Esher, Epsom, Chessington, Isleworth, or elsewhere?

[Linguaphile]

We need to move as we're having another baby. We currently live in Teddington, so would like somewhere similar but a bit cheaper as we can't afford more than our current 2 bed flat here. Would like 3 bedrooms, but a 2 bed house in a nice area would do. We're very open with location, but would generally like somewhere quite green and safe with good schools and an easy 30ish minute commute both to Teddington and London... because nobody else in London is looking for those things.

Just trying to work out where to focus the search given that our budget is only around 375k! I've seen one 3 bed terrace in Esher for sale that looked okay, but it was on Farm Road right next to the sewage treatment plant... best to avoid it? Is it better to go for bigger in Chessington or compromise on curb appeal and smell to go somewhere like Esher? The sewage thing is also an issue in Isleworth, annoyingly.

[CityDweller]

Friends recently moved to Epsom (albeit with a much higher budget than you) and they like it very much. They moved from Wimbledon for more space and schools. It's a bit too Surrey-suburban for my tastes, but it's definitely got the good schools and greenery and is accessible to London and probably not a horrible drive to Teddington.

How about Woking (or naice villagey bits around there)? V. quick to Waterloo and presumably easy drive to Teddington.

[Linguaphile]

Ah, Woking would be good but I think DH would rather die than brave England's most overcrowded train into Waterloo every morning (bit spoiled on seating here at the end of the line). Also not sure if £3500 for a season ticket would make the slightly cheaper prices worth our while. It's on the right track though! Any other suggestions?

[CityDweller]

Berrylands?
Hampton?
Fulwell end of Twickenham?
(Have no idea if any of above are in budget, but must be cheaper than Teddington?)

It's a tough ask - to get more space but not increase your commuting costs or be on a busier train line...

[Linguaphile]

Yep, looking in all of those areas, though still expensive! Aware it is indeed a bit of a hard ask, not sure if anything is actually out there... Ideally DH would get a job somewhere outside of London so we wouldn't have to pay a premium either in housing costs or commuting costs, but that seems unlikely. :(

[BooChunky]

I'm in Epsom and I love it, but I'm not sure you'd have a great deal of choice near nice schools for 375?

[suzyrut]

As citydweller says I think it is a very tough ask to get something in your price range but without it costing more or being a longer commute.

I think you have two options:

1. You compromise on time on the train to London, that way you could stay reasonably local to Teddington and on the same trainline and try Sunbury (lower is nice, the rest not so much) upper Halliford or Shepperton.

or

1. Look further out and with a higher season ticket cost areas I know for example are West Byfleet, Byfleet and New Haw, Weybridge (possibly), and keep a similar commute time.

Good luck it's very hard to move out of a location you love, we were priced out of that area recently too and were sad to leave.

[jugglingmonkey]

Tolworth/Worcester Park/Malden Manor?

[Melfish]

Hounslow or Feltham? Not as naice but you may get something in the size and price range on offer. Should be about half hr to Teddington. No idea re commute but there are fast trains from Feltham to London. Grew up in Tedd but most friends have moved out to Surbiton or Kingston some years ago-prices have risen sharply since.

[caravanista13]

We love West Molesey!

[MadMum2015]

Sutton, cheaper than Epsom for obvious reasons but Cheam village is nice?
Otherwise I would look again at Woking, very fast and regular train service. Yes an expensive commute but you will easily gain that back in housing costs

[jugglingmonkey]

My brother is in Ashfird, Middx. Much better value there. Ok commute to both places

[Chaby]

Isleworth is lovely but the houses in your price bracket will sadly be near the sewage works or towards Hounslow which is not so nice

[WineandDine]

Walton on Thames / Hersham?

[Gozogozo]

Bits of Whitton might be in budget?

[IHavemyownLighthouseyouknow]

Farm Road isn't the nicest bit of Esher being honest - you are ages away from shops/restaurants, and it may be problematic with primary schools too. I would look at Hinchley Wood & parts of Claygate, or Hersham with that budget, but you may find that you are looking at a 2 bed or ex-council place for that money round here. Again, check the school situation out, the catchment area for Claygate Primary or Esher Church school is very small these days.

West Molesey is a good option but a nightmare for the commute if your DH needs to get to Waterloo - you need to take the bus or walk to Hampton Court or Kingston to get the mainline into town.

I'd look at Woodham - mainly the areas within walking distance over the canal to West Byfleet station which has a fast link to Waterloo.

[zas1]

I have family in Epsom and find it overrated. I like the M25 J6 areas eg Caterham Warlingham and 375k will stretch there

[bagelfiend]

We have recently bought a 3 bedroom semi in Hersham for exactly your budget! We have everything we need on our doorstep :)