Moving from London - where to live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clarendon/Courthouse is right down the street from the Pentagon. It is a commuter belt as well--Metro, capitol bike share, etc. There are TONS of kids and families, playgrounds, parks-- even splash parks in the summer. There are 4th of July parades, etc. it is a quick trip to DC for museums, sightseeing--with my older kids we often bike.

He could be at the Pentagon in 3 minutes anytime of day.

Clarendon is not heading the same direction as rush hour traffic and there are many different routes to get there.

Oldtown up GW, 95, etc...is with rush hour traffic which can be a bitch. I used to do a reverse commute from Georgetown to Oldtown and would cringe at the standstill on the other side of GW. I love Oldtown, but it is also much farther away for DC sightseeing/museums, etc. so I'd pick Capitol Hill over Oldtown for these reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clarendon/Courthouse is right down the street from the Pentagon. It is a commuter belt as well--Metro, capitol bike share, etc. There are TONS of kids and families, playgrounds, parks-- even splash parks in the summer. There are 4th of July parades, etc. it is a quick trip to DC for museums, sightseeing--with my older kids we often bike.

He could be at the Pentagon in 3 minutes anytime of day.

Clarendon is not heading the same direction as rush hour traffic and there are many different routes to get there.

Oldtown up GW, 95, etc...is with rush hour traffic which can be a bitch. I used to do a reverse commute from Georgetown to Oldtown and would cringe at the standstill on the other side of GW. I love Oldtown, but it is also much farther away for DC sightseeing/museums, etc. so I'd pick Capitol Hill over Oldtown for these reasons.

"there' being the Pentagon. 2 miles away.

[Anonymous]

It's Old Town, not Oldtown. And the traffic is irrelevant if you take the Metro.

OP, I live in Arlington. I think if I were British and coming to the US for just a few years, I would rather live on Capitol Hill. I wouldn't live in NW DC at all, given the commute to the Pentagon. It is close to everything your visitors might like to see, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Old town Alexandria or the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington.

+1. Definitely one of these two areas -- very close to the Pentagon, and both are walkable, metro-friendly neighborhoods with lots of moms and young kids. I'd also look at the Hill because you don't need to worry about schools. It's also a fabulous neighborhood with lots of moms and babies/toddlers/kids.

[Anonymous]

I am going to second all the Capitol Hill suggestions here. It really does sound like what you are looking for.

But I really wanted to chime in and correct something regarding metro. Some posters have suggested that if you choose Capitol Hill that your husband will have to change trains when using the metro to get to the Pentagon and that just isn't the case. Both Eastern Market and Capitol South are on the blue/orange lines. The Pentagon is on the blue/yellow lines. Thus, if your husband just makes sure to get on a blue line train from the start, no train changes are necessary.

Some might argue that it is "faster" to switch to the yellow line, and looking at the metro map it certainly looks like it would take less time; however, once you consider the time it can take to change trains it is usually a somewhat insignificant difference and I always just opt to stay on the blue line when headed out that direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I should have said that as we're hoping (expecting!) to have lots of visitors from the UK, we definitely need at least 3 bedrooms. Safety is a definitely a priority, especially with a small child. I don't think I'd mind the suburbs, as long as I didn't have to drive everywhere and there was lots going on so that I could meet other Mums.

North Arlington is very safe, has some walkable areas and there are TONS of kids all over the place. You could try the areas near Westover, Lee Heights, Waverly Hills, cherrydale, and Waycroft-Woodlawn for a SFH that is more I urban, but still close to lots of things. I have seen houses for rent around $3500/month. Clarendon/Courthouse is the most lively area in N Arlington with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants, but also the most expensive. You might try the areas nearby - Lyon Park and Ashton Heights.

If you can find a rental in Lyon Park, there's the 42 bus straight to the Pentagon, and it's a very child-friendly area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I should have said that as we're hoping (expecting!) to have lots of visitors from the UK, we definitely need at least 3 bedrooms. Safety is a definitely a priority, especially with a small child. I don't think I'd mind the suburbs, as long as I didn't have to drive everywhere and there was lots going on so that I could meet other Mums.

Definitely look at North Arlington. You'll have more space, and that's the best commute situation to the Pentagon (lots of buses from certain areas specifically--check the ART bus maps), and you can find walkable areas around Ballston or Clarendon. There are lots of folks with their first babies in that general area, and lots of nice amenities in terms of parks and libraries and restaurants. You will likely still want a car, but you won't have to drive everywhere by any stretch.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all SO much for taking the time to reply. I really do appreciate it. It's rather daunting moving somewhere I've never even visited, but I feel much better prepared now thanks to all your advice. I will start looking at places online now. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to second all the Capitol Hill suggestions here. It really does sound like what you are looking for.

But I really wanted to chime in and correct something regarding metro. Some posters have suggested that if you choose Capitol Hill that your husband will have to change trains when using the metro to get to the Pentagon and that just isn't the case. Both Eastern Market and Capitol South are on the blue/orange lines. The Pentagon is on the blue/yellow lines. Thus, if your husband just makes sure to get on a blue line train from the start, no train changes are necessary.

Some might argue that it is "faster" to switch to the yellow line, and looking at the metro map it certainly looks like it would take less time; however, once you consider the time it can take to change trains it is usually a somewhat insignificant difference and I always just opt to stay on the blue line when headed out that direction.

Yes but taking the blue line from Capitol Hill doesn't make sense because he would have to go through the city and via arlington cemetery. It is much longer than changing at lefant to the yellow.

That said I think it is not a bad commute at loll. The train from king street is a straight shoot but overall I think that ride is longer.

And switching at Rosslyn from north arlington takes a long time for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I should have said that as we're hoping (expecting!) to have lots of visitors from the UK, we definitely need at least 3 bedrooms. Safety is a definitely a priority, especially with a small child. I don't think I'd mind the suburbs, as long as I didn't have to drive everywhere and there was lots going on so that I could meet other Mums.

Definitely look at North Arlington. You'll have more space, and that's the best commute situation to the Pentagon (lots of buses from certain areas specifically--check the ART bus maps), and you can find walkable areas around Ballston or Clarendon. There are lots of folks with their first babies in that general area, and lots of nice amenities in terms of parks and libraries and restaurants. You will likely still want a car, but you won't have to drive everywhere by any stretch.

North arlington is not the best commute. You have to change at Rosslyn. Cap hill or old town or just as good or better commute wise.

[Anonymous]

OP, once you get settled:

The Irish Channel, 500 H Street, near the Verizon Center, to watch early morning football(soccer), have a great breakfast, and feel a little like you are back in London.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am going to second all the Capitol Hill suggestions here. It really does sound like what you are looking for.

But I really wanted to chime in and correct something regarding metro. Some posters have suggested that if you choose Capitol Hill that your husband will have to change trains when using the metro to get to the Pentagon and that just isn't the case. Both Eastern Market and Capitol South are on the blue/orange lines. The Pentagon is on the blue/yellow lines. Thus, if your husband just makes sure to get on a blue line train from the start, no train changes are necessary.

Some might argue that it is "faster" to switch to the yellow line, and looking at the metro map it certainly looks like it would take less time; however, once you consider the time it can take to change trains it is usually a somewhat insignificant difference and I always just opt to stay on the blue line when headed out that direction.

Yes but taking the blue line from Capitol Hill doesn't make sense because he would have to go through the city and via arlington cemetery. It is much longer than changing at lefant to the yellow.

That said I think it is not a bad commute at loll. The train from king street is a straight shoot but overall I think that ride is longer.

And switching at Rosslyn from north arlington takes a long time for some reason.

I guess my point was just that you don't have to switch trains. For what it's worth, I don't think it is "much longer" to take the blue line form Capitol Hill versus switching at L'Enfant plaza. Staying on the blue line usually only takes about 20/22 minutes. If you switch at L'Enfant plaza and time things correctly, it will take about 15. I don't find that to be a significant difference so I usually choose not to switch. Of course, this is just personal preference but I really hate changing trains, especially during rush hour, so I tend to opt to staying on one line if possible when the difference between the two options is not significant.

[Anonymous]

Try to find a neighborhood that has SAHMs- several of my SAHM friends that live close in to avoid the commute for their husbands are having a tough time finding other SAHMs to hang with. It's all nannies at the parks and the nannies hang together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I should have said that as we're hoping (expecting!) to have lots of visitors from the UK, we definitely need at least 3 bedrooms. Safety is a definitely a priority, especially with a small child. I don't think I'd mind the suburbs, as long as I didn't have to drive everywhere and there was lots going on so that I could meet other Mums.

Definitely look at North Arlington. You'll have more space, and that's the best commute situation to the Pentagon (lots of buses from certain areas specifically--check the ART bus maps), and you can find walkable areas around Ballston or Clarendon. There are lots of folks with their first babies in that general area, and lots of nice amenities in terms of parks and libraries and restaurants. You will likely still want a car, but you won't have to drive everywhere by any stretch.

North arlington is not the best commute. You have to change at Rosslyn. Cap hill or old town or just as good or better commute wise.

Buses. Did you not see the comment about buses? That's the best way to get to the Pentagon from within Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I should have said that as we're hoping (expecting!) to have lots of visitors from the UK, we definitely need at least 3 bedrooms. Safety is a definitely a priority, especially with a small child. I don't think I'd mind the suburbs, as long as I didn't have to drive everywhere and there was lots going on so that I could meet other Mums.

Definitely look at North Arlington. You'll have more space, and that's the best commute situation to the Pentagon (lots of buses from certain areas specifically--check the ART bus maps), and you can find walkable areas around Ballston or Clarendon. There are lots of folks with their first babies in that general area, and lots of nice amenities in terms of parks and libraries and restaurants. You will likely still want a car, but you won't have to drive everywhere by any stretch.

North arlington is not the best commute. You have to change at Rosslyn. Cap hill or old town or just as good or better commute wise.

Buses. Did you not see the comment about buses? That's the best way to get to the Pentagon from within Arlington.

Good lord...I could walk there from Clarendon.