paul*

Totally agree with you Jizzer. Check first. Where I am in zone 2 there are still planes, of course, but it's not that noticeable. Thing with SE22 is it is that a lot of it is not notably on any flight path, and the planes are still relatively high up, so it is quite an easy mistake to make. And perhaps other benefits of such a glorious area outweigh. But hey, to anyone who might think that living in London has to mean screeching plane noise every 90 seconds and you're some sort of pitiful hick if you think otherwise, well bravo you, you enlightened metro big global city dweller you. 🙂

I mean, the UK is largely a sh1th0le now, for the many reasons we know and love, but if SE22 is the best of it, well, I really need to think about again about ending my life... What hope, people? What hope? Muddy Stilettos is an amazing name though, come on.

This is a huge issue and you're not imagining anything, anxiety or otherwise. ED is bad in places but try Battersea, Putney, Barnes - Jesus C it's unbearable and yet these places are so expensive. Enjoy your garden? No chance! Having put up with this for many years, I suggest: earplugs (forget the wax ones, get anything by Howard Leight), double glazing, or move. For me the tipping point was one day feeling bewildered and delighted by the strange calm and then realising it was one of the rare days when the wind was blowing the other way over Heathrow. I would never live under or near a flight path again.

howdens are good and good quality enough, but get someone with an account for the discount, only for them to then rip you off of course cos that's what "trades" do, gawd blessem

An interesting site is flightradar24. You can see exactly what is passing over ED and how close. You can also do a timed replay of flights and speed it up. I looked at this recently when considering a move to SW London as the noise there is just insane. You could look up at the belly of a jet literally every 90 seconds or so. Today the flights are going into Heathrow in the reverse direction, as the poster above comments. Today has light winds from the east. 'Easterly operations' account for 30% of the year, Heathrow says (though it feels like less). City airport can be an influence, I haven't checked their routes but would agree with the knowledgeable comments above. However, the volume of flights from City is far lower compared to others. What you are probably experiencing is Heathrow, which may be surprising given it feels quite far from us. I often find the aircraft noise in Denmark Hill noticeable and annoying when in the garden. I was surprised to learn years ago it's the Heathrow landing path (rather than Gatwick) and at that point some of the various landing paths / spirals have converged, meaning many planes. Nobody would plan Heathrow like that now, you'd hope. If you want cheering up zoom out on the flightradar24 map and see how many planes are over Europe or the world at any point. It is incredible. There really is no hope for the planet...

Although I haven't used them them as I didn't start the project, HomeCert were very good to deal with when getting quotes. Very professional and the price was good. I would contact them again and certainly use them over some of the really substandard sparkies recommended elsewhere on this forum.

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I'd find that library a bit distracting and don't remember the seating being that great. But then again, I haven't written a best-seller (yet!). In an interview elsewhere she says: "I spent the months in Dulwich Library. It was one of the hottest summers on record. I stuck to the plastic seats, and ate lunch in the garden shade, swatting at wasps. In the afternoons, school students filed in, flirted across the tables, pretended to work."

The Gym in Peckham, near the entrance to the cinema. Is cheap and has a good freeweights area, though sometimes it's busy of course. I think they've offers on as many people are cancelling their membership at the moment, which is understandable.

Abergavenny is very nice, with some good walking in the hills around it. Monmouth also an option.

I have commuted to the City regularly on a 150cc motorbike and then a 500cc for about ten years. I sold the motorbike last year as it was just outside the ULEZ rules cutoff, otherwise I'd have kept it. I chose not to get another bike, which was a big decision. Lots of good advice above. I'd add. Parking - sounds like this hasn't really been explored. Public bays are always full around me in the City. For this reason alone I wouldn't rely on them. I had underground carparks at all my workplaces, if I didn't I wouldn't have commuted by bike. It's that simple. Security - scooters are very stealable. I wonder if you're parking it on the road at home whether good locks are enough. Weather - you'll need kit for cold and rain. It's more cost and it might be a hassle to store at work. All that said, it was a fast and reliable way to get to work and often enjoyable. Now that I'm back on buses and trains, which are relentlessly disappointing, I do miss the bike. Then again, factor in the many idiots on the road, including pedestrians, clueless/aggressive cyclists, drivers etc and I am quite glad not to be part of it. The pollution is also very in your face. I'd agree 50cc isn't enough. 125cc or 150cc is fine. If you're interested in a helmet, gloves, jacket etc at a very cheap rate then let me know via DM. Cheers

To pick up your point about commuting, I often get the train into London Bridge either just before or after 9am, and it is a world away from trying it at 8am. It's so much nicer and saner. Bear in mind that the buses from Myatts Field will seem a lot quicker than those coming over from ED. I guess it's another 15 minutes or so between them. Also the options through ED are way slimmer than Camberwell. Yes you can change bus but frankly who can be ar5ed some days. ;-) I'd echo the points about affordability above and the trade-off with distance to central London. That said, there's no doubt that ED is a nicer area than some of the alternatives pitched above. Which leaves you with a house size vs area trade-off.

I note what you say about the swim, but if you can do without it or go separately, perhaps on one of those free of charge days on Friday / weekend (I think), then I can't fault The Gym at Peckham. It's an absolute bargain price, spacious, with some good classes and staff (all personal trainers too), and it's never absurdly busy. I've been a member of many gyms, including some in the City. I was a member of Peckham Pulse for a few years and it wasn't great. It was dirty, the weights area was sparse, and there was a bad vibe about it. I went in the changing room once and almost every locker door had been kicked / ripped off. That must have taken some doing. This was a few years ago so maybe it's improved. I hear the ED centre is good (my colleague goes). The pool at Camberwell was dirty last time I went, visibly so. As a poster above says, Peckham, ED and the other Southwark gaffs are part of the same chain.