If you left central London to move further out...

[ElkieMacjibe]

Do you have any regrets? Where djd you move to?

The other thing that worries me about moving out is time with the kids and childcare. At the moment on the 2 days of nursery I can drop them at 8 and be in work by 8.30/8.45 and DH can collect them at 6 latest and I be home by 6.30. Not sure how that would work if further out, would have to leave work earlier and I would probably miss bedtime I guess. And when that becomes school times, even more stressful! (Wherever we live).

We moved from Bloomsbury to zone 6 in SW London and have no regrets. We were lucky as we bought before the house prices went crazy around here- there is no way we could afford to move here now! I think that will be your biggest problem OP (unless your idea of affordable is very different to mine!) pretty much all of the places commutable to central London with good schools are eye wateringly expensive now. Although if the property price crash that people on mumsnet seem to be predicting happens then things might change.

@ElkieMacjibe

We are looking in Streatham at the moment. I like it but it sort of feels like half London/ half somewhere else.

The deciding factor for me will be schools and space for visitors. I would really like my family to be able to come and not need to share a room with my son! But I'm also scared they want really fancy a weekend in streatham!

I lived in Fulham for most of my adult life and then moved to Bucks about 17 years ago when I retired. I regret it but can't move back unless I win the lottery.

Why? I thought Bucks was supposed to be very nice?
Parts of Fulham (near me) are frankly shit!

OP did you look at areas I suggested? With that budget you can comfortably stay in London, no need to move far out and give yourself a long and expensive commute!

I'd look at zone 5/6 suburbs. South of London is usually better value for money imo depending on how often you visit family. You can take an equivalent semi-d from say, Barnet or Enfield, transplant to Croydon or Bromley, save £100k and add a larger garden.

In London suburbs there are likeminded working families. You can drive out to everything home counties offer. 10-20 minutes by car to beautiful semi-rural villages and country parks. If you go any further out but still need to commute to London there is the commute time and cost. Whatever you spend on trains is irrecoverable. That distance also creates a marked change in lifestyle where you mentioned childcare (smaller town 'local' mentality where majority of mums don't work...)

Have you thought of Woolwich, dartford, or Bellingham? Notice that no one is offering south east of the river.... still part of London.

Thanks everyone so far this is helping me consolidate my thoughts.

If we are going to move it needs to be north/north east. That at least makes it easier to see DH's family. Mine are about 3 hours west but the hope is getting a bigger house would make it easier for them to stay with us for longer periods.

I am coming round to the idea we could move to Bishops Stortford. It would be such a difference house/garden wise and talking to DH I think we could potentially juggle our working patterns to not need childcare for too many days. The research is making me realise secondary schools are quite important to me - BS ones all seem to have quirks in terms of admissions but there are a few options. I don't think there's much point considering other train-only options outside London because BS has the family/close friend links which are a big attraction.

I'm still exploring whether zone 3/4/5/6 north/north east London could work. Looking at places like Higham Park as suggested. I'm not sure I can find somewhere that ticks several good school options, niceish shops/high street and decent size house for the budget (of course - if it existed everyone would live there!).