...to move from a big house in the 'burbs to a small flt in the city?

[CockneySparra]

Has anyone else ever made this 'back to front' type of move?

I grew up in small flats in inner London, but we made the move to a 4 bed semi in the suburbs some years ago.

I miss living more centrally, though. DH does too. Would we be crazy to sell up - which would mean losing an extra bedroom, probably the garden, definitely a lot of the space in the house and the driveway etc - to move back 'into London'?

Anyone else done this.

We currently live in way up on the London/Herts borders, btw, but are thinking of moving to Kensal Rise/Queens Park or even Maida Vale if we can find something we can afford.

Let's put it this way living in the suburbs hasn't stunted my DS's social life. At times I need to look at a photograph of him to remind myself what he looks like

We did this before dd came along and would never think of going back.
There is loads going on round here for children and a lovely community buzz about the place.(we're in Kensal Rise)
The local schools are grand,and there is a great mix of 'locals" and new families.
We have a better family life here than we would of in the burbs.
Dh works in central london usually and is always home for bath time, which commuting out would never allow.
Do it!

Wandsworth has eleven-plus (year 6 test). Sutton, Merton, Bromley have lots of selective schools.

London schools are all oversubscribed. My son failed the Wandsworth year 6 test and we were forced to send him to a school in Merton. When we moved to Crystal Palace we could not find a place in any school in Lambeth, Bromley or Croydon. We were given the choice of withdrawing him from education totally,finding (and funding ourselves) private education or continuing to send him to Merton (2 hours travel each way).

As for SN provision, my younger son has HFA, dyspraxia and S&L delays. There is only one suitable school for him in our borough,with an intake of 12 pupils per year,and is heavily over-subscribed. LA have refused to fund a place at a nearby private Autism-specialist school

Ok, i can see that i spoke too soon - there is a lot to be said for Lundaaan, i have always live where i live now and love it, but not everyone can live here although half of london population do seem to want to and descend here every weekend!!

TanteAC High five back

Dean city farm is facing closure (funding withdrawn by LA)

Horniman museum has started to charge entry fees for aquarium.

Crystal Palace park, a large part is being sold off to developers for flats. The athletics stadium is being sold to CPFC, along with the sports centre. These will both be demolished so a new football stadium can be built. A large chunk of the park will vanish in this development.

Just a snapshot of what's happening in my area.

Wandsworth has one school that takes about 60 "grammar" places a year (that's only two classes out of the nine that the school takes each year). I don't know much about Bromley but it is part of Kent which has the grammar school system largely in place; Sutton has some grammars (and some comps) - I wasn't aware that schools in Merton were grammars - out of interest which ones?

I'm sorry that you had difficulty finding specialist provision for your other son - again, it's not something I know a great deal about - but my impression is that London has far fewer grammar schools that most other cities and many non-urban areas.

So one borough in London has introduced selection. (Sutton, Merton and Bromley aren't in London)

There is a shortage of school spaces in London though.

Hmmm. And the Horniman seems to charge £1 per child and £2 per adult for one bit out of many.

There are three Grammar schools in London - Latymer, Henrietta Barnet and St. Michaels.

Sutton,Merton Bromley and Croydon ARE ALL IN LONDON

FFS

Or are they not part of 'proper' London.

Just out of interest, where do you think London starts/ends?

London is places with London postcodes.

Sutton,Merton Bromley and Croydon are suburbs.

There are other types of selective school,it's not all grammar vs comp. Most Wandsworth schools use a mix of Year 6 test and tight catchement areas. Several use additional aptitude testing.

21 Grammar schools in London btw.

Merton has SW17 and SW19 postcodes.
Bromley has SE21/22/24 Postcodes
Ditto Croydon.

No grammar schools in west sussex. None nada zilch

None of the Grammar Schools in those Brooughs are in those postcodes though.

I agree it's annoying that boundries are fudged in this way though.

Only the three schools I mentioned are grammar schools with London postcodes.

Faith schools are problem as well, as are small catchment areas. We need more, better schools and consistent admissions criteria.

Yes - I really do agree that faith schools are a problem - not one that is likely to be addressed, mind you.

Woah. thsi has moved on a bit. Fwiw, I do live in London. Zone 4, so not that far out. I just hanker for Zone 2 life, i suppose. I don't think I am being 'selfish',. I grew up in inner London and had a great childhood .

Reasons in my mind are: being closer to work, so a 20 min commute each way for both me and DH rather than 60-90 minutes each way. Being closer to almost all of our friends. Being in a more mixed area (we are a mixed race family). Being closer to all the things we access regularly anyway - museums, parks, shops, yes nightlife.
Oh and I dunno, I do miss the grime. I was born and bred in inner London. I love it.

I think any kid living in a 3bed flat 9which is what we could afford) in QP or Maida bloody Vale should thank their lucky stars for the privileged life they lead, so I am NOT worried about my kids.

No knickers in twists, though, peeps, this is all just ruminating. I am not about to put my house on the market and move my kids down to crack alley

excuse shocking typing

I would do it, especially if it means that you can spend more time with the children.

We have a baby girl, and we live in a 3 bed maisonette in Westminster. We LOVE it - lots of lovely baby groups, parks and activities. Personally I think living in a flat can force you to make more effort with children, taking them on walks/to the zoo/to the park etc. But some of our friends who have moved out do seem to think it is tantamount to child abuse. Maybe one day she'll write one of those self-pity books: "Mummy, how could you let me languish in Battersea Park?"

Wherever you live in london there will always be a park close by. Its not as if you bring up dcs in a 'cement-city'.

Space wise what about family? If you live in a small flat with 2 dcs this will mean that you will never be able to have over-night guests. If you are ok with this then i think it is fine. The reason we moved from zone 2 to outskirts is this. Our families live abroad and they often visit and my parents will probably come and stay soon. Otherwise i could happily live in a central flat with no garden. I'm from continent and i'm used to it.

Tbh nothing depresses me more than a wet garden.

OP we are close to you (Barnet) and the schools are good. I know it is not central but maybe it meets you halfway?

we are very squeased in our small London flat & really need to move. I keep putting it off as I actually LOVE living in the area - West Kensington - and dread being lost in the 'burbs, commuting etc. probably irrational of me I know, but I think there is a lot to be said about living in central(ish) London.

ive recently done this..large home in a Herts village to a small flat in a London borough. It's too small, i feel a bit claustrophobic as partner is a hoarder whereas i deliberatly 'downsized'. Does the good outweigh the bad..hmm havent decided yet. Really miss the space/garden/living on different floors. Hate now being above someone and being paranoid about keeping quiet. Have nowhere to dry clothes so we havent bothered with a washing machine/drier (no room anyway) so going to the launderette is a right slog.
No parking at all . Have to park not very near by, which always worries me in case anything happens to car. No one has visited us yet because of the no parking.
However..i do love having so much on doorstep. Lovely towns and easy to get into central London. Royal parks very near and the Thames. think i'll appreciate it a lot more when weather improves. Can walk to so many places..and buses are sooo cheap compared to car. Transport is great and very reliable....what a contrast to Herts! Don't have kids/ stepson comes at weekends. Which is horrendously cramped. No spare room. If we have any guests it will be sofa or nothing.