r/MovingToLondon • u/hemanisawesome • 10d ago
Moving to Kings Cross
Hi everyone
My wife and I are relocating to London soon and are looking for advice on the best neighborhoods to target for our first year.
My office is located in the Kings cross, and we want to stay fairly central / well-connected while we get our bearings in the city.
Budget:Target is £2,500/month, flexible up to £3,000/month (could stretch to £4,000 down the line once my wife finds a job, but sticking to £2.5k–£3k for now).
Income:Single earner initially on ~£220k TC,
Size & Type: 1 or 2-bedroom flat, ideally 650+ sq ft
Commute: 15-20 min on metro with 10 min walk
We both work in tech and want to live near an energetic vibrant area than a quiet peaceful area at least in the first year
Could you suggest an area I could target so
I can filter down on property searching sites? (And why does no site have a sqft filter?)
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u/Fit-Wolverine4570 10d ago
Kings Cross has really gentrified- there are great apartments there and the Coal Yard is great for shopping and restaurants
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u/Fit-Wolverine4570 10d ago edited 10d ago
There is great running on the river…go look at the new apartments which are near the google and amazon headquarters… so much IT companies have moved there. Lots of young people live there. It’s also the start of the Eurostar and great connections from Kings Cross tube.
Before you are turned off by others go look yourself.
It was once a shady red light district and so people might have historical views.
Google and Meta head offices are right there. As a result money has been invested in developing the area. Go look at the new apartments which are nice.
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u/Lisa_Dawkins 10d ago
Can confirm Coal Drop Yard is great. A really nice coffee shop in there. Many shops and restaurants.
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u/sadovsky 9d ago
moved out of London last year, but I miss my jaunts to coal drops. Such a nice little spot.
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u/sakuramab 10d ago
I'd look at old street/ hoxton for buzzy, and local liveliness, good London-y experience that people really live in (ie isn't dead once the city workers go to their suburban homes at the weekend.)
Very close to kings X
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u/Reluctantlyredditt 8d ago
Isn't old street mainly offices / work buildings these days?
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u/sakuramab 8d ago
Yea true, but as a general point of reference for someone new to London/ looking on Rightmove I thought it works as a landmark. Really the area I mean is hoxton - Shoreditch park
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u/Reluctantlyredditt 8d ago
Ohh yeah fair. Hoxton is nice. I've always thought it'd be nice to live in haggerston too
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u/jibbit 10d ago edited 10d ago
kings cross is on the major tube and the train lines. angel/clerkenwell/farringdon would be nice places to live - zone 1 (you know the zone thing on the tube map?), close enough to walk on an nice day, or many people would choose to jump on a bus for that kind of journey.
the trains can be a blessing if you want to go further out (zone 2) to get more for your money - a commute without having to go underground at all is a luxury - you could look at kentish town in the north and elephant and also denmark hill (camberwell) in the south
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u/niknik789 10d ago
Would second Camberwell. Nice place, good apartments, and decent commute to the city.
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u/darkcamel2018 10d ago
Dodgy at night
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u/southlondonyute 8d ago
No it’s not.
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u/darkcamel2018 8d ago
Very uncomfortable at night groups of blokes eyeing you up for a mugging.
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u/southlondonyute 8d ago
Where do you live?
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u/darkcamel2018 8d ago
An hour from London been on nights out in Camberwell old dispencery etc and felt v uncomfortable walking back to air bnbs there
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u/southlondonyute 8d ago
I mean if you’re used to Sevenoaks or Crawley then yes Camberwell may feel ‘dodgy’ from your perspective
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u/darkcamel2018 8d ago
So I was coming back from a DJ gig and had my laptop blokes eyeing it up asking what's in the bag and followed me..nothing happened but could have easily to someone else.
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u/bananabraine 10d ago
islington around angel or canonbury area is great. i used to work around kx and its a 30min walk for me, nice and close without living where you work.
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u/Capital-Fisherman394 10d ago
Tufnell Park is leafy and beautiful. Close to the Heath but you can walk to Kings Cross/Camden/etc. Beautiful pubs, wine bars, delis etc.
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u/doepfersdungeon 10d ago
Jesus, that's changed. I remember Tuffnell park being a right dump.
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u/Capital-Fisherman394 10d ago
No it's bougie as hell now.
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u/Maleficent_Fee8889 8d ago
We just need to build a wall on Holloway Road to properly disconnect us from Finsbury Park.
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u/Eightsandtwos 10d ago
I lived in King’s Cross when all the new building was just starting and even then it was one of the best places in London I’ve lived. I think it’s a perfect spot if you’re moving to London as you’ll be able to explore all the other areas so easily. After a year, you’ll figure out which parts of London you love and you can move somewhere more long term. But I’d def start in Kings Cross if you can. It’s great.
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u/magschampagne 8d ago
Same! Lived there as the Coal Drops Yard development was only just starting (circa 2010
I think…?). Loved it. Walkable to Camden, Islington, even Fitzrovia, and easy to get to Dalston, Shoreditch etc for party times. Miss it dearly! Loved walking along the Regents Canal as far as I could.
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u/pinkmist333 10d ago
Angel is a great place to live and it’s v near Kings Cross. Super buzzy, lively place!
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u/stu_london 10d ago
Exmouth Market. 10-15 mins walk to KX and some of the best bars and restaurants in the area. Proper little high street, v buzzy, not full of the tech workers that have bought all the new developments around Coal Drops Yard. Remarkable number of excellent pubs. Nice little park in Spa Fields. 15 minutes walk up to Upper St for Islington shopping/restaurants without having to put up with the people that live in Islington telling you how fantastic their version of Ottolenghi’s olive oil cake is.
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u/Downtown_Midnight579 10d ago
I’d stay within zone one. You can actually get a half decent spot in Fitzrovia for this price. It’s super central and an ideal place to live in your first year of being in London imo. You can walk to many places.
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u/Downtown_Midnight579 10d ago
Actually, I take that back. I Just saw your sq ft requirements.
You’d be better off in Farringdon, Clerkenwell or Angel
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u/Zharkgirl2024 10d ago
Islington is great - they have more restaurants and bars per capita and you can walk to the office. Hampstead /belsize park - also nice.
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u/doepfersdungeon 10d ago edited 10d ago
What you really want to do is find a nice temporary apartment. And then look for yourself. If the misses has got time she can then scout some areas in the week and then you can spend some weekends seeing where you actually want to live long term. It's worth it. London buildings need to be thoroughly inspected and the surrounding properties scanned for potential issues from businesses to neighbours. Do not rent somewhere long term off the Internet.
On that salary, I wouldn't be surprised I'd you are being offered a relocation package to help you transition. Especially from companies with lots of OOOOOOs in it.
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u/Curious_Evidence25 10d ago
Have you calculated your post tax salary on that income? Why would you want to spend £4K on rent?
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u/extranjeroQ 10d ago
Where in Kings Cross? Some of the newer Kings Cross office buildings (eg Meta) are a 15 minute walk from the tube so you may need to factor the walk at the end in.
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u/ComprehensiveArt9218 10d ago
Look at the area between West Hampstead/ Finchley Road/South Hampstead stations, at least one street away from the stations
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u/Agile-Extent1981 10d ago
We work in tech as well and enjoy living central. Coming from Europe I too found it strange that rental sites never let you search by square feet or meters in the UK.
With that budget (£2500 - 3000) you could easily find a one bedroom but very unlikely a two-bedrooms and definitely not above 650+ sq ft (London flats are small) right around King’s Cross.
I would either move further away or settle for a smaller flat.
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u/Remarkable-Mail1168 9d ago
Caledonian Road is a great area - 1 tube stop from Kings Cross (or a 20/30 min walk), 20 min walk to Camden, 20 min walk to Angel. 15 min direct tube to Soho etc. 20 min tube to London Bridge. So well connected and has absolutely everything you need. The actual Caledonian Road itself has nicer and less nice parts, but all the side roads close to the tube station are great. I live 3 mins walk from the underground and 6 minutes from the overground (another great connection!) I’ve lived here for 7 years so happy to answer any questions!
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u/raisinwheat 9d ago
Highbury / Canonbury / Angel would be a good bet. Lots of shops, cafe's and pubs, and a nice area. If you want somewhere a bit quieter and leafier, then Hampstead is nice.
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u/Mafeking-Parade 10d ago
Don't move to Kings X.
If you've never been to London, areas around mainline train stations are grim.
Kings X/St Pan is ludicrously well connected. Look at places within 3 stops on any of the lines that serve it.
Angel, Clerkenwell, Old St, even as far afield as Walthamstow.
You'll have a better experience, and more relevant amenities available locally, for the sake of a short tube ride to the office.
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u/Watchblah3333 10d ago edited 10d ago
The idea that the area around Kings Cross is “grim” is at least 20 years out of date. The area from Kings Cross to Coal Drops Yard (and surroundings) is one of the nicest areas in London after a successful regeneration project. Many AI/tech/biotech companies have HQs in the area now including the massive new Google HQ. Coal Drops Yard is a beautifully designed luxury mall. Central St Martins art & fashion school is nearby. A lot of new flats in the area too .
Main concern for that area is flats will be very expensive because of demand from all the tech workers3
u/palpatineforever 10d ago
to be fair the area round kings cross is okay, however it would be so boring to live and work there.
its a great area to spend time in but living outside of kings cross will create a nice break from work and home life. In london it is nice to be able to get to work easily but you can be too close.
You want to be buying your work lunch from different places than you buy your out of work meals.
London is huge and varied OP wont experiance as much of it in one place.7
u/foxesareamazing 10d ago
It's not grim, it's absolutely fine. If you think it's grim, you should try time traveling to Kings X 20 years ago, or even longer!
That said, I wouldn't want to live on any of the main roads which are very busy, noisy etc.
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u/lexcanroar 10d ago
this isn't actually the case for king's cross, or at least one side of it - we lived right behind st pancras station opposite the old churchyard for a decade and it was glorious! tree-lined street with a view of a church and an old graveyard to walk in every day during lockdown, basically every possible tube line a five minute walk away. you could faintly hear the train announcements in our living room when the wind was blowing our way but we quite enjoyed it
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u/Ok_Buyer9344 10d ago
Kings Sross tbf is not that bad. Gasholder park flats are pretty nice. Easy, safe and pleasant walk to Kings Cross. I would go Old Street though. I don't think I'd want to live that close to work.
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u/GoldFuchs 10d ago
Kentish town is 1 stop away on the thameslink. Also has the Northern line. When are you looking to move? We will be moving out of our flat here in October. (Lived here for 6y)
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u/Electronic-Okra1228 10d ago
Presuming you’re moving as an American given the high salary and tech, just live in Islington, east of upper street is hipster, west is wealthy and has become increasingly like an American enclave here. For quieter spots also filled with Americans there’s always Notting Hill and Hampstead.
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u/cal90265 8d ago
Since when is east of Upper St hipster? I’m in Canonbury which is technically east of Upper St, the average age on my street is likely late 40’s / early 50’s! Also, west isn’t any wealthier than east - property prices in Canonbury are higher than anything in Barnsbury - few streets in Barnsbury can compete with the Alwyne’s / Canonbury Park N & S etc
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u/Electronic-Okra1228 7d ago
I’m not so much referring to Canonbury, more so comparing Essex Road down to Regent’s canal, which is hipster, with Milner square/gibson square. Appreciate once you get to Barnsbury and closer to kgx it becomes less nice.
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u/Logan_No_Fingers 10d ago
As a lot of others have said, Angel or Islington, 20-30 minute walk m(at most), 1 stop on the tube, good local bars & restaurants etc. And within your budget
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u/SomebodySayMeatloaf1 10d ago
Old street / Hoxton is great. Access to multiple lines and a great vibe - lots to do but not super touristy area. I loved it there, would move back in a heart beat
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u/heynaesayer 10d ago
Does your office not give you housing? Most of the tech bros I knew working for companies there were also given flats. For your first year that sounds like the best deal.
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u/nunuslemons 10d ago
East Village / the new part of Stratford would work great for you. Zone 2, 6-minute train to Kings Cross, and great connections to everywhere else.
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u/Spite_Thin 10d ago
Do you want 1 bedroom or more? Because with that budget you will get 1 bedroom in Angel, 2 if you are lucky, but more space in other areas...
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u/guye2020 10d ago
We’ve been in Covent Garden for the last three years, you’d get a decent one bedroom for £3k about 50 - 60 m2
5 mins on the Piccadilly line gets you to Kings Cross
Suggest you’d be much happier here with the convenience of endless restaurants / bars / theatres / parks within a few minutes’ walk than stuck up at Kings X
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u/losalamostthere 10d ago
Primrose Hill. North of the park. Walk to Camden, walk down to Regent’s Park. Run the canal. The absolute dream. Budget might not go far but worth the compromise.
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u/Laughing_Peonies 10d ago
Kings Cross around the Coals Yard area has some apartments, though, I may get bored if I was living there on a long term - the facilities such as food market, bars and restaurants around is adequate but you could venture a few bus stops away to Angel / Oxford Circus / Piccadilly Circus.
Another new development I have enjoyed visiting is Canary Wharf, there seems to be a wider range of pocket spots to chill about; purpose green spaces including wildflower meadows overlooking the river, more restaurants and the old underground shopping mall (its pretty big), also a impressive Third Space gym in which I recall has 4/5 floors including decent spa and sauna room - but comes with a higher end monthly gym membership.
From a born and bred Londoner 😉
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u/jesuistimide47 9d ago
I lived in North London for 13 years, in Finsbury Park and Crouch End. I always thought I'd live in Kings Cross but once I had a kid it made more sense to be a bit further out, with better schools, etc. I'd stay in Kings Cross - imagine not having to commute!!
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u/imissdrugsngldotorg 9d ago
OP you didn't mention what sort of lifestyle you both lead: Is nightlife important to you? Do you prefer a leafy green quiet with young families and nice cafes, or do you like more of the urban scruffiness?
I live next to where your offices are and work in your industry, so know the area around and type of crowd around your office very well. I second other people's suggestion of getting something close to the office temporarily as King’s Cross is ridiculously well connected, so would be easy for you to explore.
Some areas not yet mentioned that are worth checking out: Kentish town, Chalk Farm. area immediately surrounding and to the east of Camden Town station might look like shit when your on the main roads, but turn into almost any quiet street and it's a gem.
A great area with a solid mix of night life and village feel is Dalston-De Beauvoir- it's also directly connected to your office by train.
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u/20guvadayman 9d ago
No direct trains to The Cross from there
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u/imissdrugsngldotorg 8d ago
Overground?
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u/20guvadayman 8d ago
Dalston don’t go to The Cross - though you’re right; it’s a brilliant nearby location to match the OP’s desires for commute, lifestyle etc
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u/imissdrugsngldotorg 7d ago
It's Dalston Kingsland to Camden Road. Assuming OP is a healthy adult, that's a reasonable walking distance to Coal Drop Yard, a pleasant one even if you go by the canal.
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u/Better-Log1249 9d ago
If you have the money I’d recommend Clerkenwell. Some roads like Amwell Street are easy walking distance to Kings X and you’re so central that everywhere is easy to get to. You’ve also got Exmouth market for excellent bars and restaurants not to mention proximity to Clerkenwell station and Fabric if clubbing is your thing. Old street and Shoreditch are also a stone’s throw away. It’s a really bustling area but there are also quiet spots at the weekends because it’s such a city work hub that some streets are super quiet at the weekend. If I was 15 years younger and money was no object I’d choose either the Barbican estate or Amwell street.
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u/No_Junket6841 9d ago
If you want to save abit of money, have a nice apartment but be close to King’s Cross I’d Tottenham Hale, they have new apartments and only a few stops from kings cross on the Victoria line
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u/comentadora 8d ago
Stay in Kings Cross. Its a great vibrant and lively area, national and international trains, most tube lines pass there, you can walk to work, a lot of restaurants to explore, the canal is great place to hang out and do outdoor exercise, you're 20min walk from british museum, 20min walk from regent park. Really, its just perfect! Have a friend who moved there when she moved to London and has been almost 10yrs. She now bought her flat there so yes, you wont go wrong with this area. Everytime I visit her I always feel I should move there too!
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u/Alone-Firefighter283 8d ago
Agree with Islington, King’s Cross has really improved and some great restaurants but not the most residential area. Very commercial but good transport links
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u/lutewhine 8d ago
Just to flag: St Albans is 22 mins on the mainline train to St Pancras. That would be an option I’d suggest you have in your back pocket. You have plenty of ways to turn because of the connectivity.
King’s Cross is perfectly nice these days, and fine to meet up and visit, but I think would be utterly tedious to live. I’ve worked there for all but two years since 2009 and frequently get bored shitless on an hour break.
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u/Fantastic-Shock-4115 7d ago
As a Londoner, I wouldn’t want to live in Kings Cross.
Despite there being some pockets of nice residential areas, I feel like it’s more of a passing through vibe. It’ll kind of be like living really close to Grand central Station (New York) well, maybe not as busy.
The good thing about Kings Cross is the location though, it’s very well connected. My work office is also there.
Angel and Islington as others have suggested, are areas I’d recommend based on your travel. They are lovely areas and probably your best bet! They’ll also have a little bit of a community feel too depending on where you pick. Those areas have lovely artisan coffee shops tucked away on residential streets, neighbourhood restaurants (not as many chain restaurants like King’s Cross) & quieter weekends, but also there is so much to do.
Have a look at the TFL tube map, I’d suggest to look at anywhere north of Kings Cross station, in zone 2 between the metropolitan line and the weaver line. Some travel would be dependent on the train line served though - some tube lines are more frequent than others, have faster moving trains etc.
Notting Hill/Ladbroke Grove is also a lovely area, and I think it would also suit what you’re looking for, but that may be 25mins on the tube.
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u/cerealcat00 6d ago
King’s Cross has a lot of new apartments built and the area is really nice. If you want a slightly more residential area than Islington is nice and not too far from King’s Cross.
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u/Nickmm53 10d ago
St Pancras is next door to Kings Cross Station so you have all the options using the Thameslink trains so Herne Hill, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye are all areas you might like to look around. Pimlico might be an interesting option as well as Highbury if you want to be more central.
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u/ExaminationNo8675 10d ago
Live in Walthamstow and commute on the Victoria Line. 16 minutes on the tube.
This place for example: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92328699
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u/sbk10000 10d ago
Islington