Location, Location, Location . . .

Well, if I'm not mistaken, it depends on the part of town you're in, but aren't most of them townhouse-type homes? Narrow but long and tall? High ceilings, plaster, all that? Kitchen in the back of the first floor, bedrooms on the second, big attic-type thing on top. I know they're some places with separate homes, but I recall seeing alot of this type of home when I was there. Then again that was a while ago.

I don't think you'll have a problem as long as you don't get crazy with it, or make it sound unrealistic.

Remember this: people love to help. If I were you, I'd go online, find some London real estate agencies, and contact a few agents. Explain what you're doing, what part of town you're interested in, and ask what a typical residence in your character's price range would be like. Offer to thank them in your acknowledgments when the book is published.

Chances are, you'll find exactly what you need. And if you don't, it never hurts to ask.

Good luck!

It'll just take a little research to get things right. The internet is our friend. Libraries are even friendlier.

Lifelong - Why not find out what estate agents cover the area you want and go get maps for the houses for sale. You could go to some open houses or pretend to be interested in investing in the area. A huge variety of houses will be for sale - if you want to see different budget houses then go to two agents and tell one your budget is for ??? 200,000 pounds and tell the next it is for 500,000 pounds. Perhaps decide on the wealth of Harry??? (guessing) and then go shopping in the market you think he can afford.

Many agents also have vitural tours - you can view our house from your home/work/wherever computer.

Once you have the map of the house your character lives in keep it by your side as you write.

Good luck.

Or try some of the real-estate companies that provide on-line tours (YourMove does them I think). You'll get a feel for the interior features from the photos on there.

Expatbrat beat me to it - but try YourMove and maybe Remax web-sites

Dang. Great advice all the way across.

Ironically, I've had similar situations – where I had a very specific idea and researched the heck out of it – only to wind up taking a little creative license anyway. At least the license was believable...

Quick. Make an appointment to view it, so you can have a good nosy round the inside too.

And bring a camera (digital, if you have it - no waiting for the results). Pictures help later.

Karen (loving this idea)

I'm not sure about London, but I know that several towns I've lived in have had blueprints and the like available at town hall, and often historical societies will have sketches that they're happy to share. Those might be good options if you can't find what you're looking for through a real estate agent. Great suggestion, that!

Kristen

Lifelongdagger said:

In my novel, the main character lives in London, England. I have a very definite idea of the part of London that I want him to live in and a very definite idea of the sort of house that he occupies.

Click to expand...

Let's see if I can describe the townhouse I used to live in.

Location: Woolwich, London. Zone 4 on the tube map.

Overall dimensions: narrow in width, long in depth.

Front door: Opened into a corridor.
Ground floor:
1st door Left -- glass/wooden-framed doors opened into a small living room. Sofa against the corridor wall.
Door straight ahead -- dining area opening into a large kitchen. Just as the dining area meets the kitchen, on the left a set of double patio doors.
Stairs right -- one flight to small landing; another flight to 1st floor; last flight to 2nd floor.
Patio doors / back garden -- small, overgrown, part patio, part grass.

First small landing: One door: bathroom.
Bathroom -- Stand-in shower on the right, toilet next to the shower stall, wash basin further in.

First floor:
2 rooms.
1 room on the right, square. Standalone cupboard.
1 room at the back of the house, square. Standalone cupboard.

Second floor: 1 room -- master bedroom; door at the end of the landing.
Master bedroom -- large, square. Built-in cupboard.


There's another townhouse you might find useful -- used to be where a friend lived.

Location: Don't remember. I think it was in Zone 4 still, maybe on the Northern Line.

Overall dimensions: long, narrow.

Front door: Opened into a long, narrow corridor that went down, instead of up.
1st door right -- bedroom. Square.

3/4 stairs down.

2nd door right -- bathroom. Long, narrow.
1st door left -- living room / dining room hybrid.

4/5 stairs down.

3rd door right -- kitchen. Long, narrow. At the back, small larder room with door leading to small overgrown half-patio, half-grass back garden.

4/5 stairs down.

Door at end of corridor -- master bedroom. Large, square.


Hope you didn't get too confused with those descriptions and that they're of some help. (^_^)

She inherited the place, right? I don't believe a secretary could afford a flat in London, never mind a house.

Course, it depends where it is, but it probably ain't gonna be cheap.

'phew...

It helps to ask around and look up some information online; definately bring a camera or some form of photographic device to help the imagery stay in your head.