Looking for a room in London!

Hi everyone

I'm going to be relocating to London in January and am looking for a room to rent with up to £2k pm rent, preferably with 1-2 flat mates.  I'm in my mid / late twenties, male, like to do sports and will be working as an associate. Ideally, the place should have a convenient commute either by walk or few metro stops to the Mayfair / Piccadilly Circus area.

Do you know anyone who is currently renting out a room or are you looking for a new flat mate? Please let me know and also feel free to ping me via DM to connect. 

So far, I've been utilizing the usual sites such as spareroom and will also be reaching out to the agents soon, however I'd love to live with someone working in the industry. I've had some first good leads by sharing and having an Instagram story reposted by locals in that regard.

In terms of the areas, I've looked at Marylbone, Kensington, Maida Vale and Pimlico. Most of the accommodations in West London seem to be in the older / vintage style. Are there also areas that lean towards a more modern building style?

Thank you!

8 Comments
 

Thanks, will check out Battersea too then!

I was thinking that £2k might be enough for a room in a shared flat (e.g. total rent of £4k split across two people) in Marlybone / Ken but in that case it might make sense to focus on other areas. Appreciate it.

 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some recommendations and insights for finding a room in London:

Recommended Areas:

  1. East London:

    • Wapping
    • Limehouse
    • Shoreditch (if you work in the city)
    • Canning Town
    • Canary Wharf / Isle of Dogs

    These areas offer good value for money and have excellent transport links, especially if you are working in the City or Canary Wharf. They are generally more affordable compared to West London and Angel/Islington.

  2. South of the River:

    • Bermondsey
    • Canada Water

    These areas might be an option, but transport links are not as great as East London.

Areas to Avoid:

  • Shadwell: Not recommended based on user experiences.

Modern Building Style:

  • East London: Generally, East London has more modern buildings compared to the older/vintage style accommodations in West London.

Additional Tips:

  • Utilize Social Media: Continue leveraging Instagram and other social media platforms to find leads. Sharing your search and having locals repost can be very effective.
  • Industry Connections: Living with someone working in the industry can be beneficial. Keep reaching out through industry-specific forums and networks.

Summary:

For a convenient commute to Mayfair/Piccadilly Circus and a preference for modern buildings, East London areas like Wapping, Limehouse, and Canary Wharf are recommended. These areas offer good transport links and more modern accommodations compared to West London. Avoid Shadwell and consider using social media and industry connections to find potential flatmates.

Sources: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/london-vs-new-york-city?customgpt=1, London Rent / Living Arrangements 2019, London Landscape, 2020 San Francisco Summer Housing, London vs New York IB

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

I rent an amazing house with 2 other friends in Earls Court (Old Brompton Road). You can take the Piccadilly line from Earls Court station, which is very convenient if you work in Mayfair, or the Victoria line for other destinations. I'm paying ~1.8k for my room (bedroom + bathroom). Earls court / Kensington are good areas to live in, and I haven't experienced any problems (neighbors, violence, etc.) in the years we have lived here. 

 

Earls Court is decent

Pretty convenient location, 6 stations from centre, just as easy for notting hill

Likely a tad more afforable just maybe

A Dutchman in London
 

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