020 8077 8968There are many things that you might want to take into consideration when you are planning your upcoming relocation to London. If you have never lived in the capital before, you might be a bit stunned by how big it actually is. London is among the largest cities in the world, and actually there is a very big difference exactly which part of it you are going to choose to settle down at. Let’s have a look at some of the main differences between the two main parts of the city – South London and North London respectively.
What they have in common
Well, the main thing that unites North London and South London is the fact that they are both part of the biggest, most populated, culturally diverse and financially important city in the United Kingdom, and in many respects – Europe and the world as well. As such you should know that London, no matter whether North or South, East or West, changes every one hundred meters. There are multi-cultural communities all across the capital, as well as big commercial, art and entertainment centres. No one can tell you things such as if you want to live in a bohemian neighbourhood, you need to go to South London, while all black-tie young professionals from the City live in the district to the North of the Thames. The truth is that such communities are to be found on both sides of the river.
One of the main problems that South London used to have up until relatively recently, was a reliable and well developed transportation network. As we all know, London is the first city in the world to have an underground railway system. The Tube started developing in the 1850s roughly, and at that time what we usually refer to as South London consisted mainly of small hamlets and rural areas. The North was much more urbanized, which led to the logical result that the majority of the initial Tube stations were built namely there. The same goes for the overground rail too. Today however, commuting from any point of the capital to the centre is very well accommodated and can be done in less than 30 minutes. So travelling would not be something that you would be very concerned about.
The differences
North London is the older part of the capital. If you are looking for old-school Victorian suburban developments you are more likely to find them namely there. Hence, what South London has to offer you are more modernized places. It all depends on what you are looking for and what your preferences are. Additionally, South London has a lot more open green spaces – parks, commons and gardens than the North, at least in those parts that are nearer to Inner London. That does not come to say that North London is not green at all, just that the green areas there are to be found near the periphery of the metropolitan area.
All in all, no one can tell you which half of the capital is better to live in. You would have to make that decision on your own.