£500k to buy in London. Three kids

[Batteriesallgone]

Where should we go?

Don’t know london at all (went to Natural History Museum once as a child!). Need a three bed. House or flat. Good transport links to central London. Good primary schools.

Is this possible? I know London is crazy prices, and it’s huge, I have no idea where to start looking on rightmove. Love the idea of living as close to central London as possible but don’t know if that’s too idealistic / unaffordable / ridiculous.

This is London, OP. There is no “should”. If a family home is affordable, it’s because the school is crap or it’s in between catchments.

What about Sutton?

Naice flats won't allow you to hang washing outside, best go for the house.

Neasden? Boring and suburban but this flat here is right by zone 3 Jubilee line tube station which can whizz you to wanky cafe hubs like West Hampstead, Swiss Cottage etc in a few minutes.

Southview Avenue, London
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75120023.html

ekto can I just establish, do you live in Streatham?

Or here?

Dollis Hill Lane, London
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43470387.html

Opposite a fabulous park and community, v good primary school on the doorstep (although it's RC), 15 min walk to Dollis Hill tube (zone 3 Jubilee). PM if you have any questions about the area, I grew up around here and, IMHO, it's one of the most underrated areas of London - completely boring in itself, but you get quite a bit for your money considering how close it is to town (and the right side of town for Heathrow too).

I like them both Ilikecakes

Or Kilburn/Queen's Park area? You're getting closer to town here so the properties are getting smaller but these are ideally located for Paddington and from here you'd get both buses and tubes directly into the West End pretty quickly.

Charteris Road, Kilburn, NW6
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35419440.html

Last one then I'll go away (sitting in car waiting for DS4 to wake up!):

Dyne Road, London, NW6 7XY
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67559212.html

NW Londoner through and through here

"Most people are trying to move to London for work."

Most people are not.
Most people can't afford to live in London or don't want to live there

"They need to understand that there’s a life outside London, it might be different but that doesn’t mean it’s not as good and it’s important for them to realise and experience that"

I agree Amaaboutthis. London isn't the centre of the universe. I get that some weirdos people might prefer city living to rural/semi rural living or prefer London to Leeds or Manchester. But to say that you prefer London over everywhere else when you have never been anywhere else is just so parochial and narrow minded.

And how many university students actually go and visit museums while they are at university?

If you want a house, decent garden, good schools then S.Croyden, Carshalton Beeches, Wellington, Esher etc are good shouts. Areas like Streatham, Tooting etc will mean a flat in the less nice parts. Also important to think about secondary schools depending upon age of your kids as Sutton/Kingston has some very good ones.

I'd say Walthamstow, but I'm a passionate north-east Londoner so obviously biased. It is on the Victoria line though, which is very quick for getting into town.

Sorry, back again but this is really my last post!! Just seen your earlier comment about family up North. The areas I posted about (Neasden, Dollis Hill, Kilburn) are all v close to the start of the M1 motorway. Know you said you don't have a car but for family members visiting you it might be handy?

Have you considered Bermondsey or Southwark?

Really, really central for transport and lots of wanky cafes and access to museums/galleries. Not typically family areas but might suit your needs.

I’m a born & bred S Londoner & don’t really count Croydon as London either. Regarding crime, it depends I would say Streatham is pretty safe whereas parts of South Norwood & Thorton Heath which come under the Croydon umbrella would be less safe in my eyes.

You really need to rent & experience the area. I personally wouldn’t live in South Croydon as nice as it is as I prefer my smaller place in Wandsworth with more going on. Likewise I would live near Tooting Bec tube but not Tooting Broadway. Yes to Streatham Hill & some parts off the high road which are really close to Balham. No to Streatham Common as you can end up far from the station, less going on etc. It depends on what is important to you.

My sister has just bought a 2 bed flat in Bermondsey and it would have been several £10k over OP's budget, so might not be a realistic area

Oh & in the current economic uncertainty with slowing property prices, likely interest rate rises & potential tax increases I would future proof as much as possible. A house will hold its value much more than a flat and hopefully allow you to stay there longer.

Someone mentioned Trinity & Whitgift schools, yes there are good but they are private.

500K will not get you a family home in Bermondsey or Southwark!

As far as I can tell OP is isn't necessarily looking for your typical 3 bed family semi though, she's happy with a 3 bed flat (ex council also an option) with courtyard and location is more important.

Nice to see more people batting for North London Ilikecakes I was quite won over but North seems like it would logistically be more sensible...Finchley looks a tad expensive though.

Finchley is great, that’s why!

Yes Chew that’s right. Our family is not typical and I don’t think our priorities are typical for a 3 child family.

My children absolutely cannot cope with cars or with walking for prolonged periods so public transport is important to them too (they are well behaved on buses and trains don’t worry!).

There are three bed homes in budget more centrally if you look hard enough. Tooting is vibrant and well connected (neighbours with Balham and streatham) and I just found this, in the catchment of one of the most desirable state secondaries in wandsworth: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74459675.html

I would go for Hammersmith. It's got amazing transport links, you're at a junction of the M4 for Heathrow. Wanky cafes and arts cinema in Barnes. Nice parks in Ravenscourt Park, vibey in Fulham and only 2 stops from Earls Court for museums and ethnic food etc. If you will do ex council flats might be doable and a lot is privately owned. Good schools in Barnes where the richies live.

Right move £475k 3 bed flat Verdun Road SW13. I know those properties they are not really flats, they are houses on the inside and the estate is very tame and mostly private.