Where to live in London?

[msrisotto]

We don't particularly want to move but OH's job is taking him/us to London, he really doesn't want to live in London but I don't mind.

I'd prefer to live nearer north London as it's closer to my family, I have visited people in north London and know I like Brent cross shopping centre but that is really the extent of my knowledge!
Alternatively, somewhere about 1 hours commute to Euston kind of area?
Any ideas? Our budget would be around 4 - 450.

[DecorHate]

What do you need to buy with that budget?? What ages are your dcs - you will probably want to take schools into account...

I don't know it well but the area around Southgate looks nice.

As a compromise you could go for one of the towns outside London to the North - eg Herdfordshie. The Thameslink line is very good going into St Pancras (which is close to Euston)

[msrisotto]

No kids yet but a 2 bed anyway.
Southgate looks lovely but after another conversation with OH, it seems he doesn't want to live in London at all and is only considering neighbouring towns in commuting distance. Not exactly what I want and all he is suggesting is 2+ hours away from my parents and sister which isn't good because my parents don't like to drive to see me as it is (1 hour distance) and i'd feel isolated as my sister is my best friend really.
This is really difficult.

[IlanaK]

What about Cricklewood? I think the train line goes right to Euston. We are buying a place in Willesden Green (NW2) which is just down the road from Cricklewood, but on a tube line (Jubilee zone 2) which is better and more expensive. I remember when we were looking, Cricklewood prices for 3 bed houses were in your budget.

[tattycoram]

I was going to suggest St Albans, that's not far from North London - would that be too far from your parents?

[ImSoNotTelling]

I live in Barnet and it's very nice - parts of the borough have more villagey/town feel to them than feeling like a part of London IYSWIM. Also much of it on northern line for euston and generally good schools.

What do you want for your 400/450?

[msrisotto]

Southgate, Willesden and Cricklewood look really good, could swing him if I lobby hard enough lol!

[HarrietHarpy]

Barnet. Decent family area, some parts are within your price range (depends what sort of space you want), good schools, about 45 mins on the tube into central London.

Willesden very expensive unless you edge towards Harlesden (NW10). Not sure what you're looking for, but you might be hard pushed to find a house there or in Cricklewood for 400 grand...

Southgate has lovely parts and not so lovely parts. It's on the tube, though, and some decent schools round there.

[HarrietHarpy]

Barnet practically out of London. A good compromise.

Harpenden, Hemel, Potters Bar?

[ImSoNotTelling]

Oooh given a choice not potters bar! I wouldn't want to live there personally.

Depends what you want for your money though! Tell me and I will look for you

[msrisotto]

Sorry, um, the moon on a stick?

2 bed minimum. Garage and driveway/street parking. Transport links, into and out of London and nice area, that's all.....!

[ImSoNotTelling]

ooh ohhoohh

within catchment for v good primary school

2 min walk to shops

about 7 min walk to tube

m25 5 min drive

near to green bits

off street parking

[ImSoNotTelling]

bigger house near tube but is a walk to the shops

[ImSoNotTelling]

great location needs work though

[ImSoNotTelling]

this is nice, smaller but still near tube and shops

[msrisotto]

The first one is pretty good I'msonottelling! Really good location in terms of distance to M25, no idea if it's a nice area to live in.

[AllQuietOnThePippisFront]

yes 'tis nice.

[ImSoNotTelling]

It is a lovely area to live in. I don't know how old your kids are/if they have any but there is v good preschool 3 mins away as well, and good non selective secondary for girls. Boys a bit trickier the nearest is v tough selective!

Hold on I will show you where it's near green-space wise.

[ImSoNotTelling]

5 mins away

hadley wood about 10/15 min walk away but through hadley green so a nice walk

hadley green 5 mins away

If you win the lottery you might want to come and live here

[ImSoNotTelling]

I don't know how old your kids are/if you* have any

Also there are v good private schools around if that's your bag.

That first house I linked is unusual as most houses around there are terraced victorian jobs with no off street parking. A bit of a find even if I do say so myself

Can you tell I'm enjoying this?

[msrisotto]

I did say upthread but you must have missed it, we have no kids yet.

Thanks so much for the effort you've put into this. Those links about the surrounding greenery are incredible and might persuade my OH that he won't feel like he's living in London which is the biggest sticking point for him at the moment. He's throwing a bit of a tantrum that he wants a garage for his car (which he never drives) and to feel like he can escape to the countryside easily (although he doesn't give a shit about the countryside! I'm the one who likes to go out for walks and even then, am not bothered whether it's a built up area or not!).

[msrisotto]

Anyway, this has really helped us/him feel less worried about moving. It actually looks like a nice place to live and obviously we'll have to go see for ourselves but I'm a bit excited although a lot scared of not finding a job myself!

[ImSoNotTelling]

Whoops sorry!

The good thing about this area is that as it is right on the very edge of London, you have the easy access to London for work and theatre shows restaurants etc etc but it is also near plenty of places for good walks and easy to escape from as you don't have to drive out of London to get anywhere, as it's just next to Herts and M25.

High Barnet has a large town feel to it - you stop and chat to people out and about and so on. It's not "anonymous" IYSWIM.

[ImSoNotTelling]

Good luck

[msrisotto]

How do you know all this? Did you live there/near there?

[ImSoNotTelling]

Might do

Yes it's where I live