Where to live in London on the DLR line

moove2london on 06 Jul 2012

We’re continuing our posts based around the theme of ‘where to live in London’ on a particular tube line – today we’re describing 5 residential areas that each have a station on the DLR line. The DLR stands for ‘Docklands Light Railway’ and serves 45 stations in and around the developed Docklands area. There are various different branches on the DLR, the services run as follows: Bank to Woolwich Arsenal, Bank to Lewisham, Stratford to Lewisham, Tower Gateway to Beckton, Stratford International to Woolwich Arsenal and Stratford International to Beckton.
If you happen to work in Canary Wharf or even the City (using Bank or Tower Hill as your station) then you could really benefit from living in an area that has a station on the DLR line.

Limehouse
This area is a mix of old and new. The old is represented by the historic part of the East End bordering Stepney Green and Bow. The new features the swanky riverside apartments and trendy bars down in Canary Wharf. The prettiest part of Limehouse can be found on Narrow Street which has a handful of pubs on the river as well as converted warehouse apartments. To find out more about living in Limehouse please read our full area guide.

Greenwich
The DLR station in Greenwich can be found at North Greenwich. Central Greenwich (the bit by the river) is one of the more attractive parts of London and is like a magnet to tourists, particularly during the summer months. It has a number of sightseeing options including the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory (which sits high above the popular Greenwich Park). For those of you who don’t know and are afraid to ask, Greenwich Meantime Time (GMT) used to refer to a time system used at the Observatory to measure ‘mean solar time’. Greenwich has some lovely riverside pubs and restaurants, great independent shops, a thriving market and magnificent views over the Thames. To find out more about living in Greenwich please read our full Greenwich area guide.

Bow
Bow is served by various stations in it’s area (including Bow Road and Mile End), but Bow Church is the station that can be found on the DLR line.
Bow is located in E3 in the East End of London. It’s popularity in recent years is undoubtedly due to it’s proximity to both Canary Wharf and the City of London. Properties are a little more attractive than in neighbouring Poplar and Stepney/Whitechapel also. On the northern borders of the area you can find Victoria Park, which is a beautiful green space in the midst of East London. In recent years a few gastropubs have popped up in Bow, but the area is still dominated by ‘old man’ pubs and lacks a decent supply of restaurants – but none of this is a problem, as you’re a short bus ride/walk away from more quality options. To find out more about living in Bow, please read our Bow area guide.

Stratford
Stratford has changed beyond recognition in recent years – as you’ll all know it’s home to London 2012 this year, but has also recently seen Westfield Stratford shopping centre open up since late 2011. It is currently the 3rd largest shopping centre in the UK (based on retail space) and includes a Waitrose supermarket, John Lewis and M&S department stores and a 17-screen VUE cinema. You can also find no less than 70 restaurants on site. To find out more about living in Stratford, please view our Stratford area guide.

West Ham
West Ham is located in E13, which is in East London in Transport Zone 3. Property prices are much more affordable here than any of the other areas on the DLR that we’ve mentioned above. But this doesn’t mean that West Ham has nothing going for it. Perhaps the biggest draw to living in West Ham/Plaistow (same postcode) is the fact that the area has great transport links into better places such as Central London, Canary Wharf and Stratford. All are very accessible and offer more in terms of amenities than West Ham itself has. So if you would like to live in a large, affordable property but hang out in trendy areas within 20 minutes, then West Ham should not be overlooked. To find out more about living in West Ham, please view our Plaistow and West Ham area guide.

Where to live in London on the District line

moove2london on 28 Jun 2012

Do you use the District line to get to work in somewhere like Earl’s Court, Victoria, Westminster, Blackfriars, Cannon Street or Monument? If you’d like to simplify your commute to work by just taking the one train, then you’ve probably been wondering where to live in London on the District line. If this sounds like you, then read on, because like the other articles in our series of posts about ‘where to live in London’ on a particular tube line, we have 5 residential areas of London for you, that have stations on the District line. The District line is marked as the green line on the tube map. The line serves 60 stations and has 5 different branch lines at the western end of the line.

Bow

The postcode of E3 which contains Bow, is located in the heart of the East End of London and is a short distance away from the financial City of London, but also Canary Wharf and the Docklands. Both are an easy bus journey or a slightly longer walk away. To the north of the area is the beautiful Victoria Park and the bustling Roman Road with it’s busy market. The District line has a station at Bow Road. For more information about Bow, please read our Bow Area Guide.

Wimbledon

Synonymous with that famous tennis tournament, Wimbledon attracts visitors all year round, but particularly during the summer months. The area is smart and has much to offer in terms of pubs, restaurants and entertainment. It has a high street full of shops and almost feels like a separate town to the rest of London. For more information about Wimbledon, please read our Wimbledon Area Guide.

Chiswick

Chiswick is located in West London – it is a popular leafy suburb and parts of it even feel quite village-like. You can find local bakers, fishmongers, grocers and butchers at Turnham Green Terrace, whilst Chiswick High Road is where you’d head if you were looking for restaurants and wine bars.
Chiswick has good transport links, lovely quality accommodation but isn’t particularly affordable for many people arriving into London. District line trains go from Chiswick Park. To find out more about Chiswick, please read our Chiswick Area Guide.

Ealing

Ealing is a leafy town which is located in West London on the outskirts of London. In terms of facilities it has everything. The same goes for transport, as it has the benefit of being near Heathrow but being able to quickly travel into Central London within half an hour. Ealing Common is where the District line trains run. To find out more about Ealing, please read our Ealing Area Guide.

Putney

Putney is a beautiful area of London which is situated on the river. It’s popular with sporty types who are into their rugby and rowing alike. Putney has a great selection of riverside pubs and bars which are packed out during the summer months. The District line has a station at East Putney. To find out more about Putney, please visit our Putney Area Guide.

Cockney Rhyming Slang

moove2london on 16 Apr 2010

If you’re moving to London for the first time, you’re bound to come across more Cockney rhyming slang than you do from watching Eastenders. Whilst it would be untrue to suggest that all Londoners use this quirky turn of phrase, it certainly crops up more than it would in other parts of the country. If you’re moving to London from abroad, you’ll be especially amazed by it.

So for starters, a Cockney is not another word for Londoner. It’s a very specific word referring to a person who was born within the sounds of the Bow Bells. The Bow Bells are confusingly not located in Bow, but in the church of St-Mary-le-Bow in the City. The original word was ‘Cokeney’, meaning misshapen egg and in the Middle Ages it’s thought that the word was used to describe weak or effiminate men. However by the 17th Century the word had taken on the meaning it has today.

The rhyming slang that Cockneys use is put together by saying a phrase which rhymes with a word, but then using the phrase rather than the word you’re wanting to say. So for instance if you wanted to say that you were going ‘upstairs’, you would say you were ‘going up the apples and pears’.

Here are some more examples:

Adam and Eve – believe (would you adam and eve it?)

Barnet (Fair) – hair (commonly used without the rhyming of fair)

Ruby Murray – curry (I’m going d’ahn Brick Lane tonight for a ruby- can be said with or without murray)

Vincent Van Gogh – let’s be off (do you wanna do a Vincent?)

Trouble and Strife – wife (I’m in trouble with the old trouble and strife)

Lemon and Lime – time (what’s the lemon?)

Butcher’s Hook – look (let’s have a butchers)

Anneka Rice – advice (if you want some Anneka Rice)

Boat Race – face (she’s got a nice boat)

David Blaine – insane (you must be David Blaine)

Babe Ruth – truth (to tell you the babe)

Mexican Wave – shave (you need a mexican)

For more of these hilarious expressions, try playing the ultimate cockney rhyming slang game ‘Trouble and Strife’ or alternatively pick yourself up this handy guide!

Where do young professionals live in London?

moove2london on 06 Apr 2010

One question we get asked a lot here at Moove2London, is ‘where do young professionals live in London?’. Whilst we place a lot of emphasis on helping you to work out the best place to live, based on your specific set of personal cirumstances, we do also understand that sometimes it’s nice to have a bit of  a push in the right direction.

With this in mind, we’re listing 10 areas of London that are seen as popular places for young professionals to live in. Bear in mind that we’re not saying that these are the top 10 best or most expensive places to live in London, because you’re probably reading this as a young professional, rather than an A list celebrity with bucketloads of cash! Instead, these are areas where young people earning an average amount of money, might live in a shared house, with a partner or by themselves.

You can find much more information about each area on their own dedicated area page. Have a read through, pick an area you like the sound of and then go to Easyroommate to look for flatmates.

Clapham

Clapham (SW4) is located in South London in Transport Zone 2. It’s an extremely popular area with young professionals, probably due to the huge selection of pubs, bars, restaurants and late-night venues in the area. Clapham Common is an enormous, flat open space where Londoners bask during the summer months. Prices here are somewhat higher than neighboring areas, but worth every penny.
Accommodation and flatshares in Clapham

Islington

Located in N1, Islington centres around Upper Street which is lined from one end to the other with fashionable pubs, bars and restaurants. Islington is located a stones-throw from Central London and is therefore quite an expensive area.
Accommodation and flatshares in Islington

Stoke Newington

Stoke Newington has become really quite popular in recent years. The area is still overlooked by some, due to it’s lack of tube station, but the residents will tell you that they’re very happy with the bus and train routes. Stoke Newington Church Street has a number of lovely eateries, but the real benefit to living in the area, comes from the close proximity to Clissold Park.
Accommodation and flatshares in Stoke Newington

East Dulwich

Located in South London and also absenting itself from the tube map is East Dulwich. The area centres around one very long road called Lordship Lane which has loads of restaurants, a number of decent pubs and quirky shops. Connections into Central London using train routes are both frequent and fast. The area is reasonably affordable in comparison to the neighboring Dulwich Village which is beautiful and within walking distance.
Accommodation and flatshares in East Dulwich

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace, or Upper Norwood is located in a hilly area of South London. The park used to contain Paxton’s Crystal Palace which sadly burned down in 1936. However, you can still see the Victorian dinosaur exhibition in this lovely and historic park, as well as the remains of the Italian terraces. Also in the area, is the ‘triangle’ which is an arrangement of 3 roads packed full of great food and drink options. SE19 is very affordable with loads on offer.
Accommodation and flatshares in Crystal Palace

Bow

Located in former Kray brothers territory, this East End area is almost within walking distance of the City of London (our financial district), making it an extremely attractive prospect to high-fliers. Although you can still tell that you’re in the East End of London, there are a handful of decent gastropubs. The main draw to the area though, is Victoria Park at the top of the postcode. If you want to live in an area full of history and minutes away from your job in Bank/Liverpool Street, then this is the place to be.
Accommodation and flatshares in Bow

Balham

Balham is much smaller than it’s posher neighbour, Clapham but it still has loads to offer in terms of pubs, bars, restaurants and shops (including Waitrose and M+S for supermarkets). It is also surrounded by massive open spaces in the form of Wandsworth Common, Tooting Common and Clapham Common.
Accommodation and flatshares in Balham

Camden

The diverse area of Camden is located in North London and is synonymous with market stalls, music and fashion. The atmosphere in Camden is a real hustle-bustle of daily activity and it’s an exceptionally popular place for going out in.
Accommodation and flatshares in Camden

Ealing

Ealing is quite a leafy area located in West London. It’s popular with people from Australia and New Zealand, which makes it a fun place to go out in. Ealing is reasonably affordable and it’s handy to get into Central London from, as it’s located on the Central Line offering easy access into both the West End and the City.
Accommodation and flatshares in Ealing

Crouch End

Crouch End is located in North London and is an area with a real village feel to it. The concentration of pubs, bars and restaurants is around the high street called ‘The Broadway’. The area is home to one of London’s most famous comedy nights – Downstairs at the King’s Head. Crouch End is an affordable place to rent in, buying here is much more expensive.
Accommodation and flatshares in Crouch End