Talk to me about living in Sutton (or somewhere else that might work)

[aStarWithHerOwnWays]

DH is very likely to be taking a new job in Farringdon any day now (has had several interviews and one offer so far, is waiting to hear back from everyone before making a decision). We currently live in E Mids so will be looking at moving back down South in fairly short order, and I'm trying to get a feel for where might be good to go.

We have a 2yo DS and another baby on the way. DH would like to be on an overground line into Farringdon so we're looking at places like Sutton, but are open to suggestions. I am from SE London originally but have very mixed feelings about living in London proper again. We're renting atm and would be renting once we move, but hope to buy in a year or two depending on how life goes.

Can anyone tell me what living in Sutton is like for families with young DC? Any help or alternative suggestions much appreciated :) Thanks.

[CointreauVersial]

Sutton has a reputation for being rough as a bear's arse......but the rail links are good. There are nicer areas not too far away (e.g. Banstead), or if you want to be further out, there are rural areas within reach of Redhill or Gatwick stations.

[ClaireDeLoon]

Carshalton, close to Sutton but still on Thameslink is better but not sure how it is for young DC, sorry.

[ClaireDeLoon]

Sorry - should have said Sutton/Carshalton I do know have very good schools, quite a few grammars.

[CointreauVersial]

Oh yes, good point, Sutton (unlike most of Surrey) has the Grammar School system, if that's what floats your boat.

[Decorhate]

Or you could stay north of London - the Thameslink overground line goes into Farringdon, around 25-30 minutes from lovely towns like St Albans & Harpenden. They are expensive to buy in though. What's your rental budget?

[wombly]

I don't live in Carshalton but I love it for shopping and visiting with kids - it has tons of kid-friendly provision.

Wallington, next to it, is rough in parts but very green and villagey in others.

Both better than Sutton itself IMO.

[mangoandlime]

I don't like Sutton - carshalton is ok - quiet. I'd be looking at Tattenham Corner or Nork for Banstead Station.

[mangoandlime]

Redhill has been mentioned - Pit of the Earth.

[greenlotus]

If you think you might want to visit friends/family back in the E Mids it's a load easier starting from Hertfordshire than from Surrey. Friday nights on the M25 are GRIM.

[aStarWithHerOwnWays]

North of London

We won't be visiting the E Mids, I shouldn't think - all our family and most of our friends are down south, which is part of the reason for the move.

Interesting to hear so much Sutton hate; I read the 'Crystal Palace/Sutton/Catford?' thread on here and the few Sutton dwellers who posted on it were very positive about the place.

DH used to work in Banstead so he knows the area, but it's an extra bit of time on his journey/cost on the season ticket. Rental budget is max £900pcm.

[aStarWithHerOwnWays]

Oh, and thanks for all posts so far :)

[mangoandlime]

Just a thought..have you looked into Guildford, Leatherhead, Reigate?

[confusedperson]

From my research, Carshalton is rough and Carshalton Beeches is much better. Around Sutton Common is rough and south Sutton is much better. Haven't experienced personally though...

[86Pinkle]

I am from Carhshalton originally and found it really nice area to grow up (Wrythe Green Area), there is a big park with the river and ponds and Westcroft leisure centre and I believe the college now has a swimming pool too for public use. Also great transport links.

[86Pinkle]

*Carshalton

[Ewe]

Cheam is lovely and just one stop/a few minutes from Sutton. Would be worth the train change. The road from Sutton to Cheam Village has lots of nice houses along it and off it and your DH could cycle to station or even walk depending on which end.

Cheam is great for young children, huge park - Nonsuch - and lots of little baby groups. Those Thameslink trains can be rather irregular/unreliable in my experience so you would also need to look for the alternative route too.

Also, 900pcm might be a stretch if you want a garden etc. I live in nearby town which is more expensive but not dramatically so and my flat is on the Market for £1300 per month. It's a 2 bed on the 3rd floor.

[aStarWithHerOwnWays]

Thanks for all your help so far, it is much appreciated :) Cheam does look lovely, so I think we're going to look there as well as Sutton.

I'm not too bothered about a garden if there's loads of green space nearby - I grew up in a flat near one of the royal parks and it was absolutely great.

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

aStarWithHerOwnWays have you seen the prices of rented accommodation around that area compared to E.Mids?!

We thought we were going to be based around that way a while ago and I almost died at the prices - although you probably know that already if you're from that region!

[aStarWithHerOwnWays]

Yes, we've had a good look. It should be fine :) and it's really reasonable compared to a lot of the 'naice' areas of London.

I'm from Blackheath and would move there in a heartbeat if I could, but sadly my lottery numbers never seem to come up.

[Summerbird73]

See i used to live in Sutton and i didnt think it was that rough. The High St is a bit - erhem - merry on a Friday night and i agree that South Sutton (towards Banstead) is much nicer.

Cheam is lovely but i would go for Carshalton or Banstead. You seem to be quite positive about it all so good luck

However if you were to go farther afield then i can highly recommend Reigate, my dad wanted me to buy there (funnily enough he wasnt prepared to stump up the requisite £300k but there you go!) My friend lives there and it is soooo lovely.

[CointreauVersial]

Yeah, Reigate is nice, and within easy reach of Redhill station which has good connections. Just don't live in Redhill.

[superbrain]

We have recently moved to Sutton from Kew and Wimbledon. TBH there is very little diff in terms of daily activities. Huge town, high working population, very convenient for everything that you need to buy, great restaurants and of course brilliant transport service to everywhere( hubby works in the city). Sat night around mid night is a bit loud with kids coming out of clubs and pubs but with all of the brilliant schools, you will find that it is a very family orientated area for all of the other time. Sutton Council are great, very fast and friendly service. With the huge upgrade about to take place, new station area, hotel, shops etc, Sutton is a hidden gem in our opinion. We do not regret moving here for a second, also got a lovely house with a lovely garden for the price of an apartment that we would only be able to afford in Wimbledon, which is just 15 minutes train journey away. Sutton is changing fast though, lots of city folk moving in so be quick if you want bricks to call your own. Also the third safest borough in London!

[Forago]

Reigate is crap for commuting (and vastly inflated London price housing and schools no one can get into unless you buy a million plus house next door). Redhill goes into London Bridge or Victoria I think so he'd have to change at East Croydon (no biggie really). Redhill is not THAT bad in places and is, I think, getting better as the overspill effect from Reigate and Caterham kicks in.

However that change is going to make his journey around an hour from anywhere around there - hence why you are looking at Sutton I guess.

Isn't Cross Rail going there? which opens up Dorking/Epsom way?

[Jhere]

Hello Superbrain!
Know this is an old thread, but trying to get a hang of Sutton as we are planning to relocate like you from West London. Would be very helpful if I could have more info with regards to safe areas around Sutton for family with kids, transport, schools. In a tricky situation to look out for both Primary (for reception) & Secondary(Y7) Schools. Heard Sutton has very good Secondary Schools but not Primary Schools? Could you suggest good Primary schools to look out for catchments??

Any suggestions much appreciated!

TIA
Cheers!

[gazzalw]

Jhere you might be better off asking the question on the MN Local Sutton site talk board?

FWIW DS goes to school in Sutton (although we are neighbouring borough residents). It seems a bit rough in parts and not nice to be walking about in the town centre after dark, but the same would go for most areas (certainly in London)? AND it is home to one of the largest council estates in Europe. If you get off in town near Matalan you get a view that's possibly distorted. DS always advises against getting off there - for a reason.

But frankly having been a London resident all my adult life (and having lived in Tottenham for a while), I would call Sutton 'tame' although there is an 'underbelly'. It really depends what you're used to. Personally, I felt more threatened living in a very pukka part of Wandsworth but that's because one is more likely to be targeted there for having money.

I think even the lower end of the town centre will change now that there's the massive Sainsbury's open and that part of town is rapidly undergoing regeneration. The 'top end' is too, so I'm sure Sutton will become increasingly desirable with the passage of time.

Cheam is lovely,and as someone commented up thread if you take a bus route from Sutton Station through to Epsom you will come across a huge spread of houses in the £750K+ bracket. And decent size family homes with gardens, not two ups/two downs that would cost the equivalent in other parts of SW London (Wimbledon included).

Always worth checking out how many of the people who are being critical of an area actually live/work/school there. Although I do know long term residents and former residents of the borough who do acknowledge that it seems to have got rougher in recent years. Not sure if the crime stats support that though - it could just be that the digital age has brought all 'crimes and misdemeanours' to our attention in a way we'd never previously have been aware of them?

Many of the local primary schools have excellent reputations too. But can't comment directly as our children didn't attend any of them. Certainly Sutton is consistently one of the highest achieving areas (top five) in terms of GCSE grades in the UK. And many families do flock to be in catchment area, not just for the grammar schools but the many sought after comprehensives too.

The only thing I would say is that there's been a bit of a recent dip in family activities venues, particularly in Sutton itself, with the loss of the theatre, bowling alley/laser tag and now even Little Lambs Softplay (which I think has moved to Banstead). But possibly only a temporary blip, and with Merton, Kingston, Croydon and Epsom easily accessible by car/public transport possibly not really a problem anyway?