Moving to the UK for husbands job

[SmallBlondeMama]

Help us decide on a place to live! We are moving to the UK from Canada for my husbands job in November. He works in banking and will be in the financial district in London. It's likely a 3 year assignment. We have 3 kids (5,4 and 1) and are looking for a family-friendly area with lots of trees and outdoorsy stuff around but also near shops and restaurants. Most importantly, I want my husband to have a decent train commute into London. 30 mins is ideal but no longer than an hour. Any suggestions on where we should start our house search? His housing allowance works out to be around 2500-3000 pounds per month for rent, utilities and tax. We are also looking for an area with good schools. Interested in any advice/suggestions please!! :)

If take the education allowance and work around what school you want. That's not a huge amount for rent and private school will free you up from having to rent in a particular catchment area for a school.

Threadneedle St is a short walking distance from Cannon St station, so ideally you should live somewhere with a direct train to Cannon St. Chislehurst, Sevenoaks and those other places I mentioned all meet that criterion. Chislehurst is the shortest journey.

It is also a short walking distance from Liverpool St station but I can't advise on where to live on that line.

I'm a canadian in Blackheath and totally recommend here or Greenwich. Some of the areas further out seem a bit surburby to me and so not different enough to life at home for me. If that makes sense. Blackheath and Greenwich have lots of character and great train links. My DH works near yours and train is direct but truthfully DH runs or cycles to work. Friendly and lots of expats. Great schools in Blackheath and Greenwich, many children's things and close to central London too!

Also, Surrey is lovely, but definitely not London living so it depends what you are after. Living in London should be affordable on the allowance and assuming a decent salary. If it's just for three years, I'd get the most out of it and live in London as opposed to the commuter belt. Your DH will also have to pay considerable annual train fares the further out you go.

So helpful!! Thank you!! Babyboots - that makes total sense about wanting to have a real London experience and not just having it feel like being like at home. It's just so hard with having 3 kids and trying to find a place big enough! We are used to Canadian suburbs type living with a 4000 sq foot house lol :) But I'm totally up for a change and this will probably be our only opportunity to travel while the kids are young.

Yes, you probably have to manage expectations on size of house but you will find something. Plus you'll be out and about more which seems to be the London way as opposed to House-based life like many of my friends at home seem to have. Good luck!