Accommodation in London
The vast and densely packed London metropolis has accommodation options to suit every expat budget, lifestyle and predilection.
A positive consequence of the recent economic crisis is that London rentals and house prices have dropped marginally, particularly for those paying in a foreign currency.
Both rental prices and house prices vary enormously depending on the location within London - you could pay as little as £600 a month or as much as £4000 a month for a two bedroom house or apartment in central London. Check out local estate agency websites for an idea of costs or contact a relocation agency.
When choosing your area of accommodation, think carefully about commuting time, proximity to supermarkets and who you’re most likely to live next too.
One way of understanding the layout of the city is to use the underground Tube map: zones 1 and 2, correspond to the city centre and accommodation here will be expensive and difficult to find. Zones 3 and 4 contain a plethora of suburbs with semi-detached houses and tenement units. Zones 5 and 6 offer the cheapest accommodation but transport times into the city can easily exceed 1 hour during busy times.
North London has several areas popular with expats: leafy Hampstead Heath and bohemian Camden are close to both the city and some of London’s best parkland. Primrose Hill has lovely buildings and stunning views – rare in this predominantly flat city. Expect to pay though, and fight off celebrities like Kate Moss for the last Sunday paper. A little further afield are the discount suburbs of Wembley, Manor House, and Finchley.
To the east are the now gentrified areas of Docklands and Brick Lane, with plenty of historical charm and trendy little restaurants; and the large former working class East End with suburbs such Shoreditch, Hoxton, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green now dense with new media companies and coffee bars.
London’s South stretches across the Thames and includes areas such as Greenwich, Clapham, Tooting, Putney and Wimbledon, now thoroughly colonised by former colonials. Kew and Richmond are some of the most desirable and expensive areas of London, reserved largely for bankers and the extravagantly wealthy.
To the West, one can find the exclusive suburbs of Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Kensington, Earl’s Court and Notting Hill and further out the more affordable suburbs of Fulham, Shepherds Bush and Chiswick.
A positive consequence of the recent economic crisis is that London rentals and house prices have dropped marginally, particularly for those paying in a foreign currency.
Both rental prices and house prices vary enormously depending on the location within London - you could pay as little as £600 a month or as much as £4000 a month for a two bedroom house or apartment in central London. Check out local estate agency websites for an idea of costs or contact a relocation agency.
Choosing the area you’d like to live: areas and suburbs of London
When choosing your area of accommodation, think carefully about commuting time, proximity to supermarkets and who you’re most likely to live next too.
One way of understanding the layout of the city is to use the underground Tube map: zones 1 and 2, correspond to the city centre and accommodation here will be expensive and difficult to find. Zones 3 and 4 contain a plethora of suburbs with semi-detached houses and tenement units. Zones 5 and 6 offer the cheapest accommodation but transport times into the city can easily exceed 1 hour during busy times.
North London has several areas popular with expats: leafy Hampstead Heath and bohemian Camden are close to both the city and some of London’s best parkland. Primrose Hill has lovely buildings and stunning views – rare in this predominantly flat city. Expect to pay though, and fight off celebrities like Kate Moss for the last Sunday paper. A little further afield are the discount suburbs of Wembley, Manor House, and Finchley.
To the east are the now gentrified areas of Docklands and Brick Lane, with plenty of historical charm and trendy little restaurants; and the large former working class East End with suburbs such Shoreditch, Hoxton, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green now dense with new media companies and coffee bars.
London’s South stretches across the Thames and includes areas such as Greenwich, Clapham, Tooting, Putney and Wimbledon, now thoroughly colonised by former colonials. Kew and Richmond are some of the most desirable and expensive areas of London, reserved largely for bankers and the extravagantly wealthy.
To the West, one can find the exclusive suburbs of Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Kensington, Earl’s Court and Notting Hill and further out the more affordable suburbs of Fulham, Shepherds Bush and Chiswick.
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