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To ask where young families are moving to when leaving London?

161 replies

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 10:57

DH and I live in SW London and absolutely love it. So much access to green spaces, wonderful bars & restaurants on our doorstep and so many friends in the area. Sadly, we own a 2 bed flat without lift access. We need more space, and heart is set on 3 house w/ garden, which is out of our budget if we remain in SW London.

We have Hybrid jobs (in office 1-2 days per week), so need good commuting links in to London (any London station is fine as can work from multiple offices). Most importantly, we want to move to a vibrant area which has plenty of things to do for young couples in their 30s, both with children and without. E.g. we love being near to green spaces and going to wine bars and restaurants. Some of the areas we’ve visited are lovely but so quiet and a much older crowd. We’d love to move somewhere that’s full of other young couples/families where we can make friends in the area.

Any recommendations welcome! Our budget isn’t the highest - don’t want to spend over 750k if we can help it.

OP posts:
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Goldbar · 28/08/2024 15:31

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 28/08/2024 15:21

To ask where young families are moving to when leaving London?

They move to the Home Counties pushing up the prices so those who come from there have to move elsewhere.

But on slightly less grumpy note the Home Counties are actually a good place to live. Good train links to London, green spaces, not sure about wine bars mind, plenty of pubs though.

Limited sympathy, I'm afraid. People did this to London first.

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:31

Londoners are constantly pushed out of their hometown but to make matters worse we get no sympathy & often hated for driving prices up!

Reigateinformationforyou · 28/08/2024 15:30

So Dorking station might fit the bill. Longer commute but cute town.

Also Redhill, Merstham, Earlswood station for better commute options but less cute town. Reigate is v close by for park/higher end restaurants etc. Think long term if you are thinking of kids - grammar area (Kent)? Religious schools (Surrey)? Private schools?

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 15:29

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:22

They move to the Home Counties pushing up the prices so those who come from there have to move elsewhere

Im a Londoner who was pushed out of my area, what should I do?

Quite!!

OP posts:
Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:22

They move to the Home Counties pushing up the prices so those who come from there have to move elsewhere

Im a Londoner who was pushed out of my area, what should I do?

UprootedSunflower · 28/08/2024 15:21

My house in NE London has a nice garden and is in your budget. I recommend looking at cheaper London areas.

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 28/08/2024 15:21

To ask where young families are moving to when leaving London?

They move to the Home Counties pushing up the prices so those who come from there have to move elsewhere.

But on slightly less grumpy note the Home Counties are actually a good place to live. Good train links to London, green spaces, not sure about wine bars mind, plenty of pubs though.

jokish · 28/08/2024 15:20

York

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:20

Going further out makes a big difference to commuting costs.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/08/2024 15:17

Have a look at these OP- surbiton/ new maiden/Kingston area- it's a low budget for that area but some are very liveable indeed and tick your boxes- you then have Kingston and Wimbledon easily accessible which tick all your boxes, lots of green space, good schools and far less commuting costs -

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145514288#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149077055#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147673553#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146126858#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151805111#/?channel=RES_BUY

mumto2teenagers · 28/08/2024 15:16

Twickenham is within your budget and seems to offer what you are looking for.

crockofshite · 28/08/2024 15:16

H0PE1 · 28/08/2024 11:22

Brighton would certainly for the bill. Beautiful South Downs on your doorstep, tons to do, art, festivals, theatre, gigs, great restaurants. The crowd is definitely not old. Hove, Patcham, Withdean more families.
And you have the sea!

Brighton centre is a horrible grimy dump. Seaside is heaving with people, garbage and more people.

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:15

Reputatuion isnt greatest and Mitcham town centre isnt that great either, but we are close enough to tooting/streatham etc it doenst matter, and never felt unsafe or anything.

The trouble with Mitcham & Streatham is often secondary options.

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:14

We are 5 mins walk from station then 5 min train to balham

5 mins?? More like 10 & how often? why do people always reduce their journey times 😆

LostittoBostik · 28/08/2024 15:11

"A lot of these commuter towns just outside of London are actually not much cheaper than London."

As @Comedycook says, it's actually much cheaper to stay in London and pick a slightly grottier road/house that needs more cosmetic modernisation than it is to go into the commuter towns

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:11

I’m surprised you can’t find anything in Tooting

What about further out SW eg Kingston/Surbiton/Worcester Park?

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:10

Most importantly, we want to move to a vibrant area which has plenty of things to do for young couples in their 30s, both with children and without. E.g. we love being near to green spaces and going to wine bars and restaurants. Some of the areas we’ve visited are lovely but so quiet and a much older crowd. We’d love to move somewhere that’s full of other young couples/families where we can make friends in the area.

It’s quite hard to find an area that caters for established families & young people without dc. As you dc get older you tend to have less free time/money for going out a lot alone.

LostittoBostik · 28/08/2024 15:10

We bought in SW16 for £750k last year. 4 beds.

Keep looking OP. You're not trying hard enough, or looking closely at potential rather than the finished product.

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 28/08/2024 15:05

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 12:25

We are in Balham. We haven’t seen anything decent in the Balham/Tooting area in our budget unfortunately!

Kingston or Surbiton (great schools in both)

RedRedRobot · 28/08/2024 15:04

Try Streatham Hill, West Norwood, Gipsy Hill- on short direct trains from Balham and you'd get what you're after in budget. I made a similar move not too long ago!

There are also slightly further areas such as Sydenham and Beckenham which are popular and good value.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/08/2024 15:02

Personally in OPs situation I would go to Guildford , Oxford or possibly Brighton-

Crikeyalmighty · 28/08/2024 15:01

@WonderingAboutBabies I live in Bath- to be honest the OP could get something perfectly nice for around £600k but it's a really expensive commute - especially if both need to do it- works way better if working from home or an occasional commute- my H drives in once every 9 days -

MindTheGap099 · 28/08/2024 14:57

Leigh on sea, Billericay, Hockley and all villages in between. Easy access to London via train straight to Liverpool Street or Fenchurch.

Wasntmeanttobelikethis · 28/08/2024 14:56

Folkestone, Kent is the one you may want to look at: beaches, 20 min to Canterbury, 40min to Stratford, London; grammar schools; 35 min to Calais
Be quick; prices on fire !!!

MathiasBroucek · 28/08/2024 14:55

You need somewhere pleasant but not fashionable - quite a few places like that in Zone 4/5 - Palmers Green, Southgate, North Finchley are examples near me

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