San Francisco to London help!!!

Hi All,

We will be moving from from SF to London in the next 45-60 days. This was not planned and came as a result of a promotion. So, needless to say we are scrambling to figure out things! My hubby will be working in Canary Warf and we would like to be near the Jubilee line. We are considering Marylebone and Mayfair, but are open to other suggestions. I would appreciate any info on pros and cons of both areas. I have read (via google) that Marylebone can be touristy, is this accurate? We are currently living in a 2b flat in the Marina district of SF, so we do deal with tourists but not as much as tourist centric places such as Fisherman's Warf. We really love where we live and would love to find a similar neighborhood in London. We would like to spend no more then 1500 GBP per week. We will be bringing our dog with us so areas near a park are preferred!!

Thanks in advance for the help!

Cheers!

At 1500GBP per week, you can basically live anywhere.  Like, anywhere.  Marylebone is nice but Mayfair is nicer and more expensive, less touristy, and more exclusive/private.  Personally I would not consider Marylebone very touristy.  I would choose Mayfair over Marylebone with that sort of budget.  Have you looked at Kensington?  Oh, I guess you're trying to stay on the Jubilee Line.

St John's Wood is on the Jublilee line and is a lovely neighbourhood. Not touristy and close to Primrose Hill & Regents Park.  You may also like the Little Venice area of Maida Vale, which is on the Bakerloo line.

Welcome to UKY....

I don't know about London and their areas just wanted to say hello...


Have you started the DEFRA process for your dogs?? From what I have read on here I think the process takes longer that 60 days??? Someone who has done it will come along and correct me if need be...
again welcome...

Hey! Thanks for the responses!

My research on Marylbone was limited to Google searches, so take the accuracy with a grain of salt.

I really was hoping to live in Kensington or Notting Hill Gate area, but I think it would be better for the hubby if our first place was on a train line that got him right to work without any changes.

Our current neighborhood is mainly 30 somethings couples with and without kids. We are a few blocks away from shops and cafes. I'm hoping to find the same proximity to shops iandn cafes in our place in  London.

I'm worried the Mayfair maybe to Posh and stuffy for us but that is based on nothing other then my own preconceived ideas! Please let me know if I am wrong!

Yes, we have started the DEFRA process. He will not be able to come until August  I will be commutng back and forth until he is good to go.

Thanks for the greetings!

Please let me know if I posted this in the wrong area.

Welcome to the forum .

At 1500GBP per week, you can basically live anywhere.  Like, anywhere.

Yep, you can definitely live anywhere on that budget... £1500 is like 6 months' rent for me !

Our current neighborhood is mainly 30 somethings couples with and without kids. We are a few blocks away from shops and cafes. I'm hoping to find the same proximity to shops iandn cafes in our place in  London.

Everything in Central London is very close together, so you're likely to only be a few minutes' walk (if that) from lots of shops and cafes. Marylebone, for example, is right near Oxford Street, which has over 300 shops and is Europe's busiest shopping street!

Everything in Central London is very close together, so you're likely to only be a few minutes' walk (if that) from lots of shops and cafes. Marylebone, for example, is right near Oxford Street, which has over 300 shops and is Europe's busiest shopping street!

I would like to be in Union Street, SF. better because there is less people there.
As you well know the Marina is a choice area even in the Bay Area so Oxford Street is going to be different for you. It should be exciting for you.
Americans are not very popular with many people in the UK this week because they bought out Cadburys Chocolate company. It has brought out the worst in some people.

Thanks for all the warm greetings!

I'm a little concerned about being close to Europe's busiest shopping street, we like to stay far away from giant masses of people, ie Union Square, Fisermans Warf etc. That could explain why we don't leave our neighborhood all that much 

Cabbury Eggs are so good!

There are lots of more private areas of Marylebone too.  Marylebone High Street is lovely and has high street chains, smaller shops, and restaurants.  One of my good friends used to live right near Baker Street tube stop and it was a lovely area.  One of my favorite veg restaurants, Eat and Two Veg, is in Marylebone too!

Mayfair will definitely be more posh than Marylebone (for the most part).  But it is quieter as well.  I don't think it will be too stuffy although you'd really have to check it out to see if it's to your liking.  I'd be wary of taking any place without seeing what's available first, to be honest.  Try to visit both in daytime and in the early evening so you can get a sense for what's open and how many people are about.

TBH, if it wasn't for the Jubilee line thing I'd say Hampstead. You sound like you want somewhere a bit more Bohemian than Mayfair  or most of the areas discussed so far. There's the massive heath for walking your dog, loads and loads of little cafes and lovely old pubs, cool shops and a nice arty, villagey vibe. 

My husband and I moved from New York City to London 6 years ago and have lived in Marylebone for nearly the entire 6 years.  I don't consider Marylebone touristy at all, although it definitely is a weekend destination for shopping and the fantastic Sunday Farmer's Market.  There is a great High Street with a nice grocery store, fish monger, cheese shop, butcher and every other kind of shop you can think of from Divertimenti which is a great kitchen shop, to Daunt which is lovely book shop, Rocco the chocolate shop, Providores New Zealand fusion restaurant, Cologne and Cotton for bed linens, the list goes on and on.  With 1500 GBP/week to spend you can certainly find something fantastic in Marylebone which is also near both Regent's Park and Hyde Park depending on what end you're on.

Mayfair isn't too far from Marylebone, a 10-15 minute walk max depending on where in Marylebone you are coming from and as mentioned it is certainly lovely, quieter and more private.  However, that quietness and privateness comes at a price.  You would pretty much have to walk to Marylebone to find groceries unless you do all your grocery shopping on-line.  There are a few upscale shops and some restaurants but you would struggle to find your everyday needs around the corner.  You should be concerned about Oxford Street.  It is packed with people 364 days a year.  I am not a big fan.

If, as you said you don't leave your San Francisco neighborhood then Marylebone is by far the better choice for you.

Eat and Two Veg is closed. 

Eat and Two Veg is closed. 

Nooooooooooooo!

Thanks for all the great responses!

Good to know that Marylebone has a good Farmers Market and other shopping. I had this awful vision that Oxford street was all that was there. Clearly, I was wrong!

The hubby is going to be put up in temp housing for at least a month, so I plan on doing some major neighborhood scouting. I'm trying to narrow the potential neighborhood list so I can spend more quality time in each potential neighborhood and really get a feel for them. I know I must sound crazy!

I really must be able to walk to a market and everyday essentials. So, I think that may mean Mayfair is out.

Glad it is okay to be scared of Oxford street!

You don't sound crazy at all.  You are doing the right thing and you are ahead of the game by deciding that you want to be on the Jubilee Line so your husband will avoid changing tube lines.  That was one of our requirements when looking for a place to live.  Having to worry whether more than 1 tube line is running can be really frustrating.  You've already narrowed down your search.  We too had temporary housing although for a little longer and I did the same thing, went all over the place getting a feel for neighborhoods.

As you're from California, excuse me for being presumptuous, but I can't believe that I forgot to mention that Marylebone High Street also has 2 wine shops. 

St. John's Wood is nice as well but you should be aware that there is an American School there so LOTS of Americans live there.