Many of the cheap rooms London has to offer are above shops. But what is it actually like living above a pet store or a taxi service?
We did a guess and decided that over 4 million people in the UK live in a flat above commercial property. That’s a lot of people (maybe). For many this is a glamourous status symbol because it allows them to have this conversation with people at house parties:
“Where do you live?”
“Clapham, what about you?”
“Dalston Kingsland Road.”
“Oh cool, where abouts?”
“No, like literally on the road. Above Birthdays.”
“Oh! Birthdays is cool.”
“Yeah they have Funktion 1s.”
Guaranteed sex, every time.
For many though, it’s a crappy situation, where loud noises, bad smells and horrid people mar every waking moment. Here’s where to live if you want the glory, but none of the noise.
Bakery
Pros:
Wake up to the smell of freshly made bread. Closes early. Sober (and usually smart) clientele.
Cons:
If you need a room to rent in London, flats above bakeries are hard to find. This isn’t Paris where every other shop is selling delicious bread!
Leyland SDM
Pros: In the time it takes for one of your friends in a room to rent in London to say “I will hang my new Katie Scott when I can be bothered to buy hanging nails,” you will have popped down stairs, bought the nail and done it yourself. I.e., you’re gonna have an insanely well decorated flat.
Cons: Blokey types hanging around outside. Staff mocking you for not knowing the difference between bayonet and screw lightbulb.
Card Factory
Pros: Never again will you forget to take a card to a birthday dinner, house warming or virginity-losing soiree!
Cons: Never again could anyone forget to bring a card to your birthday party, house warming or virginity-losing soiree… Rendering all cards received a little more meaningless than usual.
Jazz Café
Pros: Evenings sound tracked by smooth Etta James covers. Whiff of culture. You’ll only be a flight of stairs away from a copy of The Dalstonist magazine. Will definitely catch Lady Gaga’s next surprise gig.
Cons: The whiff of culture is actually cigarette smoke. Constantly being challenged to guitar battles by up’n’coming blues musicians.
Vintage Clothes Store
Pros: If you’re after clothes on the cheap, life above vintage shops is perfect because you can get the good stuff before anyone else buys it!
Cons: probably have to live in Camden. Smell of old leather. All the good vintage is gone.
Above a shop, below an aquarium or even just a nice semi-detached house, if you need a room to rent in London, try EasyRoomate’s room search today!
