Henley or Soho?

My husbands company is transferring the two of us from Orange County, California to London. We have the option of going to Henley oh Soho areas. Which is better place to live?

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All depends on what you are after.

Soho is bang smack in the center of London with everything at your feet, as you would expect. Soho is quiet cosmopolitan with a pub, coffee shop every few feet, and plenty of restaurants. Soho is also London's redlight district, but no way like that of Amsterdam. You could walk through Soho and not really notice.

Henley is someway out and quiet, and is home to some very very rich people and still by the river. There are plenty of fine restaurants and quiet a few shops.

My choice would be Henley but expect a quieter life. Saying that you would probably make more friends there. London is very busy and not as friendly, people don't talk to each other.

I have a saying........you can feel so lonely in a crowd. ( you know what i mean)

x x x x

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That is very helpful! Any great saying by the way... I'm originally from the country, a small town and I feel Henley would be a better fit. I guess my only concern with it being further away is that we are not bringing a car. Is is still easy to get to the Soho area, or anywhere else for that matter?

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Hi and welcome :wave:


Given the choice of those two I'd probably move to Henley. It's a really typically English town and you'll feel at home if you're from a small town/village originally.

The only problem with Henley is that the train to Paddington takes just over an hour and involves a train change.

Soho is an amazing place but living there would be a nightmare in my opinion.

Do you have any other options or is it just those two?

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You've pretty much been given two opposites to choose from! How funny..wonder why those were your options.

I'd say if you're family-orientated/like the country/a bit older you'd be better in Henley, if you're still in the going out every night, want to experience the cosmopolitan city, etc.. then it's Soho. Also depends on how long you'll be here for I would have thought. I'd say it would be great fun to live in Soho for a few months, but beyond that it would be a nightmare.

Hope you enjoy life here :)

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These are very helpful answers! I guess his company (an architecture firm) likes the area so much that they have two offices and he may be put on a project at either location. I am definitely a quieter person.. I tend to be a bore. I would much rather curl up and read a good book or have a good conversation in a coffee shop then be out at the pubs- I'm nervous I won't meet people very easily. That said we are only going to be in London for 6 months so it may do me some good to get out of my comfort zone and live the city life for a while. I need to just take it as it comes and enjoy the experience!

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Looks like we will be in Soho. Does London have an respectable jobs that pay "under the table" or cash? Apparently if I work in London and then return to the US in 8 months it will be a tax nightmare?

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I think the best you can find that pays in cash is perhaps bar work. But most, if not all, 'repectable' companies like to pay straight into your account. Which is a pain for the whole tax thing, I know. Do you not have to pay a certain amount of tax for the time you are in the country though? If I were you I'd rather take one of the non cash in hand jobs, because it's more likely to be a bit nicer or better job, and then at least when you do get the tax back, you have a nice little lump sum :)

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Good thinking! Ok so what about relaxing? I mentioned I'm a country girl, how do I get away from the hustle of the city life?

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jump on a train to somewhere nice? That's what's good about London, train lines to anything u want and it doesn't take long. Even Brighton is only about an hour away :) it'll be winter so maybe seeing parks is gonna be cold, but there's plenty of places on London's outskirts to visit :) what kind of thing do u like to do or are interested in checking out?

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If you fancy a day trip or weekend away, go to Bath - its a beautiful, Roman city and only about 1.5 hours out of London Paddington station. Really worth going to see the Royal Crescent there and the Pump rooms & Roman Baths. :)

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