Originally Posted by Scots_Al;[url=tel:33391880

33391880[/url]]Just to throw something else into the mix…

Kingston doesn’t fit the description of ‘gritty’, but might be something to consider. It’s definitely somewhere locals live rather than tourists, but has both some nice chain-type bars and restaurants by the river and, due to having the highest concentration of Koreans in the U.K., some great food if you can look it out.

It’s 25 minutes by train from Vauxhall, where you can connect to the Victoria Line, and another 5 minutes from Waterloo where you have more underground options. So, a wee bit further out than you described, but also a lot cheaper. There’s a very acceptable new-ish Premier Inn (a good budget chain) 5 minutes from the station which you can frequently get for £50/night or less.

To be honest, it’s not where I would stay on a first visit to London, but if you’re wanting something a little bit away from the hustle and bustle, but which has enough by way of restaurants and bars, and is ‘authentic’, then it’s a nice town by the river.