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Original poster

£500k to buy in London. Three kids

428 replies

Batteriesallgone · 27/09/2018 13:12

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.

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Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 27/09/2018 13:56

Oh wow there’s some gorgeous houses in Hither Green

Everyone seems to be recommending South London, is it generally more affordable?

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Plexie · 27/09/2018 14:02

Search Right Move or Zoopla using the following criteria: postcode W1A, radius 5 miles (or 10 if you get desperate), minimum 3 bedrooms, maximum price £500k. See which areas have lots for sale and proceed from there. I think you'll have to forget the hipster cafes.

TheDisillusionedAnarchist · 27/09/2018 14:02

Streatham would suit, in the Vale you’d get a 3 bed house for your money with good size garden.

Rapidly gentrifying so plenty of hipster cafes, a jazz club, big common. The Vale area has two outstanding primary schools and a new secondary. 20 minutes by train to Victoria or from Streatham station take the Thameslink into the city. Right side of London for Gatwick. Might work.

IamPickleRick · 27/09/2018 14:03

Hither Green is very in vogue at the moment.

I live in Enfield and it has/used to have that small town feel but with lots of good transport links. It’s not like that anymore and you have to choose your area carefully. Have family in HG and they have a much larger house than us for same money.

marmaladecats · 27/09/2018 14:05

I agree with Plexie, get on Rightmove and set it to your parameters and then click map view. There should be clumps of houses around the map showing which areas are affordable. From there you can see which are on decent commuting lines into London plus near green space or whatever. Plus you'll get to have a lovely snoop at some houses! Good luck.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 27/09/2018 14:09

Wow! I have no idea where Wallington is, but you get a lot for your money there!

KeepingTheWormsQuiet · 27/09/2018 14:13

Wallington is in London Borough of Sutton and is near Croydon.

Jenniferlyndley · 27/09/2018 14:14

Walthamstow/leytonstone/leyton- lots of hipster cafes, good schools (especially primary). I have lots of friends around there with young DCs (especially Walthamstow) who rave about it

DappledThings · 27/09/2018 14:17

Crystal Palace. Wanky cafes and lovely parks aplenty. Amazing views over the city. Trains to Victoria, London Bridge and Islington. Brilliant community.

You can still get good 3 beds there for 500k.

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 27/09/2018 14:20

I do appreciate everyone’s help and if people consider me to be lazy and don’t want to recommend any areas that’s fine!!

I have looked at rightmove but I found the choice totally overwhelming. In real life I would find some people who live in London and just have a chat to them about it. I don’t know anyone who lives in London and thought mumsnet might have real people who would be willing to chat to me as many of you have.

Part of the reason I’ve on here and not dutifully sorting through rightmove is because I’m terrified and I’m loving the reassurance from ordinary mumsnetters.

Logically I know london is just a place where people live and work, like anywhere else. But illogically I view it as THAT LONDON Blush (if anyone actually understands what I mean by that!!)

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Cheeseplantandpickle · 27/09/2018 14:21

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72575555.html

550k but prices are slowing down.
Plenty of hipster cafes round here

Momotheathlete · 27/09/2018 14:24

New Malden? Technically Surrey, but 22 minutes into Waterloo and lots of good schools.

Burp1 · 27/09/2018 14:26

Greenwich is nice but a two bed terrace is about £700k

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 27/09/2018 14:26

I know the houses on Ickworth Rd (the Walthamstow on) and they are minuscule. And also not in an area with hipster cafes etc, but mostly just teeeeeny.

GreyCloudsToday · 27/09/2018 14:26

Tell us what you like about where you live now and we could try to narrow down your options? London areas do have different very styles. South East London is definitely cheaper overall.

Would you consider buying at auction or something like that to make the most of your money?

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 27/09/2018 14:28

Feeling very seduced by Streatham. Definitely on the list to go and stay for the weekend in the next month or two.

Crystal Palace looks a tad expensive but lovely. Walthamstow agree nice houses but seems maybe quite far out. Will have to just try travelling there from somewhere like Covent Garden I guess.

Just made the mistake of upping my £££ parameters and looking in Shoreditch haha. Always do this, I’m too easily distracted

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GreyCloudsToday · 27/09/2018 14:29

Brockley instead of Greenwich or Deptford? What area will your DH be commuting to?

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56527131.html

Bear2014 · 27/09/2018 14:32

Catford/Forest Hill borders. Great transport links, green spaces, very up and coming.

DappledThings · 27/09/2018 14:33

Streatham does have its charms. And is only a 10-15 minute bus ride from lovely Crystal Palace (on a choice of two different routes)

RossPoldarkfan · 27/09/2018 14:34

I agree with those saying Bromley though Croydon is cheaper and great train links from East Croydon. Hither Green is in Lewisham and other parts of Lewisham are quite cheap such as Catford and Sydenham. Penge is in Bromley borough but more central and good prices. I think Greenwich is expensive as is Streatham.

Azure83 · 27/09/2018 14:35

Eltham. It has a bit of a bad rep but you can find a lot of house for that money and the funky cafes are coming. Good school and and lots of green spaces.

Mookatron · 27/09/2018 14:37

Streatham is great, full of young families and easy for Mayfair/Paddington.

Lewisham itself is always slagged off and TBH it is a bit dodgy in parts but some bits are lovely and the underground is coming that way, so it could be a very good investment long term. www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56138922.html e.g.

skippy67 · 27/09/2018 14:39

Hayes in Bromley has great transport links to London. Bromley south to Victoria in less than 20 mins. Hayes line to Charing Cross in 40. Bit low on the wanky cafe front, but Beckenham up the road has loads...

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 27/09/2018 14:41

Someone asked where we live now. So our house is:

  • On a lively bus route into the tourist centre, buses every 10 mins
  • Three good museums, an art gallery and an aquarium within easy reach
  • Half an hour from the big train station
  • three parks nearby, none of them particularly big or amazing, but well kept outdoor spaces with a few bits of play equipment
  • Three bedrooms
  • Small courtyard garden
  • two very good schools within walking distance
  • quiet road
  • reasonable bus service to a big shopping complex (one every half hour) but we rarely go there, we shop online for nearly everything

I have autism as does one DC, one has other SEN. We like repetition, we like cafes, we like well run museums and libraries.

Don’t know if that helps.

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