Cholmondley_Warner

Interesting that Bermondsey keeps coming up as I had discounted it as ‘iffy”, based on friends from London that left in the 80’s. I am interested in Greenwich, but have not visited. I would welcome your impressions.>>>

Again, being entirely serious:

Bermondsey is still bloody "iffy"

Greenwich is worse.

I'm limited as to what I can say online about Greenwich.

If you are mad enough to think about Greenwich - top this thread and I'll send you an email address and talk you through the area.

I can't do this (greenwich) on a public forum.

PatrickLondon

My bit of Docklands is about a mile south of Canary Wharf, whereas New Providence Wharf is a more recent development to the east, squeezed in between the river and the main A13 road. I'm not sure I would describe either as "villagey" - we have a few convenience stores and restaurants around each main area of housing, but no sense of a "centre" other than Canary Wharf itself, and that, of course, is very much modern urban Montreal-cum-Singapore. Different developments can have their own community feel, but I'm told that where I live is exceptionally so by comparison with some of the others - and New Providence Wharf is relatively new.

Frankly (good grief, this is going to sound like Phil'n'Kirsty), I don't think you're going to get a gorgeous, spacious flat with a river view in a settled community with a villagey feel that is also convenient to your work (unless you're a millionaire and can afford one of those flats very close to the South Bank). Of the places I know, the right bits of Greenwich would come closest (and Blackheath is very villagey, but on the other side of the hill from Greenwich - still only about 15 minutes' walk from the river). "Bermondsey", like all neigbourhoods for estate agrents' purposes, is a very moveable feast, but I was thinking of the area around Bermondsey Street, which is mixed and gentrifying; not unsafe as far as I know but you'd have to negotiate quite a lot of through traffic to get to a not very interesting bit of river, and the transport links are not that hot.

Cholmondley_Warner

At the risk of being Phil to Patrick's Kirsty:

Under no circs consider Greenwich.

Really; don't.

Cholmondley_Warner

Actually: thinking about it....

Have you thought about The Barbican?

helen_belsize

For those not in the know, Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer lead a programme called Location, Location, Location which tries to help people buy the sort of home they want within the area they want and within the budget that they have.

The entertainment factor is that they frequently contradict themselves, have completely unrealistic ideas of what they can buy for their money (even in the good times) and the effort to reconcile the conflicting desires of couples. It is now dealing with buying in a difficult property market.

Next week (Wednesday 19) one of the seekers uses dowsing over a map to help her find suitable areas, so obviously they have been selected for their entertainment value.

Actually the Barbican might be a good choice, except it is not very green. Personally I prefer an area with trees and gardens around.

Dukey

I'm kind of amazed that nobody has mentioned being just like Jean and Lionel and living in Holland Park!!! LOL

ssachida

Barbican is not much fun during the weekends. I work around there and sometimes have to go into work on a Saturday. It still is the City. It's really quite dead. And yes, the Barbican area is a bit of a concrete mass, but the city has a surprising amount of green. No large parks, but lots of little ones.

Move north of Clerkenwell Road if you want that area.

flygirl

Ger, good to see you online! There is a decent chance I'll be in London again soon, would be nice to look you up.

CW, highly entertaining posts. What is "the big clock" which you wouldn't accept as compensation for living in certain areas?

helen_belsize

Holland Park is nice but quite expensive. It is also quite "foreign"or cosmopolitan because of the number of embassy people and similar who live there. Estate Agents will stretch its boundaries to attract clients.

PatrickLondon

Another thought: depending on how close your work is to Waterloo, what about riverside places on the suburban rail lines into Waterloo, like Putney, Barnes or Richmond? Pricey for anything that is more in the "villagey" feel and close to the river, but might fit the bill.

sheila

Ger, I meant the plane, and was using the term "bus" metaphorically.

You can Easyjet out of Luton for next to nothing (although you have to get to Luton!)

The train is more like 7.5 hours, but I still wouldn't do that.

Let's be in touch when you're settled.