Finding somewhere to live in London can feel overwhelming at first. The rental market moves quickly and good properties can disappear within hours of being listed.
When I was looking for somewhere to live in London myself, I realised that preparation makes a huge difference. Knowing where to search, understanding how viewings work and being ready to move quickly can save a lot of stress.
If you’re planning to move to London, these are the tips that helped me most when searching for a flat.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to find somewhere to live in London is leaving the search too late.
The London rental market moves very quickly and properties can be listed and rented within a matter of days. Starting your search early gives you time to explore different areas, compare prices and arrange viewings without feeling rushed.
It also allows you to get a better sense of how much rent costs in different parts of the city.
This is one of the biggest decisions when moving to London.
Renting a room in a shared house or flat is usually much cheaper and is a very common option, particularly for people moving to London for the first time.
If you prefer more privacy and can afford it, renting a whole flat might be a better option. However, this will usually cost significantly more and often requires a larger deposit.
Many people start by renting a room and then move into their own place later once they are more settled in the city.
Most people now search for flats online when looking for somewhere to live in London.
Some of the most commonly used websites include:
These platforms allow you to filter properties by location, price and property type.
Setting up alerts can also be extremely helpful. This means you’ll be notified when new properties are listed, giving you a better chance of booking a viewing before the property is taken.
Choosing where to live in London can be one of the trickiest parts of moving to the city. There are many boroughs and neighbourhoods to choose from, and each area has its own character, price range and transport connections.
To make things easier to understand, it helps to break London’s geography down into a few key ideas: boroughs, travel zones and transport links.
London is divided into 32 boroughs, which function as local authority districts. These boroughs are generally grouped into inner London and outer London.
The 12 inner boroughs are:
Camden
Greenwich
Hackney
Hammersmith and Fulham
Islington
Kensington and Chelsea
Lambeth
Lewisham
Southwark
Tower Hamlets
Wandsworth
Westminster
Inner boroughs are generally more densely populated and closer to central London. Because of their location, rent tends to be higher, but commuting times are often shorter.
Outer London boroughs include:
Barking and Dagenham
Barnet
Bexley
Brent
Bromley
Croydon
Ealing
Enfield
Haringey
Harrow
Havering
Hillingdon
Hounslow
Kingston upon Thames
Merton
Newham
Redbridge
Richmond upon Thames
Sutton
Waltham Forest
Outer boroughs cover a much larger area and are often more residential.
Many families choose to live in outer London because housing is typically cheaper and larger, although commuting into central London can take longer.
In some outer boroughs the Underground does not reach every neighbourhood, meaning residents may rely more on buses, trains or trams.
London is also divided into nine travel zones, which are used to calculate public transport fares.
Living further out in Zones 3 or 4 can sometimes mean cheaper rent, but transport costs may be higher.
For example, commuting into central London from further zones will increase the price of Tube travel.
Bus travel is slightly different, as buses charge a flat fare per journey regardless of zones. London’s Hopper fare also allows you to take multiple buses within an hour while only paying once.
If you live centrally enough, you may even be able to walk or cycle to work, which removes transport costs entirely.
The London Underground is one of the main ways people commute across the city. The network consists of 11 lines running through many parts of London.
If you plan to travel to work by Tube, it’s worth choosing an area that offers a simple and direct route to your workplace.
Commuting across several lines or travelling the entire length of a line each morning can quickly become exhausting.
Good transport connections can make a huge difference to your daily routine.
I was initially a little hesitant about recommending specific areas because everyone’s situation is different. However, there are a few neighbourhoods that have always seemed like good value for money to me.
If you want to explore areas in more detail, websites like MoveBubble or TimeOut have helpful London neighbourhood guides.
These are a few places that stand out as good options if you’re looking for a reasonably priced room or flat in London.
Located in Southwark in South East London, Rotherhithe is a bit of a hidden gem.
The area sits along the Thames and has some interesting warehouse conversion apartments. It’s also close to Southwark Park and the large Surrey Quays shopping centre.
Neighbouring Bermondsey has the Bermondsey Beer Mile, independent cafés and an antiques market.
Rotherhithe also has a few lovely riverside pubs, and transport connections are excellent. The Overground runs directly to Shoreditch, while the Jubilee Line from nearby Canada Water takes you to London Bridge and Waterloo.
If you’d like to see what the area looks like, I’ve photographed a few attractions in Rotherhithe in this post.
Located in the borough of Waltham Forest, Walthamstow is often described as an up-and-coming area.
It’s served by the Victoria Line, which is one of the fastest Underground lines, as well as Overground services.
There is a lot of Victorian housing available and it often offers good value compared to areas closer to central London.
Bethnal Green is located in Tower Hamlets in Zone 2 and sits close to Shoreditch.
If you work in the City, it’s even possible to walk to work from here, which can be a lovely way to start the day.
The famous Columbia Road Flower Market is located nearby, and the area allows you to enjoy the atmosphere of East London without some of the higher prices found in neighbouring Shoreditch.
Because it’s in Zone 2, travelling further across London is also relatively affordable.
Once you find a property you like in London, it’s important to move quickly.
Flats in popular areas can receive a lot of interest and sometimes multiple viewings within a single day. If you hesitate too long, someone else may secure the property first.
When I was looking for my place, I noticed that some listings would disappear within a day or two.
Being ready to arrange viewings and respond quickly can make a big difference.
Landlords and letting agents will usually ask for documents before confirming a rental agreement.
This often includes:
Having these documents prepared ahead of time can make the process much smoother.
If you find a property you like, being organised can help you secure it faster than other applicants.
Finding somewhere to live in London can feel stressful at first, but preparation makes the process much easier.
Starting your search early, using the right websites and being ready to move quickly can help you find somewhere that works for you.
Once you’ve settled in, London becomes an incredibly exciting place to live – with endless neighbourhoods to explore and things to experience.
If you’re planning to move to London, you might also find these guides helpful:
Different Ways to Get Around London
5 Tips on How to Live in London on a Budget
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These are such great tips!!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
I'm moving to London next year. I can't wait- but finding an apartment is a lengthy process!
Chloe X http://www.chloelxuise.com/