Let's say I was living in London for 2-3 months, starting in a couple weeks

[Zealot]

I still think Canada Water would be more central than Greenwhich or New Cross/New Cross Gate.
In fact, not all areas of Greenwhich are good to comute.
Might be better than Woolwhich thought.
(BTW I used to live in Eltham)

[MikeH]

Anything in Zone 1/inside the Circle line is central and very well connected. Canary Wharf is a bit further out but it depends where you live really.

Average salaries in London

http://www.payscale.com/research/UK/City=London/Salary

http://www.canuckabroad.com/forums/average-salaries-in-the-uk-and-london-vt1405.html

According to an article in today's issue of the Evening Standard:

- the average salary in the UK is £28,941

- the average salary in London is £41,759

- the average salary in the City of London is £73,587

source: Office of National Statistics

This comes less than a week after another article was published regarding London's new status as the most expensive city in the world to live in.

If only I could work in London and live in Toronto.

Much higher than the £23,000 someone pulled out of their arse anyway. That is average salary, not average earnings which is an important distinction.

[ColdPhoenix]

Canary Wharf's a good location, there are plenty of corporate apartments within short walking distance (and you'll almost certainly be put up in one of those) so if you want to save money then you won't need to use transport. There are shops for buying almost anything you'd need for the time you're there and restaurants if you don't feel like cooking.

In reality you'll be bored if you just spend your time around the wharf, if you're not a big drinker then the only entertainment will be the cinema or sitting in your flat (which will be nice but have limited channels on the tv).

If you're getting a payrise and a food allowance then even with the occasional travelcard and a bit of touristy stuff at the weekends you'll end up in profit as long as you don't eat in restaurants every night or start a coke habit...

While here why not arrange some Wharf-based drinks?!

[Zealot]

Originally posted by MikeH
Much higher than the £23,000 someone pulled out of their arse anyway. That is average salary, not average earnings which is an important distinction.

That was me, it seems that my figures were from 2002/2003.

Impressive "inflation" though.

[ColdPhoenix]

£23k would have been about right for the UK average then but well below the London average I'd imagine. That's around 3%, not too shocking!

The figures are pleasing though, I've gone from below the UK average when I started work in 2002 to above the London average! Nice!

[Krill]

Bastard.

[ColdPhoenix]

When I was a student I would have thought the same but it doesn't seem that much when you've got it. Especially when you've got a wedding to pay for. Thank god for credit cards...

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by MOBIUS

Don't forget he's only thinking about himself - heaven forgive he would think about the rest of the commuting population...

[cleese]Rest of the commuting population?[/cleese]

Let's see now - all tubes and most buses not coming from the East / SE point to Central London (zone 1, as Mike rightly says) and not to CW. Most folks getting trains in from out-of-town will arrive at on of the mainline stations in/around zone 1.

I find the whole post of his rather snobby/elitist when it comes to CW - I bet Cort only enters London postcodes with an 'E' in under extreme protest and would most likely quarantine everything south of the river if he could...

Also, it is not soulless - it is merely modern and far less annoying, dirty and crowded than the city. Not to mention the fact that it was developed by Canadians, so Asher will feel at right at home there.

I'm surprised you took my post that seriously. Apologies for omitting the message icon though. As for the E numbers - I worked in Shoreditch for 8 years, and even lived in Walthamstow once. Too bad Asher's best mate Molly isn't here to extol the virtues of East London.

I'd already said that Asher would like CW though, and I stand by my 'soul-less' opinion. Most people I know, including people that have worked there, agree with that. Compared to parts of town that are dripping with history (including the City, of course), the sterile glass-and-concrete is missing something. I understand that Asher is not interested in the history, so CW would suit him well.

In fact, The City only bucked up its ideas when CW started living up to its potential...

And the West End, what a ****ing hell hole to work in - gaaaah!

That's why Holborn is great. The West End is a bit busy with tourists, and the City too full of Financial types (present company excluded, of course). Between the two, and near to the glorious leafy squares of beautiful Bloomsbury is best IMO.

Last year, before I joined, the company I work for were based out east, and everyone there from before much prefers the current location.

To me, the perfect life in London would be living in Greenwich and working in CW - I almost achieved that personal nirvana as New Cross is only down the road from Greenwich...

Shut it Provost!

Greenwich is a good spot - as is Blackheath. New Cross and Deptford - erm, less so.

[Cort Haus]

- the average salary in London is £41,759

This surprises me, seeming rather high, and perhaps it is skewed by some really huge top-end incomes. I'd like to see the 'average' with the top and bottom 10% excluded from the figures.

[Krill]

Originally posted by ColdPhoenix
When I was a student I would have thought the same but it doesn't seem that much when you've got it. Especially when you've got a wedding to pay for. Thank god for credit cards...

All I want is to finish my degree, get a PGCE and teach. Maybe work in a path lab for a bit and do the PGCE part time if there is a decent job going, then teach for a few years.

The again, considering the size of my student loans...I probably should get the PGCE, bank the money and move to Canada and get a job there.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Zealot


Yes, for some odd reason I missed the 'h', so what???

And I find it incredibly absurd for you to say that Canary Wharf is a few miles to the east of the centre and still consider the West End central. I already worked in the West End, and coming from the South East I can tell you that the West End is friggin' NOT central! Could be worse? Oh yes, but if it's outside the square mile, then I find Canary Wharf to be very well located.

I live south east of London and my trains terminate at Victoria, Charing Cross, Blackfriars or Cannon Street. Isle of Dogs by comparison is a pain to get to.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Zealot
And I find it incredibly absurd for you to say that Canary Wharf is a few miles to the east of the centre and still consider the West End central.

If you don't consider central London to be central then nothing I can say will cure you.

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Dauphin
I live south east of London and my trains terminate at Victoria, Charing Cross, Blackfriars or Cannon Street. Isle of Dogs by comparison is a pain to get to.

Me, for comparison, going from Eltham to Blackfriars or Canary Wharf were pretty much the same thing, I'd have to change at London Bridge and get another train to BF or the underground to CW. Not a big deal.

[ColdPhoenix]

Originally posted by Krill


All I want is to finish my degree, get a PGCE and teach. Maybe work in a path lab for a bit and do the PGCE part time if there is a decent job going, then teach for a few years.

The again, considering the size of my student loans...I probably should get the PGCE, bank the money and move to Canada and get a job there.

Tell me about it... I'm still paying my loan off, the additional hardship loans seemed like such a good idea at uni even if I did just spend them on beer. I should be making my last payment in January so expect a good 7 years paying it back.

Try and get a job in an independant school if you can. I've got a couple of friends who work in one in the City and they earn decent enough money. The kids tend to treat the teachers with more respect too.

[ColdPhoenix]

Originally posted by Cort Haus

That's why Holborn is great. The West End is a bit busy with tourists, and the City too full of Financial types (present company excluded, of course). Between the two, and near to the glorious leafy squares of beautiful Bloomsbury is best IMO.

Holborn is a great location. My first year halls were there and I could walk most places I wanted to go!