Where would you buy a family pied a terre in Central(ish) London?

[LaSorciereEfrontee]

For sad reasons (please don't ask), we have the wherewithal to buy a family pied a terre in London. It would be used for overnight stays for work/ play, longer breaks for us and visiting family and possibly accommodation for future student DCs and their cousins (all currently teens, scattered about the world.)

We have family in posh bits of North and West London that we can't afford. We live in Suffolk so are looking more East, which is where we lived as a couple (Bethnal Green.)

The location options feel a bit overwhelming (and expensive), and I imagine neighbourhoods have changed a lot since we lived there last. Any ideas for nice spots to look that have good transport links to Central London, nice pubs, cafes and a little park for visiting hounds, are safe and might fit our budget of 500k for 2 beds?

Any ideas welcomed.

I haven’t lived there but I’ve recently spent a bit of time in Deptford and thought how nice it was 🙂 no idea about house prices though, sorry!

I've never even been there! Will take a look.

How much do you want to pay for Leasehold each year?

Wanstead. Lives there for 12 years and would go back in a heartbeat. Great links to the central line - 30 mins to Oxford Circus and three stops to Stratford, including Westfield, the Olympic park and pool. Quick driving to the M11.

Very posh. Green spaces. Also South Woodford which is a touch cheaper.

We can pay the leasehold out of our own money each year, so unless it's huge, that's not a big worry. I don't want a really short lease though, or I guess ti pay for facilities like pools that we don't use.

Deptford is not nice.

If you're coming from Suffolk what station would you come into?

Canary Wharf?

Wanstead is on my list. It was where I to move to years ago but we ended up moving out of london. I'm going to look at booking some viewings there I think, if there's anywhere near the station.

Liverpool Street, so somewhere on the red, pink, green or burgundy lines would be good.

Sorry for your sad circumstances, but I regularly search rightmove for my fantasy pied-a-terre. Not helpful at all, sorry.

Not that central but good transport links/ easy to get to from Suffolk - Stratford

Nicer area but still easy to get to (but Blackwall tunnel) - Greenwich

And purple - Elizabeth Line might open more options

Thank you. I do the same for Val d'Isere!

Is barbican in budget?

I wish! I dream of retiring there but it's really, really expensive.
DPIL lived there when they first lived in London and it was all new.

Shoreditch

You wouldn't get a nice 2 bed in Shoreditch for 500k.

Sadly I think Shoreditch is out. Similarly Clerkenwell.

Dies anyone know what Bethnal Green and Bow are like now? Maybe near the park.

Angel or Canonbury?

I found this place in the Shoreditch area:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151975358#/?channel=RES_BUY

I live in Bow, what do you need to know?

@poppyzbrite4 Amazing! We are looking at a flat on Wellington Road in Saturday (I lived there 20 years ago!)
What is that area like now? Any other roads or areas you would recommend or avoid? Similarly, any tips for Bethnal Green.
I'd like to be near V Park but I know that comes at a premium and isn't as convenient for transport links compared with Bow Road. I'm also conscious the flat will be used by (pretty square, country mouse) teens and me when I visit alone, so would want to feel it's pretty safe (not that I ever fretted about that as a young 'un living there.)

@poppyzbrite4 I can't believe there's a fiat in Spitalfields we could afford. It's brilliant. I bet it'll be snapped up. That's such a lovely spot. There is a real danger I'd never be home in Suffolk again.

Here is the flat in Bow www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144617861#/?channel=RES_BUY

I live five minutes from Victoria Park. I'm just off the Roman Road. My nearest tubes are Bethnal Green and Mile End. My bus is the No 8 that takes you into central London and is 24/7.

The area I live in is very safe and I've been here over a decade with no problems. It's a mixture of 'gritty' and gentrified. The Roman Road market is a five minute walk and sells clothes, vegetables etc the usual fare.

There are a few decent pubs, but where I live is very quiet. Bethnal Green is 'grittier'.

Share of freehold, quite useful.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149318087

Vauxhall, close to Victoria, Clapham and the SouthBank

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150844823#/?channel=RES_BUY