Perhaps start by looking at what your net monthly pay will be after tax and student loan deductions and decide on that basis but generally better to be close to the office if you can manage it. Ultimately I was married (very rare for a trainee) and we lived in London underground zone 5 near my husband’s work out this way (NW London); but for those who are single they probably want to be a bit closer in. It took me about 35 mins on the tube or an hour door to door twice a day.

This is poor advice, simply listing all the negatives of living in the commuter belt with none of the positives (and vice versa with living “close to the office”).

For balance, here are some of the arguments in favour of basing yourself in the commuter belt as a trainee:

1) It’s more affordable – your money will go much further and you’ll have a nicer place, translating to a better quality of life.
2) The point above about being “extremely isolated” is nonsense. You will still go into London several days a week to be around colleagues and have post-work drinks etc.
3) The point about “all the amenities” being skewed towards families and older people is also unfair. There are fewer nightclubs and hipster craft beer bars serving soapy lager for £8 a pint. That’s the only substantial difference. And you can jump on a train into London on the weekend if you want to enjoy any of London’s cultural benefits (theatre, museums, nightclubs etc). You’d be getting the tube/an uber home even if you did live in London.
4) There is far less crime than in London. You will therefore be (and feel) safer. This also leads to a better quality of life.
5) Unless you get a flat in the City, you will have to commute via tube anyway. Some commuter belt towns have better connections to the City than certain London suburbs.

Thanks Tom Skinner. A Bosh.

Because it seriously limits socialising and career opportunities. Everyone who needs to rely on trains to commute always has to leave early, and is at the mercy of trains at all other times. When you’re a trainee, telling a partner who was expecting you to be in early to collate documents for a meeting that you were late due to a drivers’ strike or whatever is going on at that time is nigh on impossible.

3 bed for 2.5k is a non-starter in Wapping – maybe Shadwell but that’s a different game altogether

I got a very good deal (for London…) on rent for a 3-bed at 1900/month (split between us). If I recall, most 2-3 beds are between £2K – £2.5. I’d also recommend living with at least one other person as it can get quite lonely otherwise!

Best of luck!

But but Infernos

Lmao you goon, how else are you gotta get dat sweet sweet 2am booty call?

You’ll move at 1PQE to somewhere which isn’t an effective extension of university, but for the years of your TC you’ll be happy with the familiarity.