What are the best places to live in London for young(ish) professional couples?

You may want to consider Harrow. North Harrow, West Harrow, Harrow-on-the Hill, and Northwick Park tube stations are on the Metropolitan Line to Baker Street. The housing is more reasonably priced compared to Maida Vale. Baker Street is about 20 minutes on the tube from Harrow on the Hill, with Paddington being a further 10-15 minutes if include the interchange time at Baker Street. Kenton tube station is also within walking distance of Northwick Park tube station and is on the Bakerloo line to Paddington. There are cafes and restaurants in Pinner, Hatch End, and top of the Hill near the church. However, most of these would need you to drive as they are not walkable.

And how long is a piece of string? This is such a difficult question to answer as we are missing so much information about both of you. There are thousands of good places for professionals in London. It all depends on your budget, how close you want to be to a station, or the countryside, an airport, a hospital, a particular school ( if you plan to have children), a motorway (to jump in the car and head for the house near the beach?). These are factors we cannot know. I would start in the North London Boroughs and move outwards. this is manily because I have found that crossing from South London to Paddington or Baker street actually takes more time than it is worth.

Look at Kilburn or Kensal Green/Kensal Rise which are both right near Maida Vale but more affordable. Both are on the Bakerloo line, the same tube that goes to Warwick Ave and Maida Vale tube stops.

a professional couple? you get paid just to be together?

Clapham (SW4) is located in South London in Transport Zone 2. It’s an extremely popular area with young professionals, probably due to the huge selection of pubs, bars, restaurants and late-night venues in the area. Another option may be, Crouch End which is located in North London and is an area with a real village feel to it. The concentration of pubs, bars and restaurants is around the high street called ‘The Broadway’.

Harrow is very nice and safe, its in zone 5 and it takes about 45 mins to get into central London. some parts of east London such as Stratford and Loughton are nice. Hammersmith and Ealing are considered safe but there isn't much to do in either of them. i dont really think anywhere in London takes that long to get to from central London

East Finchley Chiswick Barnes Putney Beckenham Surbiton Twickenham

Chelsea :)

Dalston