Moving from central London to a baby friendly but fun area

[pimlicopubber]

Hello,
We are expecting our first baby.
We currently live quite centrally but want to move to a baby friendly area where we can meet other new parents and do activities suitable for both adults and babies. I'm planning to stay home for a year. Since none of our friends have babies yet, I'm a bit worried about feeling lonely and isolated so the "finding new friends" aspect is important.

What are some good areas that would offer:

• nice, walkable and green area with parks and easy access to amenities such as shops and gyms
• socializing with other young parents - clubs, yoga, etc
• safe and not shabby but not too posh either: we make decent money in the tech industry but are pretty low key, don't like the idea of spending 10 quid for artisan bread and turmeric latte and want to buy second hand baby stuff rather than designer...

-accessible from central London:. We work at London Bridge and Angel. It would also be nice if our friends were not put off from visiting (that is, if we keep any after having a baby!).
I'm thinking Clapham, Herne Hill, Richmond or similar areas could be good. Husband loves Hampstead heath but it seems a bit too posh?

[MiniMaxi]

Budget is key here. All the areas you mentioned are lovely (actually I don’t love Clapham but that’s just me). Reckon you’ll need at least £1.5m for a house in any of those places - nearer 2m in Hampstead.

If that works for you - or if you’re happy with a flat - then go for it! I can also recommend Queen’s Park / Kensal Rise (the former is similar price bracket, Kensal is cheaper)

[MiniMaxi]

PS also consider somewhere like St Albans which is super quick into London.

[superram]

Richmond commute might be a bit much. But as a pp said budget is key. Richmond is very posh in places and is very noisy as on the flight path but I’d like there is I could afford a £3 million house.

[JoJoSM2]

Richmond is posh and expensive. It’s great to be near the river and thousands of acres of Richmond Park. Trains to central London take under 20mins so I quite a short commute IMO.

I wouldn’t class Clapham as a family area, more of a young professional place and great for bars and nights out. Families are more often found Between the Commons (off Northcote Rd but the parts away from stations) or they move on from Clapham to Wandsworth. I’d definitely call it posh too.

Have you thought about schools? Do you want to go down the state or independent routes?

The sort of areas you describe, ie professional families but low key with bakeries half the price of Gail’s and tons of family amenities, would be found more in outer boroughs eg Sutton or Bromley.

[bananaramama]

Camden and Kentish Town

[Davros]

Highgate
Dartmouth Park
East Finchley

[Mosaic123]

Wanstead?

[NisekoWhistler]

What about Mortlake or East sheen SW14

[Username7521]

Come to notting hill!

[Aquicknamechange2019]

Hither Green is very family friendly and has excellent state primaries. Plus direct line to London Bridge.

[woodlandwalker]

East Dulwich is cheaper than Clapham and has lots of young mums and activities. Blackheath is nice. If you are considering further out, Beckenham (zone 4) but with good transport links.

[SquirmOfEels]

Sounds like you want 'between the Commons' (ie the bit of Battersea between Clapham and Wandsworth commons). Or if you can't afford that, Balham, or Tooting. They are all on the northern line, so easy for the commute.

Slightly less easy commute, but still worth a look is Streatham