Where to live in London

With London being such a large and multicultural city, choosing houses and flats to share may be a little daunting.  Take into consideration where you will be working, where you will be socialising and the amount of rent that you will be able to afford each month as all of these should play an important factor in your decision.

Our brief guide on the most popular places for shared accommodation in London focus on Acton, Camden, Greenwich, Shoreditch and Shepherds Bush, but by no means is this a comprehensive list (far from it!)

Acton Town

Acton Town is situated in North West London and particularly in the North and the West of the town, it is very residential, often with an abundance of people with houses or flats to share. 

The focal point of Acton is the High Street which features many shops, a supermarket and many pubs.  Nearby attractions include Gunnersbury and Acton Parks which are spacious and ideal if you and your housemates want to go relax or play tennis, pitch ‘n’ putt or football.

In terms of transportation links, Acton is well served with four underground stations covering zones 2 and 3 and the Piccadilly, Central and District Lines.  It is also supported by up to seven different bus routes including the important night bus.

Camden Town

Camden Town is situated in North West London with the housing in the directly surrounding areas being quite nice and a mixture of old and new properties. 

Camden is probably best known for its markets which sells your usual market goods such as crafts and clothing, but it is certainly worth a look.  At the weekend, the market attracts approximately 100,000 people, making it London’s fourth most popular visitor attraction, and is something to bear in mind, if moving to the area.

Other means of entertainment for you and your housemates include KOKO - the nightclub and concert (rock) venue and The World’s End - a popular pub originating in the 18th Century.

Camden is served well by the transport networks, dominantly with over ten bus routes, the problem however is that both of its underground stations are on the Northern Line, so if the line isn’t running you will have to resort to the buses.

Greenwich 

Greenwich is situated in South East London and is only a short journey into central London.  The area in recent times has undergone a programme of regeneration and this is reflected in the prices of houses and flats.  Don’t be put off by this as you may find a flat to share within your budget, but be aware that shared accommodation can be limited.

Greenwich has a lot of nearby places of interest, and is most notable for its maritime history, but in recent years this has been overshadowed by the transformation of the Millennium Dome into The O2 - the newest of London’s concert venues which attracts internationally renowned artists, but is also home to a host of restaurants and bars as well as having its own nightclub and cinema.

In regards to transportation, Greenwich has two stations, one on the Jubilee Line and the other on the Docklands Light Railway as well as being reasonably well served by buses.  One thing to be aware of is that many people commute from Greenwich into Central London on a daily basis which means that the underground can be overcrowded and uncomfortable, during “rush hour”.

Shoreditch

Shoreditch is situated in Greater London in the Borough of Hackney, so it is ideally placed for those working in the city and is also a good location for getting to most areas of London.  With its prime location, Shoreditch can be expensive, but there is generally an availability of houses and flats with rooms for rent.  The area is home to a diversity of people with all kinds of backgrounds and from all corners of the globe. 

Shoreditch is renowned for its nightlife with a great choice of restaurants, bars and clubs - it would take many a night out for you and your housemates to visit them all.

The transportation links within Shoreditch are extremely good, with over 10 bus routes, including the night bus and nearby is Liverpool Street which is an underground station on the Central Line and main over ground rail connection with the South East of England.

Shepherds Bush

Shepherds Bush is situated in West London in the affluent borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, although a little run down in comparison to its counterparts, but it is flowing with people with houses and flat to share.

Other than pubs and clubs the area lacks entertainment venues, with the exception of the O2 Empire (formally the Shepherds Bush Empire) which is a concert venue for artists on the fringes of superstardom. 

For transportation, Shepherds Bush is well served by buses, with over 15 routes passing through it.  It also has two underground stations, both of which are in Zone 2 and on the Central and Hammersmith and City Lines.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is situated in Central London, but because of the nature of the area there are very few houses but an abundance of flats, many of which have available rooms for rent.

Covent Garden is probably most famous for its market which sells a diversity of products including antiques, handmade arts and crafts and clothing.  In terms of entertainment, there are numerous restaurants, pubs and bars and are popular with people staying out after work and tourists alike.  Within 400 metres (437 yards) of Covent Garden is Leicester Square which is the centre of London's cinema land.

The transport links getting into and from Covent Garden are quite good, with one tube station on the Piccadilly Line, but access to the Central and Northern Lines within close proximity.  Due to the pedestrianised nature of the centre of Covent Garden,  buses are a short walk away.

South Bank

The South Bank is situated directly south of the River Thames near Waterloo Station and covers 2 square miles.  The area of SE1, has a variety of housing and flats from council estates to the modern (and expensive) Docklands developments - so you may should find a room to rent within this area. 

There is no shortage of things to do if living in the South Bank or surrounding areas, and being so close to the centre of London means that you and your flatmates should never be at a loose end.

Generally the transport networks south of the Thames aren’t as good as those in the north, however the South Bank is the exception.  Depending on where you are there is either Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridge Stations which are all on the Northern and Jubilee Lines, as well as Waterloo being on Bakerloo, and Docklands Light Railway.  Buses links within the area are plentiful, with over 8 daytime routes, 5 night routes and 2 routes which run 24/7 all going through Waterloo.

Belsize Park

Belsize Park is situated in the north west of London in the borough of Camden and its desirability is reflected in the prices of houses and flats whether buying, renting or flatsharing. 

The area is lively with a number of bars, restaurants and cafes for you and your housemates to enjoy a relaxing morning, afternoon or evening in.   Part of the areas appeal is its picturesque landscape and proximity to large open spaces such as Hampstead Heath and Regent’s Park as well as having a number of exclusive and often high end shops.

Transport links can be a little limited in this area, but Belsize Park Station and nearby Kentish Town are both on the Northern Line in Zone 2 and there are few bus routes which incorporate the area, along with a night bus.

Hammersmith

Hammersmith is situated in west London and sits on the River Thames.  Housing in this area is desirable as it is a pleasant part of London to live in.  The housing throughout the area is varied, so there should always be people with houses and flats to share.

Hammersmith has an excellent nightlife with a great range of pubs and bars, and in the summer the pubs along the river are very popular.  Other forms of nearby entertainment include the HMV Apollo, which is one of the major concert halls in London, playing host to an array of musicians and comedians.  In addition there are the Riverside Studios which is a production studio, theatre and independent cinema.  For those UK based, it was home to Chris Evans’ TFI Friday and more recently The Apprentice: Your Fired! 

Fewer places in London are served as well as Hammersmith is by public transport.  Its main underground station is on the Hammersmith and City, Piccadilly and District lines and with a bus depot in Hammersmith, they too are never in short supply.

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