London budget of up to 500K

[nothinglefttolose]

Two bedroomed flat 1 adult 1 child so doesn't need to be huge bedrooms
Near good schools
Near green spaces and reasonable amenities
Posting for friend returning to uk after breakup .
Works from home and 3 year old DD .
She has been away from London for 10 years and is a bit out of touch.
Are we seeking the impossible...I am trying to reassure her

[msrisotto]

Can get somewhere great for that money in Ruislip, Pinner kind of area.

[Spaghettivongole]

I'm biased but for a 3 yr old I would recommend Highbury in N London - fantastic green spaces and lots to do with young kids. £500k may be tricky but I would think she could get a small 2 bed (maybe with one good sized and one small bedroom for example)

[Spaghettivongole]

Loving the Italian food theme going on here btw!

[Levantine]

East dulwich? good primary schools, green space, lots of young families

[greenblue]

Clapham Junction/ Common?

[nothinglefttolose]

Keep them coming...I am speaking to her tonight..coming over August .

Hoping to have narrowed areas down by then.

[StiffyByng]

You'd get a house in East Dulwich for 500k, although school catchments are increasingly tiny which pushes prices up a bit. But we viewed a lovely three bed Victorian within a catchment which would have gone for 500k I imagine.

[bigTillyMint]

Definitely East Dulwich - it's the only place to be

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Any other location requirements eg work, family?

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

Maida Vale or Wimbledon

[yellowraincoat]

Have you had a look in the Barbican?

My dream location.

[tricot39]

I used an earlier edition of this book when i bought:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1845330722?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
Shame it is no longer published but for 1p plus postage it might be a first good resource to be backed up with zoopla pricing info?

[Rhubarbgarden]

I came on to say East Dulwich but I see there's no need!

[likeatonneofbricks]

wimbledon or Kew if not a large two bed - you can get a year ticket to Kew, great with a kid, peaceful, tube andrail there too. Or Chiswick, same line as Kew but more towards the centre, very nice (not sure about schools though).

[likeatonneofbricks]

to me East Dulwich feel VERY crowded (narrow Lortdship lane doesn't help) and tere is no tube there. It depends whether she likes space (areas i mentioned) or to have lots of other mummies around (like in E.Dulwich). Park is really not great in E.Dulwich - not a patch on Kew.

[likeatonneofbricks]

feels*
Lordship*

[fufulina]

I would second highbury/finsbury park. Excellent primaries, and secondaries on the up. You can definitely get a decent 2 bed garden flat for £500k (she can have ours ), and brilliant transport links. Clissold and finsbury parks plus highbury fields, and some great restaurants.

Into centre of town within 15 minutes.

Luff it.

[Mintyy]

Absolutely definitely not East Dulwich - it is ridiculously overpriced. A waste of money imvho.

[likeatonneofbricks]

it really depends on your friend's interests and tastes - does she want going into the centre often or not, likes buzz and cafes, or peace and quiet. Threr is also an unigue atmosphere in every area, personally I find North London a bit charmless/'cold'.

[ChocolateMama]

It has to be Richmond doesn't it....? Best primary schools in the country, plenty of green spaces and a tube station taking you straight into London. Could get something nice for that money there.

[CornishKK]

Honor Oak Park has all of these things, 12 minutes to London Bridge, overground trains or use the East London Line.

Can still get a 3 bedroom with garden for £500k, good schools & very family friendly.

I've lived in Clapham, Canary Wharf, Bermondsey & Angel and am far happier here on Honor Oak.

[StiffyByng]

I was going to say that East Dulwich 'central' is silly prices but go up to Honor Oak or around the Horniman in Forest Hill and you get more for your money, better transport links and really good schools. We've lived round here for a long time and would rather be out here than nearer Lordship Lane.

[swiftybaby]

Southfield's is gorgeous and you'd get a lovely flat for 500k

[ogredownstairs]

For that budget, not minding a flat and only needing 2 bedrooms I think she'd be spoiled for choice. For schools and feeling safe at night etc I would say Richmond, and not just because I live there. She could get a great flat for £500k and it's on the tube, even if it is zone 4. Lovely shops and restaurants, green space, and loads of things for kids to do.

[crazyhead]

How central does your friend want to be? What is the biggest priority for her? Muswell Hill and Crouch End have great primary schools and green areas, very family.

Highbury is lovely, the very nicest parts are pricey however.