Central London

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Corrina Pinsent

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If you’ve visited here before, you are likely most acquainted with the major sites to behold in its historic centers like Big Ben and Trafalgar Square. London’s city center houses predominantly governmental and corporate buildings, museums, and other tourist sites, but it does have a selection of personal residences. And if you’re looking for an edgier, more diverse, artsy, and somewhat less tourist-trodden locale, the east side of this area is a good find with an active day and nightlife.

The postcodes for central neighborhoods begin with either WC of EC for West-Central and East-Central, respectively. And though the modern-day city stretches rather far and wide, residents will refer to this central district specifically as “The City,” just as Americans would say “downtown.” Neighborhoods in this area that London Relocation services include: Bloomsbury, Kings Cross, Covent Garden, Russell Square, Chancery Lane, Barbican, Clerkenwell, Farringdon, Old Street, and Liverpool Street.

What Is It Like To Live In The Center Of London

It seems like everyone in London is racing to find a decent property as close to the city’s center as possible. People are attracted to Zone 1 as if there was a giant magnet installed in the middle. This raises a question – maybe there is one? If so, how does it work? Why is it so attractive to millions of people? And, lastly, what’s it like to rent a flat in the center of London, really?

  • The Noise

  • From the alluring lights of pubs and nightclubs to major tourist attractions and non-stop business, the center of London is filled with lights, crowds, and traffic 24/7.

    In simpler words, things here tend to get noisy. Nothing a good set of soundproof windows can’t fix, but still, a vibrant, urban area like that is obviously not everyone’s cup of tea. That’s why we have decided to start our list with this warning: central areas of London are designed for those who are fascinated with the cosmopolitan nature of a megalopolis.

  • Properties

  • First thing’s first – we are talking about London’s most historic attractions. Some of the stones forming the center of the city have seen ancient Romans, Celtic tribes, the Industrial revolution, German bombs and much-much more. Needless to say, the architecture here is simply out of this world, both in terms of exterior and interior. Sure, some may believe that the older buildings are simply not fit to handle our modern way of life, but with the millions of pounds invested into the renovation, repairs and infrastructure prove the claim as false.

    There is also a wide selection of purpose-built buildings (apartment complexes) in Zone 1. They are much more recent and don’t have the ancient vibe, but the cost of living in one is moderately cheaper in comparison. If you feel like living in a modern studio apartment or a family-friendly two- to three-bedroom flat, they’ll be your go-to choice.

  • Pets

  • The situation with pets is a little bit bizarre in the center of London. On the one side, there are many parks and green spaces, and on the other, many landlords don’t allow tenants with pets in their buildings. It’s not that it is impossible to find a pet-friendly place in Zone 1, but it is definitely a challenging task you’ll need professional help with.

  • Commuting

  • Commuting is the bane of everyone living in London. It takes some people a couple of hours just to get to work and as much time is needed to get back home in the evening. This is where a flat in the center shines brightest because everything you may possibly need is an arm’s reach away from you.

  • Shopping

  • The center of London is a shopper’s paradise with entire streets dedicated to boutiques, vintage stores, food stalls, and massive malls.

  • Celebrities

  • You’d be surprised, but Londoners in general and those of us who are lucky enough to live near the centering particular see celebrities all the time. So much so, that reacting to seeing a face you’ve just watched on BBC during your morning routine with the TV on is considered as something much weirder than actually being in the same store with “the guy from the telly”.

    This is happening because the more celebs you see minding their own business without the flair, the makeup, and the costume, the more you realize that they are as “normal” as the next guy.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Vibrant, diverse locations
  • Amazing education
  • Plentiful opportunities
  • Availability of literally everything
  • Cultural significance

Cons

  • The high cost of living
  • A lot of tourists
  • Noisy

Successful UK relocations hinge on knowing the best neighborhoods to live in—“best,” however, is subjective and really means what is best for you in particular.

London Zone 1 Facts You Need To Know

Did you ever feel like the Queen of England? If the answer is a definite “yes”, then you probably live in zone 1 – arguably the best place to live in London if you don’t mind the noise. Everything is at arm’s reach, your stroll to work does not require any commuting and it almost seems like the sun is shining here brightly more often.

One might even believe that zone 1 is paradise on earth, but it most certainly is not. And, like any other great thing on our Earth, it has its flaws. This brings us to fact 1.

  • The prices are steep

  • And they bite quite hard. You may own a gorgeous studio in zone one that looks cool but can barely hold your shoes inside. The ad will say that there will be a vintage staircase or some cool stuff like that in your flat, but in reality, it will the only way for you to reach your honorary square feet at the attic while the word “vintage” itself usually stands for something old and needing repairs. A studio like that will cost you anything from 750L to a million.

    What can you get for the same money elsewhere?

    750K will get you a lovely two-bedroom flat in the second zone. Your flat will be located on a Victorian terrace, you will enjoy a large kitchen fit for cooking rather than simply storing empty pizza boxes, the windows will be as large as life and the flat itself will be as roomy. Alternatively, you could go for an entire three-bedroom house in zone 5 – a place where you can start a family and raise wonderful children.

  • Lots of People and Noise

  • Zone 1 has it all – museums, galleries, theaters, restaurants, and pubs. But do you know who goes to all of those places? People. A lot of people. From locals to tourists – each and every soul wishes to get a slice of the London pie in zone one. Forget about peace and silence, learn to enjoy wreckage and other people’s ways of having fun and you’ll be peach perfect.

  • Lots of Benefits

  • Frankly, there are many more upsides than downsides to living in zone 1. Yes, it may be a bit too overcrowded or noisy, but the game is totally worth the effort once you think about how you don’t need to spend countless hours commuting to work or school on a daily basis.

    All of the coolest places I’ve mentioned before like the galleries, the museums, the pubs, and the restaurants are at a hand’s reach. Countless events are taking place in zone 1 from dentistry seminars to Comic-Cons to wine degustation shows. You will get to experience life in the Big City like never before. If someone were to ask me what the most priceless thing in life is, I’d say that this is it. It really is, at least for me.

  • Study the Map

  • It matters little if you’ve just moved in – you are now a zone 1 dweller. You will need to sit down with Google Maps in front of you, study the area you stay at, learn about a few cool places and you are all set. Now, when the next person will ask you about getting from point A to point B you would say something like, “Kind sir, you’ll need to take a left here and then turn right, but if I were you, I’d choose bub A over pub B. The drinks there are just too exquisite to miss out on”. That feeling when you know your way around the city, especially the part that goes after “but if I were you” – mmm, priceless!

  • Travel?

  • It’s not as bad as I thought. You live in the very heart of London. There’s not much in this world that you need and that’s simply amazing. But what if you do? What if there is a need in your heart for something very specific that lies outside the rational length of a lazy stroll?

    London is big, you know, really big. Especially to someone from zone 1 who is used to having everything at his or her fingertips at all times. Well, you could use a car and drive, says someone who doesn’t know London very well. The thing is that with a behemoth of a city as large as the Big Smoke, a car will only slow you down in traffic jams.

    An Oyster card linked to the railcards that you own would be the most rational solution. You will pay less for your travels, you will have access to amazing discounts and, all in all, you will pay a small fortune given that I have an amazing pro tip for you: use your Oyster card combo to shop outside of zone 1. Sure, they say that the entirety of London is expensive, but the prices here and the prices there are heaven and hell in comparison.

London Relocation Services

Welcome to London relocation where people find their home guaranteed. We’re an all-inclusive service that’s helped 100% of our clients find their perfect property sign a lease and move in within their desired timeframe.

You might be wondering what’s so difficult about the London property market that you can just do this on your own. Well, agents in London only hold private stock in their area they don’t share with other agencies through a multiple listing system. This means you can’t just go to one agency and see all the available options.

That’s why you need London Relocation®. We will be your Multiple Listing system and exhaust the market. We guarantee you will find your flat through us.

Our team will handhold you through this process to offer you personalized attention and to educate you on the local market so that there are no surprises.

Customer service is our top priority. So remember we work with the Leddy’s agents and landlords but we work exclusively for you. Our team of London ex-pats has been there, we understand the unknowns you’re facing and we can translate the difference. We want you to settle into your new life fast and seamlessly.

So just kick back let us do all work for you! You can take our word for it, or have a look at our client testimonials!

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