Help Please...Where to Live in Central London

I am taking an assignment to London.  For the first year, I will be commuting back and forth to the U.S.  When the family comes over next year, I'll likely head toward St. John's Wood or Surrey.  I'm trying to determine the best area to live in Central London.  Please add to this thread with your impressions of areas/ neighborhoods that might be a good fit.  My work is near St. Paul's Cathedral.  I am looking for a 2 bedroom/ 2 bath flat or apartment.  Thus far, I've considered Mayfair, Marylebone, Knightsbridge, South Kensington, Holland Park.  I'm looking for a convenient commute, access to parks for exercise.  I like more of a residential neighborhood feel than being on a busy street with shops underneath me.  My budget is pretty generous from my employer so the prices in the areas mentioned are in the appropriate range.  Thanks for your help.

To be honest I don't think you could go wrong in any of those spots...though I have a sweet spot in my heart for Marylebone as it's just very pretty in spots, easy access to the West End and lots of travel links.

I wish I had your problem.     As onetiger mentions, you can't go wrong staying in any of the areas you mentioned.  I stayed for a month in South Kensington in a nice corporate apartment and it was great.  Very close to Hyde Park.  You might want to look at the tube map to see what is convenient to St Paul's (Central Line).

bvamin

Cough Cough, Marylebone is GREAT!!!! And if you're ambitious and want exercise you can walk to St. Pauls in 45 min.

Also there is a bus from Oxford street to St pauls that takes about 20 min in the morning.

I'm biased, i live parallel to marylebone high street and just adore it.  The proximity of Regents park (and Hyde park if you want).  The ability to walk where ever you want (i love walking from covent garden to marylebone after some mexican food!)

 

Thanks everyone for the responses so far 

The other thing to mention - if you end up sending your kids to the American School - you will have lots of 'company' in many of those areas (so you wouldn't necessarily have to move to St Johns Wood).  In fact, Marylebone would be a very easy tube or bus ride to the school...so something else to consider!

I have a similar question and a similar circumstances and I'm considering Notting Hill, South Kensington, Chelsea, Mayfair.

My girlfriend will most likely work in mayfair and I'm working in canary wharf.

I'd like something convenient to both via tube although the commute to canary will be more important as i need to be there earlier.


Any insight would be great, I'd prefer something quiet and convenient to greenery.

If you are working in Canary Wharf, the best tube line to access is the Jubilee Line...so you'd want to be on another line that would connect to the Jubilee.  I'd suggest going to http://www.tfl.gov.uk...and do a journey planner from the tube stations closest to the places you've mentioned to both where you'll work and your girlfriend will work.

I have a similar question and a similar circumstances and I'm considering Notting Hill, South Kensington, Chelsea, Mayfair.

My girlfriend will most likely work in mayfair and I'm working in canary wharf.

I'd like something convenient to both via tube although the commute to canary will be more important as i need to be there earlier.


Any insight would be great, I'd prefer something quiet and convenient to greenery.

I work in Canary Wharf  and live in West Hampstead which is on the Jubilee line and my commute is about 35 to 40 minutes door to door.  If I were you, I would consider Mayfair as you would be close to Green Park tube station which is on the Jubilee line and your girlfriend could probably walk to work.

bvamin

Then again, you could live in the area around the Bank/Monument station - this way you can take the DLR to Canary Wharf and your GF could take the tube west to Mayfair. 

I used to have an office near Bank,I wouldnt live there.Bank is the middle of the financial district.There is not much to do on weekends. Its mostly offices.

i'm probably too late for this discussion ,but if you want central london you can't beat the Barbican. It's a little oasis in the city.

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/our_services/barbican_estate/estate_guide.htm

Hi mate!
It's been a while since you posted - so where did you end up?!!

Like another poster mentioned, wish we had your 'problem' !! all the places you mentioned are the very best areas of London !! So that salary level must be 'very generous' indeed!!

I remember looking at different places when I was looking to buy an apartment, I put in search terms like 'London' and 'Chelsea' and remember falling off my chair !!

I'm guessing you've been here for a while now - so even if you've moved a few times, I bet whereever you are is one of these top places!!

Cheers!
Dennis! West 'still expensive - but not as expensive as your areas' London UK!!