£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.

There's this apartment which I thought was pretty spacious, with an outdoor area and then I saw it's in Kennington/Oval. That's practically wlaking distance from Westminster. Fantastically central. But ex-local authority, clearly. Some people won't look at that.

As someone else said above, consider the new Crossrail route - it will make travel to many of the places you mention a lot quicker. With that in mind, I would look in Plumstead within walking distance of the Woolwich Arsenal Crossrail station. Good schools, lots of green space. Not many cafes yet but the area is on the up - Streetfeast in Woolwich now etc.

And this place in Chiswick is lovely.

Stoke Newington sprung to mind for your requirements, OP. No Tube but has London Overground. You'll likely not get somewhere particularly spacious, but you could probably get somewhere if you can stretch the budget a bit.

www.stuckinlondon.com/londonareaguide/living-in-stoke-newington.php

www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/48511197?search_identifier=444e7c3efe707a18aa1e62c6620d3cfa#amuwCIUCBku8ULb2.97

Around Wimbledon you could get a 3 bed flat with garden? Nice safe area with good schools, cafes and parks

Have a look in and around Woolwich, OP, as a PP has said.

You'll get way more bang for your buck than somewhere like Crystal Palace, the Crossrail will come next year and even now, there's the DLR to Stratford, Thameslink into King's Cross (for Mayfair, Paddington and Heathrow) and the area is just turning the corner into hipster cafe-territory

There's nothing under £500K in Greenwich, sadly. I rent there now and if I wanted to buy my choices are a 2-bed flat (and not one of the high end ones) or moving further out. But Woolwich is a good shout.

Oh, I meant to post a link - just an example of the sort of thing £500K will get you around Woolwich:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62973337.html

Actually that's "offers over", but this is £500K on the nose:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55558938.html

Walthamstow is good, it's packed full of middle class families these days, and the transport is excellent - the Victoria line whisks you to the West End in 20 mins with a guaranteed seat, or there's the overground to the City. Trouble is that your budget would only get you something maybe a mile from the tube, probably not much closer. Highams Park is worth considering - it's leafier and more suburban with bigger houses, and hipsters are taking it over too. Trouble is then you only have the overground (every 15 mins) or bus to Walthamstow.

Wow Mina that is awesome. What’s wrong with it? Haha

I wonder if the estate has a rep for high charges or something. Can’t just be the appearance surely - I think that’s quite an attractive facade as LA goes.

And easter thank you those look lovely, I shall investigate Woolwich now. Hadn’t heard of it before

I would imagine that Chiswick one, which is leasehold, has about 5 mins left on the lease.....

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66953075.html

Oh of course Fenella yes you are quite correct, neither descriptions mention the lease term, and we all know what that means.

Oh Branleuse DON’T I adore houseboats (natch, being a wanky hipster loving type) but even someone as devil may care as I am (or I like to think I am...) can’t afford to be that financially risky when I’ve got three dependant young children. Plus the associated practical problems of young children + water, chemical toilets blah blah.

When I am old I shall wear purple and live on a boat

kids would love it!! go on, itll be an adventure, and docklands is right near Greenwich, which is lovely

Lol I know you’re being goady here because of your comment earlier

You can’t possibly think a houseboat is more practical than a flat.

But I do agree it’s a lovely specimen.

Houseboats have the problem that they almost always decrease in value so they're not an investment the way a flat or a house is. (I'd love to live in one too!)

Houseboats are essentially an expensive hobby. They cost an astronomical amount to maintain in good nick. I love them but they are indeed a crap investment.

im not actually being goady. Even I want that houseboat and I am not a London fan. Buy it and then come back and tell me stories about it

but actually, for London, Greenwich area is quite nice. I like Greenwich park and Greenwich market. It doesnt feel too Londony to me.

No OP you can’t “establish” where I live because this is a public forum and posts are anonymous.

Just like we “can’t establish” where you now live.

I’m back to aimless Rightmove dicking about. This is lovely. I think someone mentioned Finchley. Or maybe I dreamt that. I’m getting a bit overwhelmed by it all I think.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74086340.html

Also when looking at primaries investigate the furthest distance offered through the LA. A listing may show as in the “catchment” but that doesn’t mean much. Many of the outstanding primaries offer places in terms of metres due to siblings, etc.