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Original poster

Moving back to London. Where?

38 replies

justagirl13 · 03/11/2023 13:43

Hello,
Last year I moved from London to a city near Amsterdam with my 12-year-old child, dog, cat, and grandma to live with my boyfriend. However, I'm not very happy with the current situation. While I'm just 30 minutes away from Amsterdam, it feels more like the countryside with cows and sheep. Additionally, adjusting to living as a couple after many years of being single has been challenging.
My child is currently attending an international school but is willing to move back to London, as we don't feel really at home in my partner's house. He is very controlling and doesn't really accept our dog or my mom.

We used to live in Chiswick. I understand that prices in that area have skyrocketed, but my main concerns are finding a family-friendly and safe neighbourhood. I'll be single and ready to enjoy the nightlife, so I don't want to be too far from it. I'm also looking for a good neighbourhood that isn't overly expensive and has good secondary schools, with the possibility of enrolling my child for Year 9 starting in September 2024.

Does anyone have any places/schools to suggest?

OP posts:
TigerOnTour · 04/11/2023 22:01

Y9 is really full. High birth year!

JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything · 04/11/2023 11:43

@Thatsshallot1967 I am afraid you are not up to date. I wish that school well and that they retain the Good Ofsted as resultingly they will have inspection within few months.

Thatsshallot1967 · 04/11/2023 07:22

JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything · 04/11/2023 07:07

@newyorkbreakfast

OP is after secondary school. Only twickenham Academy and Hampton High are not the best. The rest of secondary schools are just great

Hampton High is a 'good' school, well respected, over subscribed and there has been a waiting list the last few years. It's not the under performing school it once was.

grottyb · 04/11/2023 07:14

Kingston or Sutton? I think quite oversubscribed though

JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything · 04/11/2023 07:07

@newyorkbreakfast

OP is after secondary school. Only twickenham Academy and Hampton High are not the best. The rest of secondary schools are just great

newyorkbreakfast · 03/11/2023 23:28

As a Richmond borough resident with children in school, I can say that the local state schools are not all good. Be wary of living in wealthy boroughs where many parents opt for private education over their state alternatives. I'm sorry you feel you have to move back and hope things work out for you.

clary · 03/11/2023 23:26

drumbin · 03/11/2023 23:18

@clary "It's a bit of a way out of town and nightlife tho."

Richmond Borough has its own nightlife! Who wants to schlep into central london when you can have anight out locally?

@justagirl13 Try Twickenham or Teddington or north Kingston/Petersham.

But generally, good schools come at a price.

I'm sure it does. Just the OP said she wanted to be close to the nightlife - which I took to mean central London.

drumbin · 03/11/2023 23:18

@clary "It's a bit of a way out of town and nightlife tho."

Richmond Borough has its own nightlife! Who wants to schlep into central london when you can have anight out locally?

@justagirl13 Try Twickenham or Teddington or north Kingston/Petersham.

But generally, good schools come at a price.

clary · 03/11/2023 19:13

Quick Rightmove search in Richmond shows quite a lot in your price range. Certainly ppl mention the area on here often as having good schools. It's a bit of a way out of town and nightlife tho.

Caveat: I have no idea whether any of the RM properties are near any good schools - and also ofc those good schools are likely to be full. But a similar search in Chiswick brought up hardly any properties.

Voteva · 03/11/2023 16:42

Sorrt it didn’t work out, that sounds incredibly difficult.

No advice on areas but I wouldn’t write off Chiswick, I know families renting there who aren’t well off. What about emailing estate agents in Chiswick and asking their thoughts on if your budget couod work there?

JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything · 03/11/2023 14:16

London Borough of Richmond

and bear in mind that anywhere in UK good schools are oversubscribed and there is waiting list to those schools.

Original poster
justagirl13 · 03/11/2023 14:07

Budget: max £3000pm. 2/3 bedrooms

OP posts:
clary · 03/11/2023 13:56

I think to give any useful advice ppl will need to know your buying or renting budget and how much space you need tbh

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