortgage and how long you are willing to commute each day.

For instance, I live in Surrey and commute into London every day. This sounds quite far but it only takes an hour by bike and an hour and 10 minutes by train. I'm an hour from Euston for instance.

Living this far out means I still have greenery and peace and quiet but I'm still only an hour away from London. Also, house prices out here are much much cheaper than central London.

HTH

[wyrdness]

I'm in Finchley, which has Northern Line to Euston. It's horrible to commute on though. Much better to ride down Finchley Road (the bus lane is open to bikes). Both take about 30 mins, depending on delays and traffic conditions, but bike is more fun. House prices are horrendous though. I've been here for 15 years and are desperate to get out.

[sharriso74]

A friend of mine went to UCL and comuted everyday from where we lived in Sidcup not to bad about an hour by public transport. Always took a lot longer after we'd been to the Union for some reason

[TC3]

I moved away from outer London cos i got so sick of the congestion and house prices. Hitchin/Stevenage area is 40 minutes by bike and about the same by train to LOndon but you just do not get all that congestion and you wont need to pay silly money for a home. Think about it

[Ed]

Prof it'll cost you a fortune :roll:

[Professor]

Thanks for the replies.

My budget is around £500K which means I cannot afford anything decent in Highgate.
With Finchley it would probably be the same. I will have to look further afield.

Sidcup isn't in the right direction. As to Stevenage, I heard good
things about it but probably too far for my liking.

I understand that I it is possible to live in Surrey and work at
Euston, but I don't like the idea of living on the wrong side of
town.

As skidmarx suggested, I started by examining the underground map
and the rail network map. Watford and St Albans seem to be
reasonable areas to commute from. Has anyone experience of living in
Watford or St Albans and commuting from these areas? From what I've
heard St Albans is nice to live in but I am worried about relying
solely on Thameslink. Watford appears to have the advantage of
better public transport (more frequent trains + tube) but I don't
know whether it is a nice place to live in.

[will]

no idea about st albans and thameslink although i think thameslink is one of the better ones.

check out the car parking situation at the station too - a mate of mine bought a house in surrey, and then discovered there was a massive waiting list for a season ticket for the station car park. unless you had a season ticket, you had to park some distance away.

the thameslink franchise has recently been taken over by a new operator - you could look at what the new franchisee is promising customers in terms of peformance and pledges to upgrade the service etc.

good luck

[rwoodcock01]

Parking round Euston is hell mate, I am at UCLH, and I do a little work with some of the UCL IT guys.

If your on the bike, there are plenty of parking spaces for bikes, but you have to get there early!

During the day, its ok bike wise to park there.

St. Albans is not bad, you also have the option of Watford, but I don't know the area, so someone can likely tell you more about it.

I wish you luck mate, I am tried of the comuting into London but that's just me, and I live in Wellingborough so its a long old slog for me, Sandy is a nice place to live (My folks are living there), not sure on where the train station goes into, but the prices are on the Up, but its on the A1 which is a much nicer road to be on, than the M1, but you have all the work up there with the Black Cat roundabout, etc, etc its still might be a bit far out!

Ummmmmm, I lived in Enfield for years, zone 6 pretty cheap comute cost wise, but the area itself has changed since I left, not sure if its somewhere you want to consdier, and its Damm expensive to buy a place.

Enfield Town station goes into Liverpool Street Station and you can go from there, or change at Seven Sisters station and get the victoria line, but remember you get the Edmonton and Totteham lot on that train, during a football match, good luck if you can squeeze on the train! (Personal experience!)

You could get the Enfield Chase train station, much more pleasent. That goes into Morgate station, or change at Finsbury Park to go to Kings Cross station, one down from Euston (walking wise, and Finsbury is the last stop before Kings Cross!).

Much more pleasent and all most every time I managed to get a seat! :)

Hope this helps, good luck at UCL, might bump into you perhaps?


Cheers

Rich

[mysteryjimbo]

Dont do it!

Seconded. Have you seen London house prices or our public transport system?

Houseprices - same as up here in York. But on a pro-rata basis. Cost of living reflects the wages and vice versa... its all comparative.

Public Transport - yeah.. you got a system in place. We havent. 8)

Id love to live in London.

No they're not. I can get a nice house for just 4x my annual wage up here! :lol:

[Spiderman]

Thanks for the replies.

My budget is around £500K which means I cannot afford anything decent in Highgate.
With Finchley it would probably be the same. I will have to look further afield.

Sidcup isn't in the right direction. As to Stevenage, I heard good
things about it but probably too far for my liking.

I understand that I it is possible to live in Surrey and work at
Euston, but I don't like the idea of living on the wrong side of
town.

As skidmarx suggested, I started by examining the underground map
and the rail network map. Watford and St Albans seem to be
reasonable areas to commute from. Has anyone experience of living in
Watford or St Albans and commuting from these areas? From what I've
heard St Albans is nice to live in but I am worried about relying
solely on Thameslink. Watford appears to have the advantage of
better public transport (more frequent trains + tube) but I don't
know whether it is a nice place to live in.

Not read all this yet cos i'm at work but have a look at this if you havent already done so. www.findaproperty.com as it gives helpfull info by area or postcode.

However, i would suggest you rent 1st for 6 months just to make sure you are happy with your selected location.
15yrs of selling property under my belt here Prof and i now work with private clients only.
Feel free to PM me for advice, or if you come into london anytime soon, buy me a coffee or 2 and feel free to pick my brain.

I've either lived or worked in the areas you are looking at too and the g/f is currently in rentals, so she can add her 2p worth too.

And dont worry, no fees for .org members Prof. :)

[Professor]

Sandy is a nice place to live

...

Hope this helps, good luck at UCL, might bump into you perhaps?


My daughter's boyfriend recommended Sandy. I checked it out over the internet
and it is indeed a nice place. But a bit too far out for my liking.

You are welcome to drop by at the maths department. I expect to be there after 1 July.

[Professor]

And dont worry, no fees for .org members Prof. :)

:thumbsup:

[Sid Squid]

With a buget of £500,000 I'd look into the East Finchley area, that sort of money will find you a decent house.

Wherever you end up living in London* you're going to like it, welcome Prof, you're one of us now.

*As long as it's North London obviously, you end up South and I'm never speaking to you again of course.

[skidmarx]

South London does have the benefit of the prevailing winds however, the smog and pollution north is dreadful.

[Anonymous]

Dont do it!

Seconded. Have you seen London house prices or our public transport system?

Houseprices - same as up here in York. But on a pro-rata basis. Cost of living reflects the wages and vice versa... its all comparative.

Public Transport - yeah.. you got a system in place. We havent. 8)

Id love to live in London.

No they're not. I can get a nice house for just 4x my annual wage up here! :lol:

Jimbo.. Mansfield is F'in cheap compared to York mate. My folks have mates who live in Mansfield.

Im on a salary a good 12k more than the city average.. yet id need to get in the region of 8.5x my annual salary to be able to afford a place here. I live in a ****ty 2 bed terrace.. in a nasty area of town - it was valued last year at £175k, house next to me (exactly same) went last week for £180k :shock:

[TC3]

I moved to get away from Watford Prof.....i just wanted away from the traffic jams

[sharriso74]

Dont do it!

Seconded. Have you seen London house prices or our public transport system?

Houseprices - same as up here in York. But on a pro-rata basis. Cost of living reflects the wages and vice versa... its all comparative.

Public Transport - yeah.. you got a system in place. We havent. 8)

Id love to live in London.

No they're not. I can get a nice house for just 4x my annual wage up here! :lol:

Jimbo.. Mansfield is F'in cheap compared to York mate. My folks have mates who live in Mansfield.

Im on a salary a good 12k more than the city average.. yet id need to get in the region of 8.5x my annual salary to be able to afford a place here. I live in a sh*tty 2 bed terrace.. in a nasty area of town - it was valued last year at £175k, house next to me (exactly same) went last week for £180k :shock:

Exactly the same as where I live although my 2 bed terrace isn't sh*tty any more after I rebuilt it from the ground up. Looks like the North South divide on house prices is closing

[Anonymous]

Dont do it!

Seconded. Have you seen London house prices or our public transport system?

Houseprices - same as up here in York. But on a pro-rata basis. Cost of living reflects the wages and vice versa... its all comparative.

Public Transport - yeah.. you got a system in place. We havent. 8)

Id love to live in London.

No they're not. I can get a nice house for just 4x my annual wage up here! :lol:

Jimbo.. Mansfield is F'in cheap compared to York mate. My folks have mates who live in Mansfield.

Im on a salary a good 12k more than the city average.. yet id need to get in the region of 8.5x my annual salary to be able to afford a place here. I live in a sh*tty 2 bed terrace.. in a nasty area of town - it was valued last year at £175k, house next to me (exactly same) went last week for £180k :shock:

Exactly the same as where I live although my 2 bed terrace isn't sh*tty any more after I rebuilt it from the ground up. Looks like the North South divide on house prices is closing

its always been the case here in York. Its always been way more expensive than other outlaying areas.

Reason being that there is still a law which states you are not allowed to build higher than the minster (190ft), so therefore property builders cant build up - they have to build, Out. Which in turn pushes the price of land up, and thus the price of property.

Then people started living in like Selby (15 miles away), Leeds (25 miles away) and commuting to York daily - this in turn pushed their prices up as they were deemed great investments for workers who wanted to commute - exactly the same as is happening in London and surrounding areas.

When it comes to North/South divide - take York, compare it to the south, in terms of wages, property prices, living costs etc - and there isnt a difference (comparatively)

[rwoodcock01]

Sandy is a nice place to live

...

Hope this helps, good luck at UCL, might bump into you perhaps?


My daughter's boyfriend recommended Sandy. I checked it out over the internet
and it is indeed a nice place. But a bit too far out for my liking.

You are welcome to drop by at the maths department. I expect to be there after 1 July.


Sandy is lovely, but I knew it was a little out of the way.

When your settled in, drop me a PM, we can meet up and I will buy you a cup of coffee during lunch.

Cheers

Rich

[Biker Biggles]

You could buy a good property in Finchley or Barnet for that money.Barnet is really quite rural in that there is a lot of greenbelt all within walking distance.Thirty minutes on the tube to Euston,or eight miles by bike.
£500,000?Wanna buy my gaff :D Garage full of bikes thrown in for that :D

[Valman]

For £500K you should be able to get a very nice house in the good old eastend of London, I would go for somewhere on the Woodgrange Estate as that's very desirable, and that would be no more than 8 miles away from UCL and close to many stations, and don't forget with the Olympics coming the value of the houses are only going up.

A quick search brought up this (http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-10056914.rsp/svr/3013?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy) house, now it may need a bit of work but it's just to give you an idea of what's available for the money.

[Professor]

A friend of my who also works at UCL is thinking of moving to Barnet, so Barnet
is on my list of places to check out.

As to the East End, I haven't thought about it much because I don't know it at all.
The house suggested by Valman is OKish but

a) it doesn't have a garage (I prefer to keep my bike in the garage),

b) Mrs Professor has set down a condition that she won't agree to live in a house
with fewer than 3 bathrooms.

Problem is, life in Wiltshire has turned us soft :? and it takes a while to adjust to the
harsh realities of London.

[lynw]

b) Mrs Professor has set down a condition that she won't agree to live in a house
with fewer than 3 bathrooms.

Sorry, but how many can she use at any one time? :shock: :P :lol:

Seriously while youre looking at London do consider the outer areas. Anywhere with a fast service into Euston thats not necessarily in London would be my preferred option.

When I start my new job Ill be commuting by train. Its an hour 15 mins on average. Ill use that time to and from work to work so it will be incorporated into my working day - probably something you might not be able to do but a consideration if you can.

The Thameslink btw goes into Kings Cross, not Euston so you'd have about 10-15 mins on top of that depending how you choose to get there.

[Professor]

Seriously while youre looking at London do consider the outer areas. Anywhere with a fast service into Euston thats not necessarily in London would be my preferred option.

...

The Thameslink btw goes into Kings Cross, not Euston so you'd have about 10-15 mins on top of that depending how you choose to get there.

That's why I am hoping to get a detailed report from someone living in the Watford
area. Commuting from there might be the optimal solution.

[Quiff Wichard]

prof-

500K....... give it to me- come live with me and I will drive you to London every day !!! and polish yer shoes..!!



no serious- I cant advise - but I CAN wish you well..so good luck with the move and new job... I am sure you will be fine.. ! you ar a PRO fessor.

[Quiff Wichard]

b) Mrs Professor has set down a condition that she won't agree to live in a house
with fewer than 3 bathrooms.

Sorry, but how many can she use at any one time? :shock: :P :lol:

Seriously while youre looking at London do consider the outer areas. Anywhere with a fast service into Euston thats not necessarily in London would be my preferred option.

When I start my new job Ill be commuting by train. Its an hour 15 mins on average. Ill use that time to and from work to work so it will be incorporated into my working day - probably something you might not be able to do but a consideration if you can.

The Thameslink btw goes into Kings Cross, not Euston so you'd have about 10-15 mins on top of that depending how you choose to get there.



3 bathrooms.. does 2 teenage daughters have an influence proffessor??

[Patch]

UCL is really easy on the bike Prof, if you did do the commute you have the option of combining country living with london wages.

Anywhere along the A40 corridor is a breeze, a bit of filtering but nothing too much and plenty of bike parking around there, always spaces at Euston station.

Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross Even as far as Lewknor are really viable.

[Professor]

Will check out the A40 idea. Seem to be nice houses that way.

As to the number of bathrooms required, I do not have 2 daughters. I
have 1 daughter + 1 dog, but the dog tells me he doesn't need a
bathroom as he hates taking a bath.

[rwoodcock01]

UCL is really easy on the bike Prof, if you did do the commute you have the option of combining country living with london wages.

Anywhere along the A40 corridor is a breeze, a bit of filtering but nothing too much and plenty of bike parking around there, always spaces at Euston station.

Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross Even as far as Lewknor are really viable.

::::::Slaps forehead::::::::::

Sorry I had forgotten the A40 Corridor, you could do High Wycombe as well, I was out at Daws Hill it was not a to bad a place to get to, that will lead you right into London easily on the bike, Beaconsfield was getting pricy when I looked, but its likely to have changed. Also there is a cracking chip shop in the old beaconsfield town part and a damm good wine merchant there too, that I still visit every 2/3 months (not sure if the last bit of info is relavent mind you? :lol: )

Wycombe was ok, I have lived in worse, the train station there went into Marlybone and its on the bakerloo line.

More importantly the fares where not that expensive, and the trains where very comfortable, before I left they where all upgraded!

Hope that helps, good luck!

Rich

[Cronos]

I spent 12 years working in The City and lived in and around Bishop's Stortford, which is about 40 miles by train from Liverpool Street. I had comparable commuting times to colleagues who lived more centrally because I wasn't reliant on the underground.

There are plenty of nice towns within overground commuting distance of Euston. What I'd suggest doing is spending a few weekends driving around the places you're interested in. Register with estate agents and stay overnight so you can get a better feel for places.

There are some really nice places around the mainline stations north of Kings Cross / Euston, although you may want to consider looking at some village properties outside of these towns as you're likely to get more for your money.

[Quiff Wichard]

Will check out the A40 idea. Seem to be nice houses that way.

As to the number of bathrooms required, I do not have 2 daughters. I
have 1 daughter + 1 dog, but the dog tells me he doesn't need a
bathroom as he hates taking a bath.


hee hee .... my cat tells me the same prof..

[Demonz]

500k and 3 bathrooms in London??

Either way I would suggest renting for a few months at aswell. We did when we first come to London as it takes a while to settle into your own little niche area that works for your lifestyle - and get over the shock! It took me a couple of years...

I started well outside London as I wanted some green - so stayed in Ascot/Windsor and commuted (in the car) drove me nuts! We then moved to North Sheen/Richmond - would rate this but expensive! Teddington/Twickenham would be better maybe but then you may as well move further out with quicker roads in?

We moved back out and have settled Egham/Englefield Green - sits just outside the M25 - lots of green, fast trains/roads to the city - all just over an hour which was near the same from Richmond on the tube. I no longer commute however - but often use A4 cross too A40 flyover into the city. Best thing is lots of space - and its easy out into the country in the weekends! Plus 3 bathrooms is poss.

[Professor]

500k and 3 bathrooms in London??

Either way I would suggest renting for a few months at aswell. We did when we first come to London as it takes a while to settle into your own little niche area that works for your lifestyle - and get over the shock! It took me a couple of years...

I started well outside London as I wanted some green - so stayed in Ascot/Windsor and commuted (in the car) drove me nuts! We then moved to North Sheen/Richmond - would rate this but expensive! Teddington/Twickenham would be better maybe but then you may as well move further out with quicker roads in?

We moved back out and have settled Egham/Englefield Green - sits just outside the M25 - lots of green, fast trains/roads to the city - all just over an hour which was near the same from Richmond on the tube. I no longer commute however - but often use A4 cross too A40 flyover into the city. Best thing is lots of space - and its easy out into the country in the weekends! Plus 3 bathrooms is poss.

Renting is not really an option for us as we have a dog and quite a vicious one.
When we moved to Bath we did indeed rent a colleague's house for a couple of
months and the very first night our dog destroyed the cat flap + chewed up part
of the kitchen door. I still feel guilty.

I know Ascot because a friend of mine lives there but Ascot won't be convenient
for a commute to Euston.

[inevitable]

Have a look around Amersham?

It's classed as Buckinghamshire which in itself is a loverly part of the world but it's on the Southern edge, in the Chiltern Hills. High Wycombe and St Albans fairly near. Nice countryside, take you about 40 mins on the bike round onto the A40 which drops you into Euston or the train goes straight into marylebone station, 2/3 stops on circle line to euston. Good schools if your kids are that age AND, it's in the area where they film the Midsummer Murders!

[Professor]

AND, it's in the area where they film the Midsummer Murders!

Wow! :shock: Must tell Mrs Professor straight away as she is a great fan. We always
wondered where Midsomer Murders are filmed.

[Cloggsy]

Ruislip is nice too Prof :!:

Right on the Central line at Ruislip Gardens Tube too (or there's Tube & rail at South Ruislip :!:)

Nice house (http://www.hotproperty.co.uk/Property_Search/Details.aspx?PropID=1318040&ci=1028104&SearchString=Ruislip&CLS=Middlesex&MainCP=2&MainSection=1) ;)

[timwilky]

Forget London prof

Get yourself a job in a nice part of the country, where roads are made for bikes, housing is affordable and the quality of life is so much better. Guess that excludes Yorkshire

[Professor]

Ruislip is nice too Prof :!:

Right on the Central line at Ruislip Gardens Tube too (or there's Tube & rail at South Ruislip :!:)

Nice house (http://www.hotproperty.co.uk/Property_Search/Details.aspx?PropID=1318040&ci=1028104&SearchString=Ruislip&CLS=Middlesex&MainCP=2&MainSection=1) ;)

Nice house indeed, and conveniently located for commuting to Euston. I should
definitely have a closer look at Ruislip. Thanks, Cloggsy!

[Professor]

Forget London prof

Get yourself a job in a nice part of the country, where roads are made for bikes, housing is affordable and the quality of life is so much better. Guess that excludes Yorkshire

A have a friend who used to live in Pontypridd and I often visited him. Lovely
place to live! Unfortunately, not many jobs around, and even fewer decent ones.
We have to go where our jobs take us. :(

[Anonymous]

Nice house (http://www.hotproperty.co.uk/Property_Search/Details.aspx?PropID=1318040&ci=1028104&SearchString=Ruislip&CLS=Middlesex&MainCP=2&MainSection=1) ;)

:shock: Thats bloody CHEAP!!!

Same house up here would fetch an easy £550 - £600k!

My folks is a 3 bed (4 if you count the spare room), 2 bathroom Detached just on the greenbelt, but its not in a fantastic area. Crime is fairly high, there land at the back has been short listed for commercial development... That was valued at £450k last year. And this house shows is SO much bigger and better!

Wow.. you dudes have it CHEAP! :lol:

[chazzyb]

Thameslink goes south of the river too! Croydon, Redhell and all points south are within your grasp. Think, you could move to a nice little bungalow in Hove or Eastbourne :P . And of course, Sid Squid will never talk to you again!

[Professor]

Thameslink goes south of the river too! Croydon, Redhell and all points south are within your grasp. Think, you could move to a nice little bungalow in Hove or Eastbourne :P . And of course, Sid Squid will never talk to you again!

Yes, I know. I lived in Brighton for many years. Also, I have a colleague at UCL
who commutes from Brighton. But I am too old for this. I want to find a
geometrically sensible solution.

BTW, when I took up my job at Bath University I chose to live in Trowbridge
because it was geometrically well placed (on the correct side of Bath, so I don't
have to go into Bath itself). I spent 7 happy years living in Trowbridge and
commuting along beautiful country roads with very little traffic. But at that time
nobody suggested that I seek a house in Trowbridge because it is not a posh place.

[Filipe M.]

(on the correct side of Bath, so I don't have to take a Bath myself).

*sticks finger in the air*

Sorry to interrupt, but isn't this a bit harsh on your students? :shock:
Or is this why Mrs. Professor will only take a 3 bathroom house? :lol:

[Professor]

(on the correct side of Bath, so I don't have to take a Bath myself).

*sticks finger in the air*

Sorry to interrupt, but isn't this a bit harsh on your students? :shock:
Or is this why Mrs. Professor will only take a 3 bathroom house? :lol:

Nah, students and Mrs Professor don't mind that I am a dirty old git.