Tell me about SW London

[postmanpat1scrapathisj0b]

Hello
Thinking about moving to SW London/Middlesex. I am familiar with some bits like Richmond, Kew, Wimbledon, Teddington and have visited Twickers, St M, Whitton, Ham but don't live there and it all seems to merge into one in my head! I'd be really grateful if anyone could tell me where might suit the best (if any!)
We have 900k. We would like 3 bed minimum plus garden. I would like a decent size garden but aware that might not happen. I also like period properties but I think I'd rather have larger space and forego period if that's the compromise and it's still doable. I like villagey places and green space but with a feeling of buzz - so somewhere with a bit of a heart, not just suburbs. Schools decent (primary def, secondary good as well if poss as we'd like to stay put at least in the same sort of area)
I love the idea of being walkable to richmond park or bushy park.
I like teddington and St m but I think these are expensive right? And I know Tedd schools good but St m not so much? Anywhere else that might suit?
We need to commute to city so nothing more than 35 min on train really. And it would also be good to get out onto m3/4 as well as family that way.
Thanks v much in advance.

[Cheekychip]

I have lived in St Margaret's and in New Malden.
North Kingston would be a good choice and I think you will get what you're looking for with your budget. It has a nice feel to it with a good mix of people.
You do have to be careful about school catchment areas but a new free school is opening which should alleviate that problem.
Surbiton is also worth considering.

[CityDweller]

I grew up in one of those areas, went to school in another one of them and have family and friends who still live around there. It's a nice part of London - lots of families and very affluent, for the most part. As a result, it's competitive in terms of buying property and getting into the 'right' schools.

Teddington has the 'villagey' feel, I think. As does St. Margarets. Twickenham less 'villagey' but got more going on and much, much faster trains into London.

In all the above, I think you can get what you're looking for on your budget (3-beds, at least). But just be careful that you're close enough to the schools. I think most boroughs publish the 'furthest distance' tables - as in the furthest distance admitted from the school in the last round of intake. For many of them you have to be eye-wateringly nearby to get in.

Kew I don't know so well, but probably v. expensive now? Ham is poorly connected transport-wise, you need to bus into either Kingston or Richmond and get the train from there. Richmond is stupidly expensive and a bit of a black hole for secondary school. Wimbledon I personally don't like much - and I think on your budget you'd be a long way from the nice Wimbledon village part.

If I was choosing from that list, I'd go for either Teddington or Twickenham.

[thatsshallot]

I grew up and folks still live near, have a look at Mortlake and Kew, so miss living on the river now :( St M and East Twick lovely, Whitton not so much, Teddington v expensive and trains slower and cost a lot more.

Well jel

[HahaHarrie]

Thames Ditton? On the river opposite Hampton Court. Good school options. Zone 6 on the train to Waterloo. Villagey.

Under budget
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49880686.html?premiumA=true

Over budget
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-34721139.html?premiumA=true

[Crumbelina]

I'd definitely go for North Kingston and I'm sure you could get a detached 3 bed Victorian villa for your budget. Close to Richmond Park and the river, great schools, fabulous shopping and good transport links (the train is a bit slow into Waterloo - 30 mins, but it's quicker than Teddington!). I'm SW London born and bred and love the area.

[postmanpat1scrapathisj0b]

Hi thanks everyone. Will look at TD and North Kingston as well. Now to suss out the schools situation!! Does anyone know which area out of TD, North Kingston, St M or Tedd are "the best" - by that I mean there is a range of schools all decent that you may have a chance of getting into instead of traipsing half way across London, and secondary options as well as primary...

[castlesintheair]

I don't know Thames Ditton out of the other 3 I would say North Kingston. You have to be very strategically placed 're Secondary Schools in the other two. Primaries better. Richmond itself has great primaries and good secondaries. Also Sheen worth looking at. I was looking at right move earlier and there are a few places for 900k. Right Move has a school checker app which is crucial if you are moving to SW London and sending your DC to state schools. Also Ham worth a look. Villagey green. Good for Grey Court (outstanding secondary).

[Crumbelina]

I can't say for sure re North Kingston schools (am only 22 weeks pregnant with DC1 ) but I think there's a fair few outstanding primary schools so the choice is good. They're also opening up a new secondary school soon. If you need any advice on roads etc. I'm happy to help. South Kingston is perceived to be less desirable so you want to be looking north of the train line.

[thatsshallot]

Is Greycourt outstanding now, really???

I would recommend Sheen too as well, Thames Ditton is really quite far out

[postmanpat1scrapathisj0b]

brilliant - thanks everyone. I really appreciate the time plus finding houses as well! I've looked and N Kingston primaries seem really good. I know Tiffin is nearby - would be great but also seems a bit scary. I googled it and got a "pushy parents tutor thread". Not sure I want to go down that route. So hard around London - everywhere is so over subscribed. And bonkers to be thinking now, but guess have to.

[CityDweller]

Tiffin is super-selective

[Twinklestein]

Realistically, Richmond, Kew, Wimbledon, Putney, Barnes etc are outside your budget.

You might be able to find a small house + garden for that in Sheen, but it's not on the tube.

[pastizzi]

For 900k you could get a nice (if not massive) 3 bed house in Twickenham or Hampton (definitely a lovely villagey feel and great community spirit there, also very close to Bushy Park!). Am pretty positive you'd get somewhere in Teddington too.

Kew, St Margarets or Richmond would be outside your budget for sure