Where to live around North London

My husb to be lives in Herts now but would like to move to start a new life once I get there. He works primarily in Herts around St. Albans area. I just LOVE London and want to have easy access to it, however, it is a bit expensive for us. I was wondering if anyone could give us some affordable options in North London area, or even just outside of North London. For instance, we went to the Arsenal area and walked along I think it was Highbury st. I loved that area but don't know if it would be affordable. I am not positive but I think the highest we could start off paying is 150 ish a week. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

We live in Highbury--literally right next to the stadium--and we absolutely love the neighbourhood.  Sorry I can't help you with what the average rents are around here, as we live in a key worker complex and therefore our rent is pretty cheap (well, by London standards).  You could be eligible for this kind of rent reduction if you or your husband work in 'key' professions, such as healthcare, social work or teaching.  There are at least 3 new key worker complexes within a 1 mile radius of us--all new builds with all mod cons.  Good luck in your search!

Well, I would be hopefully working in the healthcare field but I don't have a job yet! I am a therapist/case manager in the states. Maybe we would qualify. I will look into that. Thank you for this information! Yes, I just LOVE it over there!

When I first came to the UK I lived in Finsbury Park, which is in the same area as Arsenal and Highbury.  If you go north of the Finsbury Park tube station it's pretty nice up toward Stroud Green and Crouch End.  The rents might be a bit high, but it's still worth a look.

I lived in Finsbury Park too and loved it.  It's a bit rough down by Manor House but other areas are cleaning up nicely.  Finsbury Park has great transport links too, Tube and overground, tons of bus service.  Good shopping down at Nag's Head too.

Are there affordable places around that area? I'm not sure what our range is but I think he may have said 150ish per week. Can you even find anything for that price around Finsbury?

Are there affordable places around that area? I'm not sure what our range is but I think he may have said 150ish per week. Can you even find anything for that price around Finsbury?

Here are the results of a Rightmove search for rentals in N4 between £500 and £700 per month.  Obviously you'll have to see where they actually are in the N4, and take a look at the property and surrounding neighborhoods in person, but it looks like you may be able to find something up there.

If you need a connection to St Albans then you need to look at the Thameslink route.  This passes through North London at Mill Hill and Kentish Town, both of which are generally nice places, although the nice bits of Mill Hill are very pricey.  I'd go for Kentsih Town if I were you.  It's pretty cool, and near to Camden, and on the Tube as well.

Vicky

Hi fa…When I moved to London I landed in the Finsbury Park and Stroud Green area and it was a great choice. I’m very happy with the area and I’m not surprised you like it too. Great transport with the

Sadly though, I think you’ll be very hard pressed to find something at £150 per week, especially in Highbury, near Arsenal.

Though there are flats available at that price in the general area, almost all of them will be small studios of varying quality.

For a 1-bedroom flat, the low end of the market seems to be around £200-£210 per week, with the occasional flat on offer at £185-190, but to be realistic £210-£250 per week is more likely.

Highbury is N5 and generally more expensive than Finsbury Park and Stroud Green, which are N4 (as is Manor House and part of Haringay)

Vicky makes a good point in choosing an area based on the commute (and she knows north London!)

Thanks all! Well, my husb has a car so we don't necessarily need to be right by a train, though, i don't have a job lined up yet and won't really be driving so it would be helpful. Ya, that sounds a bit too much out of our range I guess. Is Kentish Town more affordable than Finsbury or Stroud Green? Basically, I want to be as close to London as is realistic for us. We would like North London so that he can get to work in St. Albans, but close to a train or a tube....and within our price range. Is it even realistic or possible to find something for 160 ish a week in a decent area of North London?

Kentish Town and Tufnell Park are generally more expensive than Finsbury Park, at least in my opinion. A search of the NW5 post code produced only three flats at 150-160 per week. Another search showed 18 flats in N4, though most were studios.

I’m not a driver, so maybe someone else can pipe in but you may not have to limit yourself to north London. The ease of the drive to St. Albans could be the same, or easier from northwest or northeast areas of London.

Try a north postcode or use the map to search for areas that would fall into your budget:

www.findaproperty.com

www.rightmove.co.uk

Good luck!

In my recent searches I have not found anything very nice for around the £150 mark; for that price per week you are looking at studios, some very tiny, and some very grotty/shabby. You may have to go a bit higher to get anything nice or a little more spacious.

But I second the comments that Mill Hill, Crouch End et al are nice places, and Kentish Town is pretty cool. You might also look into Bounds Green, Wood Green and the Ally Pally area. But again, unless you're very lucky and a great deal comes up, 150 pw isn't normally going to get you much more than a small and not very pretty studio or very cramped one-bedroom if that, in most of these areas or in London in general.

Driving to St Albans would involve having easy access to the M25 or the M1, otherwise the drive will end up taking significantly longer than a train would. From Finsbury Park it would be a nightmare as you'd have to drive through north london just to get to the motorway.  Basically, the closer you are to central London, the more hassle your husband will have driving to work.

£160 per week is not at all realistic for something nice in a nice area.  We pay £940 pcm for a lovely one bedroom flat in a nice part of Finchley.  You may get something a little cheaper, but I think that your price would only get a studio or a house share.

Vicky