Where to Live in London

Every year billions of people move to London. Ok, maybe not billions, but a lot, and one of the most commonly asked questions is where to live in London?

It all depends on what you want and what your situation is. We are going to look at a few different scenarios, and hopefully you can find the one that relates to you the most.

Well, you're in luck! London is one of the party capitals of the world, possibly the universe. Yes, there are some rather irritating laws where pubs need to close at 11 or 12, but don't you worry, there is much partying to be done. So where should you live in London if you enjoy late nights and loud music? As central as possible!

Property in central London is quite a bit more pricey than the more distant zones, but it's the price you must pay (literally) to be near the good night life. The areas around Old Street, Shoreditch and Hoxton Square are famous for their bars and small clubs. This area is in the more built up part of central London, so you will probably end up living in a tower block. if you are on a budget, you could look at ex council flats, which are usually pretty affordable. But be warned, you might have some interesting neighbours.

It's pretty quick to get from Old Street to the good areas around Westminster like Leicester Square and Oxford Street, as well as the City and Canary Wharf, so work wise it's not a bad area for transport.

Soho is another great party area in Central London. Soho is the gay suburb of London, but no matter which way you swing it's a great night out. There are hundreds of bars, cafes and clubs. Property in Soho is not cheap, but the central location makes it well worth it if you can afford it.

If your diet consists of mostly pot noodles and £1 burger king specials you can still find a decent place to live in London, the key is either sharing a flat or living in the burbs far out from central London.

Flat shares are a bit of a gamble, it's all about who you end up living with. Remember, you are moving in with people you have probably never met. The other down side to flat shares is that often nobody cares for the flat you share, and they can often be untidy and dirty. Really dirty.

On the other hand you might end up living with awesome people, and it's a great way to meet people from all around the world. Your best bet is to try meet the people you will be living with when you go check out the property.

Your other option in the budget accomodation genre is living outside of central London. As you move away from the center, property gets cheaper and cheaper, and usually bigger and bigger. But keep in mind, if you work in central London, you are going to have a long and expensive quest each day to work. The further you get from central London, the less "atmosphere" there is, and your London stories will be less exciting than your Soho living friends.

Some pretty good, more affordable areas in and around central London are: Kilburn, Kings Cross, Mile End, Old Street, Elephant & Castle and Camden.

Unlucky. But never mind, London can still be a great place to live. Where to live in London if you have a family? Unless you are rich, central London is probably not an option. Also you don't want your kids to grow up being knife wielding little hoodie bastards. You will probably want a bit of space, a garden, and nice safe area for your family.

Wembley is a fairly quick commute into central London, and is a reasonably priced, decent area if you are looking Northwest. If you prefer South of the river, Wimbledon is another great family area not too far from central London. And you can watch tennis!

If you are a well off family man or lady, Chelsea, Richmond, Knightsbridge or Hampstead are great family areas and are all still very central.

If living the city life is not of interest to you, or you are a fan of early morning train journeys, you could go as far as Guildford which is less than an hour on the train from Waterloo, but is a very pleasant modern suburban area, and is also the home of the Top Gear test track!!!

Hopefully we have given you some ideas of where to live in London. Keep checking out the Pop London blog for more tips and whatnot on living in London.