Recommendations on London Locations?

Good luck PickledSakura. Are you still working in Hoddesdon? If you are, it's probably easier to take the train from Tottenham Hale instead of Liverpool St. but you probably know this already. It's a quick 10 minutes from H&I.

Fingers crossed for you too! 

Good luck PickledSakura. Are you still working in Hoddesdon? If you are, it's probably easier to take the train from Tottenham Hale instead of Liverpool St. but you probably know this already. It's a quick 10 minutes from H&I.

Yes, thanks- I discovered Tottenham Hale quite quickly into the year of commuting, since the trains from both Liverpool Street and Stratford go through there.  So I get on at Tottenham Hale around 90% of the time.  I only go through Liverpool Street when I've actually left the house on time (and pretty much always stop at Krispy Kreme for a mocha as a reward).  After moving, I'll continue to use Tottenham Hale, but if there are delays/part closures/people under tracks/weather disruptions, there's still the other option of taking the overground to Stratford, then grabbing the train towards Bishops Stortford from there.

As someone who lived near Highbury Islington for a few years, it's not bad at ALL.  If you don't head UP Holloway Road, it is really a lovely area.  I swear.  Even up Holloway Road is getting better.  There's even a Waitrose. 

There are LOADs of pubs and shops and cafes that I still miss from my time up there.    If you are looking for a real "local" type put, try The Compton Arms, a five minute walk to H&I.  It's a dive, but a really fun local. 

I can give you tons of recommendations for the area if you want. 

Good luck.