Nice Places to Live if You Work in Canary Wharf

I was wondering where employees live if they work in Canary Wharf, London. It seems to me that the nicer areas of London are in the West and a lot of the areas close to Canary Wharf are not so nice. Therefore I was wondering where do analyst and associates live in London (ie closest tube stop) and how long does it take you to get to work? Also do you think the new Elizabeth tube line will change where people live due to faster speeds to canary wharf?

London Places to Live

For those going to work in London, our users shared some advice about where to live in the city. Users recommended Canary Wharf, Stratford, and London Bridge.

storyofmylife - Research Associate:
Most analysts / associates live in flat shares close to Canary Wharf. There are tons of new apartment buildings around South Quay and Crossharbour DLR stations. West London may be nicer but you won't have enough time to enjoy your flat anyway and the commute + extremely high rent will kill you.

User @ThrowawayCactus" shared:

ThrowawayCactus - Investment Banking Analyst:
I know some that live in Stratford. New specced out, high-rise apartments right near the Tube station. (DLR/Jubilee) Rent is affordable, and you're right near Westfield. But if you walk in any direction for 10 minutes or so, it's not the greatest neighborhood. Door to door it takes about 20 minutes or less.

But it's true. Because you spend the majority of time in the office, where you live and the location kind of become irrelevant. The time of your commute becomes the critical factor.

GMG - Sales and Trading Trader:
If you want somewhere with slightly more going on than Canary Wharf, London Bridge can be a good option, it's a good area with a fair bit going on (Jubilee Line)/ Alternatively I know a few that use overground/DLR from Shoreditch High St also, but your commute gets longer, and it's not as 'nice'.

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Comments (36)

5y 
storyofmylife, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Most analysts / associates live in flat shares close to Canary Wharf. There are tons of new apartment buildings around South Quay and Crossharbour DLR stations. West London may be nicer but you won't have enough time to enjoy your flat anyway and the commute + extremely high rent will kill you.

  • 1
5y 
LaNoob, what's your opinion? Comment below:

The great mystery! The highest paying jobs are mostly in the east and yet the west has the higher rents...

5y 
guggroth93, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Anywhere in Hampstead is nice and close enough but probably expensive for analysts

5y 
LaNoob, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Is this where more senior staff mostly live?

5y 
guggroth93, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Yea exaclty. I know a few EDs, MDs in the West Hampstead area, tube is about 30 mins from Canary Wharf. Maybe there are affordable options there, I'm just not too familiar but it is a nice place to live.

5y 
ThrowawayCactus, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I know some that live in Stratford. New specced out, high-rise apartments right near the Tube station. (DLR/Jubilee) Rent is affordable, and you're right near Westfield. But if you walk in any direction for 10 minutes or so, it's not the greatest neighbourhood. Door to door it takes about 20 minutes or less.

But it's true. Because you spend the majority of time in the office, where you live and the location kind of become irrelevant. The time of your commute becomes the critical factor.

5y 
LaNoob, what's your opinion? Comment below:

When you say rent is affordable, people in front office will be paid over 50k, surely most rent is affordable in shared accomodation?

5y 
ThrowawayCactus, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Oh of course. But the apartments I were referring to are more like luxury flats. Those rents demand 1.2 - 1.3k a month, or 1k each for a 2-bed. That's a bit more than your typical shared accommodation.

At 50k+ a year, you can easily afford some really nice rented accomodation. But again, when you're spending most of your life at the office, it becomes harder to justify.

5y 
LaNoob, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Also if you want to do any sport on the weekends, it seems like you have to travel to the west side where historically there seems to have been more going on

Best Response
5y 
GMG, what's your opinion? Comment below:

If you want somewhere with slightly more going on than Canary Wharf, London Bridge can be a good option, it's a good area with a fair bit going on (Jubilee Line)/ Alternatively I know a few that use overground/DLR from Shoreditch High St also, but your commute gets longer, and it's not as 'nice'.

On another note - sport is definitely not confined to West London (not sure where you got that idea), I've not had issues finding sports to do in any part of London (although assume in Canary Wharf proper there is less going on).

  • 2
5y 
u9a0rawopjrawjoparwjop oj, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Queen Mary's student accommodation in Mile End - around a 12 minute journey into Canary Wharf by bus www.DotqmaccommodationDotcoDotuk/accommodation/holiday/.

  • 1
5y 
GoldenSnackss, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Student housings are way overpriced for what you get in London.. Just go on spareroom and find something near London Bridge, which is close to canary wharf as well as the city

5y 
Insomnia_Banker, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I agree that student housings is way overpriced, but finding something suitable on spareroom for just two months is quite hard. Most people want you to move in NOW or they are looking for somebody for the long term. Also the fact that all the bills (including insurance and emergency maintenance) and (new) furniture is included is something I consider a plus. The difference in price seems to be around 300 pounds per month, which is a lot I agree, but it gives a lot of convenience (e.g. no worries).

5y 
Magneto, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Try the Unite Student bulding in stratford. You are in canary wharf in about 15 mins, and the tube is mostly overground which is a big plus in my opinion.

5y 
Insomnia_Banker, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Thanks, seems good as well!

I was also looking at Pure Aldgate. Prices of the rooms are similar.

Stratford One has slightly bigger rooms and has both the Jubilee and DLR lines. Pure Aldgate has a (small) on-site 24/7 Gym and is located better between the City centre and CW, but you are dependent on the bus (135) to get to CW and I have no idea how well the busses run in London.

5y 
fandango, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I haven't done the commute regularly, but I did it a couple times over the summer. Baker Street to Canary Wharf (just the tube) was about 20-25 mins. So, assuming you can live close to the station, Jubilee line runs as well as it usually does and your office is within 5 minutes of CW station, you can do 35-40 mins door to door.

Fandango


"It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879)

"Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel

-------------------- "It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879) "Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel
  • 1
5y 
nauru, what's your opinion? Comment below:

40 minutes? Ouch. On the other hand, I know some people living in Canary Wharf and apparently it's pretty depressing to spend 24 hours a day in that area. Buddy wakes up every morning and sees the Citi logo out his window...

5y 
fandango, what's your opinion? Comment below:

If you can get "door to door" or "door to desk" in 40 mins, I think you're doing alright. Personally, I prefer to live on the Southwark/London Bridge side of Waterloo on the Jubilee. You're still close to the city, but your commute to CW is a lot shorter (you can also run home in about 30 minutes if you're close enough to Tower Hill). But then again, I see how Baker Street would be a more exciting area to live...


"It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879)

"Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel

-------------------- "It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879) "Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel
  • 1
5y 
Disjoint, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I was considering London Bridge for a while, but then my buddy convinced me to come over to baker street. I was about to take something in Canary Wharf, but all my friends told me they wouldn't talk to me anymore if I lived there. The flat is a 4.5 minute walk to Baker Street, and my bank is 4-5 minutes from Canary Wharf So 10 minute walk total + lets hope 25 minutes of commute? Are you guys working in the City or around CW?


Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is. - My ex girlfriend

5y 
fandango, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Baker Street will be alright. It's a cool area to live in. I haven't lived there personally, but I've got mates around there. I think 35 mins is a reasonable approximation. Add a bit of waiting time and a problem or two on the tube, and you might average 40 mins. But anyhow, not bad for London.

I've worked in CW before and will be again later on this year. I agree wholeheartedly with anyone who recommends NOT to live in CW. I used to live way out in East London, and even that was better than CW. 20 mins door to desk, and I didn't have to wake up to the Citigroup tower outside my window...

Fandango


"It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879)

"Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel

-------------------- "It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879) "Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel
  • 1
5y 
fp175, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I live near CW - no regrets. I am home in 15 minutes. If you spend 12 hours a day in the office frankly living in the West End is pretty meaningless.

Live wherever you want, but I do not envy my friends who go from Baker St/St Johns Wood and sit on the tube for 30 min. And remember that everyone underestimates - Baker St to CW is a lot closer to 30-35 minutes than 20, I don't know what these people are claiming. So an hour of your life at least will be in the tube each day - pretty gross. Plus the rents out there are higher.

My rec: spend your first year in a nice new flat built exactly for people like you: professional sharers in the City. After first year (with rise and bonus) hopefully your hours will be slightly better, then move further out to a nicer neighborhood.

  • 2
5y 
Endgame, what's your opinion? Comment below:

I second Miss Fp175's opinion. Jubilee line trains rarely fail to resemble undersized pilchard receptacles (read: one cannot physically get on at times). Your door-to-door estimate is also highly optimistic. Get a place in CW for your first couple of years.

5y 
fandango, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Like I said, I haven't done the commute (i.e. doing the trip at commuting times). However, Baker Street to CW (if everything goes well) is 20-25 minutes. My main assumption here is that an S&T analyst will catch the Jubilee well before the "sardine times". Unless I'm completely wrong about how packed the Jubilee is at that time in the morning, I still think 40 minutes isn't that far off....

But yes, you will spend at least an extra hour per day commuting if you're not in CW. It all depends on what you want.


"It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879)

"Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel

-------------------- "It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879) "Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel
  • 1
1y 
RW29, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Surprised how North Greenwich isn't on the list... literally 17 mins door to door to your classic JPM office and you have O2 just around for social life.

1y 
livvvy, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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