Where's best place to live in Los Angeles (LA), Silver Lake or Manhattan Beach? And why? (Bayview: lease, house)

[Sapphire Dragon]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Almost anyone would choose Manhattan Beach over the Silver Lake district, though the Silver Lake district does attract a certain type of person and this is not bad.

Now, for all the reading you are doing and the lists of the "best this and "best that, these studies are only as good as the day they are published and change at the drop of a pin. I know, we happen to live in a region of the USA, most people would not consider the best of anything and yet, every year, at least one of the publications you are reading has us rated among the best in several fields. It is great for the community and gives a certain amount of bragging rights, but we know that is all they are good for. So don't put too much into what you read.

Now, the other issue of course, if you are seriously thinking of moving to one of the areas you are asking about take your life style and budget into consideration. If you are just posting for fun, good luck with what you are reading. We all have our own ideas about good versus bad or best verses almost best.

Noticed OP is also asking about London: wonder why the curiosity?

I'm also thinking of a place in London and Stockholm as well as Los Angeles so if you have anything to add for those places please feel free.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Sapphire Dragon

I'm also thinking of a place in London and Stockholm as well as Los Angeles so if you have anything to add for those places please feel free.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/london/

[Kevroqs]

This is like asking "Would you rather live in a slum or an upscale beach town?"

[pwright1]

If I had to pick one for myself it would definitely be Silverlake. I prefer big city urban living. I like living close to other urban areas. I also like areas with old interesting architecture and a more diverse population. Things like public transportation, cultural amenities, nice parks and hiking trails are a must. Never been a fan of suburban South Bay beach communities to live. Fun to visit. Too much driving. Lots of 60s, 70s or uninteresting newer architecture. Also shocked that many Manhattan Beach residents knew nothing about the history of Bruce's Beach.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Sapphire Dragon

I'm also thinking of a place in London and Stockholm as well as Los Angeles so if you have anything to add for those places please feel free.

Wow, sorry I upset you so much!!!! But obviously I did.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Kevroqs

This is like asking "Would you rather live in a slum or an upscale beach town?"

Says the Nevadan who's probably not set foot in California in years.

Big business gentrification in Silver Lake:
https://www.theeastsiderla.com/easts...7ab13a710.html

https://www.latimes.com/california/s...gentrification

[Sapphire Dragon]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

https://www.city-data.com/forum/london/

Thanks but no Post(s) as of yet.

[socal88]

Originally Posted by Sapphire Dragon

I'm also thinking of a place in London and Stockholm as well as Los Angeles so if you have anything to add for those places please feel free.

I haven't been to London in about 10 years, but the big hipster neighborhood that is comparable to Silver Lake would be Shoreditch in East London. It was the case back then, and I'm pretty sure it's still the case now.

Like Silver Lake, Shoreditch started gentrifying in the 2000s and has become a big hub for artists/musicians and has the general hipster vibe with good bars, nightlife, etc. with some edge and grime, although definitely more of a dense, urban feel than Silver Lake.

To some extent like LA, the east end of London is the grittier part of town that has undergone gentrification in the last 15-20 years with lots of younger folks and more of an arts scene with a vibe more comparable to Silver Lake / Echo Park / Los Feliz / Highland Park. Meanwhile, the west end of London is the posh part of town that has been historically wealthy and definitely with some snobbier elements, but very nice areas nonetheless. Neighborhoods such as Chelsea, Knightsbridge, and Kensington are among the most expensive neighborhoods with a lot of foreign wealth (especially Middle East wealth). While there are certainly a fair amount of differences, it would be more comparable to parts of LA such as Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and other west side neighborhoods.

Never been to Stockholm, so can't comment there.

[Sapphire Dragon]

Originally Posted by socal88

I haven't been to London in about 10 years, but the big hipster neighborhood that is comparable to Silver Lake would be Shoreditch in East London. It was the case back then, and I'm pretty sure it's still the case now.

Like Silver Lake, Shoreditch started gentrifying in the 2000s and has become a big hub for artists/musicians and has the general hipster vibe with good bars, nightlife, etc. with some edge and grime, although definitely more of a dense, urban feel than Silver Lake.

To some extent like LA, the east end of London is the grittier part of town that has undergone gentrification in the last 15-20 years with lots of younger folks and more of an arts scene with a vibe more comparable to Silver Lake / Echo Park / Los Feliz / Highland Park. Meanwhile, the west end of London is the posh part of town that has been historically wealthy and definitely with some snobbier elements, but very nice areas nonetheless. Neighborhoods such as Chelsea, Knightsbridge, and Kensington are among the most expensive neighborhoods with a lot of foreign wealth (especially Middle East wealth). While there are certainly a fair amount of differences, it would be more comparable to parts of LA such as Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and other west side neighborhoods.

Never been to Stockholm, so can't comment there.

I like the sound of wealthy area(s).

[Surf_Norway]

I lived in both places for a few weeks (and several others) to get a feel for the different areas before ending up on the west side (between Santa Monica, Brentwood and Westwood). However when my family came to join me, we moved to Manhattan Beach for the better schools, proximity to the ocean, clean and calm surroundings.



Compared to Silver Lake, MB is very vanilla, not as diverse, nor as gritty. People live a lot of their lives on the beach (not homeless people, but a lot of free time is spent on the beach and in the water, more of an athletic focus), so it's a real beach community, (which I discovered was not really the case in Santa Monica). Prices are a bit higher here, food, coffee, etc. Silver Lake is more of a hipster/artist area with more of a city vibe. It's far more diverse, and at the heart of a lot of cultural happenings, trends a bit younger too.



There's also Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach's unruly kid brother, lot of college students and people partying, and Redondo Beach, which is something like a slightly less affluent version of Manhattan Beach, but larger and with a nice variety of restaurants, clubs, bars, etc. Or Palos Verdes, where the prices again rise steeply, as does the quality of the schools. Not nearly as walkable though, more like a suburb, but in a beautiful location. There's a strip of concrete known as The Strand that stretches along the beach from Redondo/PV in the south up to Pacific Palisades/Malibu border in the north, interrupted only by Marina del Rey, which is a great place for a walk, skate, bike ride, jog, etc. Great people watching too!



As far as Stockholm goes, Lidingö is where the old money lives, but both Norrmalm, Östermalm, Södermalm and Gamla Stan are beautiful and in the heart of the action, Vasastaden isn't too shabby either.



It's been too long since I lived in London, can't really be of much help there.