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.

Around Victoria Park, Hackney?

My daughter's dad lives in Walthamstow, she likes it very much.

I used to live in Walthamstow in a Warner flat. The mile walk to either tube was a PITA.

Battersea? Small but cute. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/152531786#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or a boat on the Thames!!!!! https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149388497#/?channel=RES_BUY

Bloomsbury.

Currently one on Rightmove, 2 bed with balcony so easy lock up and leave. Super central, you’ll be able to walk everywhere. It’s a nice part of town - central but residential too.

Can’t link via app but here are the details. On with Foxtons:

Key features

• Well proportioned three bedroom third floor flat
• Bright and spacious reception room with space to dine
• Separate well equipped kitchen
• Generous sized bedrooms with built in wardrobe
• Close to a wealth of amenities and transport links

Full Description Well proportioned throughout this lovely two bedroom third floor flat boasts a large reception room, generous sized bedrooms with built in wardrobe and a private balcony.

Cromer Street is enviably situated within easy reach of the many amenities of King's Cross with Russell Square and Bloomsbury only slightly further afield.

Please use the reference CHPK3384344 when contacting Foxtons.

How about Camberwell? Denmark Hill is ten mins to Victoria or there's Oval ten mins walk away if you're the right side. The area around Myatt's Fields is lovely (Boris Johnson had a hosue there but never lived in it). Lots of parks, fabulous restaurants and cafes. I used to live there and miss it so much!

This is on one of the nicest streets in London!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151920716

If I was a rural teen, the idea of being able to stay in a relative's flat in Bloomsbury would just be amazing. Everything is in walking distance.

Easy. Kennington or Oval.

Battersea

Ooh. Thanks to whoever put Bloomsbury into the mix. It's amazingly central and we have a niece who has applied to SOAS, so this would work. DD's lovely godmother lives on Lambs Conduit Street and would love to have us nearby (and would keep a cool but keen eye on visiting teens.)

@LaSorciereEfrontee would she be my godmother too? I love Lamb’s Conduit Street!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137923121

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149340284

great location.

I haven’t done an extensive search, but came on to suggest Bethnal Green.
online locally.
it’s a great spot for local hanging out, easy to get home from everywhere, easy to Liverpool st.

The going rate for a decent 2-bed flat in central and most of inner London is more like £650k+ these days.

But you could find a 50sqm 1-bed for £450k-£500k in a great location.

How about this for example in County Hall, just over the the bridge from Westminster?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127930118#/?channel=RES_BUY

Pimlico would be another place to look. You could find somewhere around Queensway or Bayswater or Edgware Road too.

If you find somewhere with a self contained lounge, you can get a sofa bed so that a few of you can stay in the flat at the same time.

Forest Hill. Easy and quick from Liverpool st on elizabeth & overground lines, loads of parks, very dog friendly, nice cafes, pubs, restaurants, not overpriced, well connected to london bridge (14 mins) and canary wharf/shoreditch etc. Gentrifying so you’d make money too unlike areas that are already expensive (Greenwich/Hackney etc)

Me too. If I have the cash I would live somewhere with a view of Tower Bridge

But Forest Hill is really not pied-a-terre territory!

Instead it’s bringing up family, suburban London. Along with Crystal Palace, Penge, Brockley, etc.

Having said that, maybe Wimbledon would also be worth looking in to as it’s a big centre in and of itself, and also very international.

Kentish Town or Dartmouth Park

You may be able to find somewhere around Maida Vale?

I would look around Camberwell which is good for cafes etc and has some nice parks and a good amount of community activities.
eg. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144661670

Easy walk to Oval or there's millions of buses heading up to Vauxhall Bridge into the centre.

OP, what's your definition of future proofed FAMILY pied a terre?
For family, I guess it would have to be incredibly flexible to accommodate a full house (maybe Xmas) and host student years/ starting off for you young family...
my list would be:

• near different tube lines / buses
• flexibility to accommodate at least six
• lock up and leave
• balcony/ outdoor space
• separate kitchen,
• extra wc

These two examples require work, but give flexibility

• Angel
• Tower Hill

Some of these suggestions seem a long way out, like Walthamstow and Blackheath. I love the Bloomsbury idea.

This flat in Whitechapel is very good value at £550k. It needs a bit of updating but nothing material. Very long lease at 970 years and share of freehold. Pre-Covid 2 bed flats in this building were selling for £700k+. The exterior of the building was recently refurbished and the internal areas are currently being redecorated so no major works etc will be due for another 15-20 years. The building is right next door to Whitechapel station (so Elizabeth, District, Hammersmith & City lines plus the Overground), across the road from the big Whitechapel Sainsburys and is 10 mins walk to Spitalfields and your old stomping ground Bethnal Green. (Secure) parking spaces are available to rent and there's an onsite building manager Mon-Fri.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147562652#/?channel=RES_BUY

If you're (at any point) planning to drive from Suffolk rather than get the train, I'd avoid south of the river. Blackwall and Rotherhithe tunnels are a nightmare these days, and the Dartford Crossing is no better. Unless you like sitting in traffic jams.

Guessing that’s your flat!

Service charge of £3882.82 and a rough location might put OP off, I fear.

No it isn't my flat!!! Not at all. But I know the building very well and the area very well as I've lived locally for 25+ years and have been involved in redevelopment in the area. And it isn't a rough location. Years ago yes but no longer.

Edit: To add, the estate agent should be fired as the particulars are terrible, as are the photos. Not a reflection of the reality at all. No wonder the price has been reduced.