Moore Please! is a monthly Friday series where I can just chat about what’s been on my mind lately. From what I’ve been eyeing & buying, to personal updates, to weekend plans – you can read all about my current favorites here!
MOORE TRAVEL
If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I spent 10 days up in Yorkshire this month! It was such an incredible trip, and I was blown away by all of the interest you showed in where we went and what we did. I will definitely be putting together a few blog posts with our itinerary and all of our must-do activities. It was truly so nice to get away from London for such an extended period of time (something I didn’t foresee happening in 2020!) and I’m grateful that this trip was able to come to fruition. I’m meant to be heading to Scotland next Thursday for a long weekend, but with tighter restrictions hitting both London and Edinburgh, I’m still unsure if that trip will move forward. Scotland is due for updated measures on Monday, so I will definitely be keeping a close eye out for those.
MOORE MOVING
I’M MOVING ON TUESDAY!!! I truly can’t explain how freaking excited I am for this move. 2020 has ended up being a crazy year for me home wise, with a lot more moving around than I planned for. I started out in a flat share in Notting Hill, but when the pandemic hit we each decided to go our own way (everyone needs to look out for themselves this year!). I ended up at my current place in Richmond, which offered me a unique opportunity to save some money as well as spend some time outside of central London. I always knew this move wasn’t permanent, but couldn’t pass up the chance to save on rent for a few months. My time in Richmond has made me realize that I don’t need to live in central to have a wonderful London experience – in fact, after over two years of living in central London (and five years living in midtown NYC!), Richmond offered me a much needed city escape. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy living with more space and greenery until I had it.
I like to think that things have a way of working out the way they were meant to, and I truly believe that to be the case for me and this next move. Living in Richmond has made me realize that I don’t want to move back into central (at least not right now). After looking at what felt like hundreds of flats in West London, I found the one that’s perfect for me – and it’s close to where I’m living now so I’m already familiar with the neighborhood, which is a huge plus. It’s a one bedroom all to myself, and I couldn’t be more excited about this next chapter of my life. On stories a few weeks ago I asked you guys if you had any questions about moving within London, so I’m going to answer the most commonly asked ones below!
Q: What were your apartment must haves?
A: To be honest, I didn’t have too many “must haves” as I didn’t want to go into the search with a narrow mind. The things I knew I needed were a safe street and neighborhood, within a ten minute walk of a nice high street (with shops like Waitrose, Boots, cute cafes, etc), lots of natural light, and plenty of good storage space. Bonus point items for me (but not must haves) were a dishwasher, hardwood floors throughout, modern kitchen and bathroom, within ten minutes of a train, and private outdoor space. The flat I found actually has all of the above, which I’m still blown away by!!
Q: What website or app did you use for your search?
A: RightMove! It’s such a great site to use as a jumping off point, and there are lots of different filters you can apply so you only see the flats that fit all of your needs. I also liked to look directly on the estate agents websites as I found they sometimes have newer listings posted, but I found the flat that I’m moving into next week on RightMove!
Q: What neighborhoods did you look in? What neighborhoods do you recommend for an extended London stay?
A: I looked in West London – mainly in Chiswick, Richmond, St. Margarets, Hampton Wick, etc. I’m not moving too far from where I am currently! As for neighborhood recommendations, it’s hard for me to give them without knowing more about what you’re looking for, your budget, etc. I would say that if budget is not an issue, South Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, or Marylebone would be great places to look into for a temporary stay (as I would imagine you want to be very central!).
Q: Best moving/ packing tip?
A: I like to start my packing process with all of my breakables like glass picture frames, dishes, and decor. Packing those items requires more effort as you need to bubble wrap it and ensure it’s safely packed away to avoid damages. Clothes are the easiest to pack as you can just shove them in a box, suitcase, or even a bin bag if you run out of boxes (lol) which is much easier to do at the end of a long packing day. I definitely recommend starting with the hardest stuff when you have the most energy!
Q: How does the rent price in London compare to NYC?
A: I would say it’s slightly more affordable than NYC. My flat in Chelsea was in a trendy and affluent neighborhood (I would compare it to the West Village or SoHo), and we paid about the same price in rent as we did to live in Midtown NYC, with many more updated amenities in the London flat. I also have a friend that lives in Brooklyn and shares an apartment with one other girl, and she pays more than I do for my new place (and I’ve got a one bedroom to myself). I would by no means say that living in London is cheap, but in comparison to New York I’ve found it more affordable.
Be sure to follow along on Instagram Stories on Tuesday for all of the moving excitement!
MOORE VOTING
10 days until Election Day!! This is your friendly reminder to get out there and VOTE. Each and every one of our voices matter in this election, so triple check that you’re registered and go get that “I Voted” sticker.
MOORE BROWSING
- Ariana Grande dropped a new single today!
- Mercury is in retrograde right now – ugh. Read about what this might mean for you here.
- This gnocchi recipe comes highly recommend to me by a friend.
- Currently reading this list of items to get rid of asap to declutter before I start packing!
xx Mollie