h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I will [not as] soon [as I would like] be moving to London (from Leeds) and am likely to be working in the centre - Islington/Kings Cross/Clerkenwell.

Clearly, it is unlikely that I will be able to live anywhere very near for anything under a small fortune but would greatly appreciate any advice on where to find rented accomodation as close as possible and roughly how much this is likely to set me back?

Suggest getting hold of a copy of Loot (www.loot.com) it's probably
the biggest guide to rented property in London.

A friend of mine is paying about £700 a month.
..but that said, she's a bit of a fussy fruit so you might well find stuff cheaper than this

£700 is probably passable for a one bedroom gaff - would probably pay up to £800.

What day does the Loot come out? - I presume that the cheapest places go on the day of issue.

It used to come out every day and probably still does. A lot of ad's are put in by letting agents though so even if the one you fancy is gone, it's not always a bad thing. They'll offer you alternatives.

Just watch out for the agents who ask for money before they'll even show you their list. It's illegal, ask them how they justify it and walk away. You don't have to pay money just to see places (or a list of places). You might have to pay money if you take a place from them, but that's different.

I would check out the local free ads (such as loot) for a flat share for the first, say, six months which would give you enough time to get a feel for what areas are good or bad and what rents are reasonable before commiting to your own place.

Hello.
I'm a Yorkshireman living in London for about 9 years now (with a 6 month break when I lived in Poole - bliss).
You may be able to find something affordable in Kings Cross, but you'd have to be mad to live there. Easily the sleasiest part of London.
I used to live in Clerkenwell, and it is absolutely great. The best part of London. Ever. Its just ridiculously expensive these days. Shoreditch and Hoxton are nearby, and are getting to be very Clerkenwell-esque these days, especially in price. Full of arty types who get paid too much money for being pretencious (sp?) and boring.
Islington is expensive now, if you are going to be working there, you could try further along the rail/tube lines that serve it:

The North London BR line (Silverlink) serves the north end of Upper Street (Islington's main road) at Highbury & Islington. It travels east to Hackney and Stratford, both of which are more affordable. Hackney used to be a nasty place to live (especially Homerton). Its now a vibrant area, and if you look carefully you could find something affordable and lovely. Around Victoria Park is lovely, or round Haggerston. Its only real downside is the lack of tube line, but that is set to change in the next five years, with the Hackney-Chelsea line and the East London Line extension. Prices will then shoot up and up and up.

Stratford is in my opinion not so nice, but there are still nice parts, and there is the Docklands Light Railway linking you to, umm, Docklands. Go west on the Silverlink and you find yourself in Gospel Oak. More expensive, but close to Hampstead and the Heath, and has quite a few bargains to be had.

The Northern Line serves the south end of Upper Street at Angel, and also Old Street which is by Clerkenwell. Go north and you find yourself in expensive suburbia (Golders Green, etc), but you might want to look in Archway and East Finchley - both have some nice properties and some good pubs. Go south on the Northern Line and you have to pass through the city, but south of the river good places to look are Tooting and South Wimbledon. Takes about 3/4 of an hour to get to Islington from S. Wimbledon at rush-hour. If your tastes are a little more upmarket, you can't go wrong with Balham, home to countless pubs and restaurants, a big park, and Arthur Smith (legendary comedian). Or Clapham (ditto, except Arthur Smith).
The Victoria line serves Islington at Highbury & Islington, and goes north to Finsbury Park (good fun, cheapish) and Walthamstow (not my favourite place in the world). South on the Victoria line is not alot worth mentioning, except maybe Brixton.

You could just forget living on a tube/BR line that serves your area and drive instead, but you'll go mad very quickly.

I think I'm rambling now, and my fingers hurt.

- Adam

Many Thanks

Another good place is the website run by Capital Radio - certainly that is where we advertise our flat when rooms come in. Then we put it in Loot.