To think affordable AND pleasant areas do not exist in outer London area?

[CJ2010]

I currently live on the SE London / Kent border and have had enough of it. Area is rapidly declining and the train service into London isn't great. We have a DD (1 year) and another DC on the way, so we plan to do our move in the next year or so, before we have to start worrying about schools etc.

Where we currently live, it feels like you are in the minority if you actually go to work, lots of layabouts round here & it's just generally declining. I want to live amongst respectable working people. Where is this place???!!!

Things to consider:

1. We can afford to go up to 250k for a property.

1. Need a good train service into London - DP uses London Bridge station. Plus, no more than 1 hour commute each way.

1. Good schools

1. Pleasant environment, nice people, good selection of shops and cafes, parks & green space.

1. Hospital with A & e nearby, plus a number of good doctors sugeries and dentists.

I would be really grateful for suggestions, then I can begin to work on my escape plan!

Before anyone suggests St Albans or Richmond - we can't afford them!!!

desperatelyseeking with you on that!

It's worth bearing in mind the further out of London you go, and once you get outside zones 1-6 travel costs increase hugely. My annual season ticket (Zone 5) is about £1500 pa; a colleague who lives in Medway area pays more than double that.

Brighton of course! Within your price range and I would like to correct the comment about Brighton beach being dreadful...I spent some of the weekend on it and it was absolutely gorgeous! You will be between the sea and the lovely South Downs and it feels relatively safe compared to South london (where I once lived).

The only downside is that no commute is a good commute

hatesponge, it's all relative - it may cost more to travel, but your pay is London weighted whilst your property is substantially cheaper. Swings and roundabouts.

We sold a 2 bed flat with no garden for £250,000 3 years ago In Brockley - we moved out of London because if we'd stayed we'd never be able to move into a house!

As for Hither Green - yes lovely and great park and community feel etc etc but unless house prices have dropped by an AMAZING amount, £250,000 won't get you a house.

bibbitybobbityhat Sun 20-Mar-11 23:11:08
Who suggested Richmond?

I mis-read the OP. I thought she wrote someone had suggested Richmond! Opps

You could also look at the train lines into Kent and Essex and go for a nice village on a train line if you want rurual

www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=7040787

I used to work in Hither Green and in this road! These terraces are very small and gardens are minute ( but nice park nearby) and you'd still need another 50k on top of your budget.

All you lovely people posted and the OP didn't even bother to come back.

Brockley or East Dulwich maybe?

Been a student in South East for a long time and these are lovely family areas.

Not sure about the property prices, posh areas, but with a diverse feel in property so might be worth having a look.

colchester
affordable nice houses under 250K
28 mins liverpool st
hospitals (incl addenbrookes in cambs)
old part of town pretty - local villages with markets, open spaces
new theater and arts center
lots of decent schools

Yes Brockley (well, parts of Brockley) and East Dulwich are nice family areas because they are really expensive!

Thing is what you end up saving on a house if you move out, you end up paying on trains into London. I am only 30 mins into Euston from where I live but a train ticket is a lot every year - make sure you factor that in.

Have lived in Brighton and for a young couple it's brilliant. Fantastic feel about the place and a very easy commute, being on the terminus each way. Down sides are that £250 won't get a family a great place and the school situation is not brilliant. The commute will also cost you. Currently live in Hitchin and as the poster above said Hitchin, Baldock, and Letchworth would be well worth you looking at. £250 will go a fair distance, schools are good and again a relatively easy commute, if pricey c£4k. Stevenage is a dump though.

Also second letchworth, fast train 25 mins to kx. Good schools, houses in various price ranges. I prefer Letchworth overall but Hitchin has better town centre.

Walthamstow Village is genuinely one of the best kept secrets that London has. It has lovely pubs, restaurants, some great schools and is near the forest. Around Walthamstow station and the main high road up towards Blackhorse Road is pretty dodgy but the other side is nice. I'm aware that Walthamstow Village is not totally representative of the rest of the borough but I think its unfair to say the whole borough is shit. Many of my friends have been pleasently surprised when they've visited. It's got a strong community spirit and has improved greatly in the last couple of years. I can afford to live in 'nicer' places but I love it here mainly because of the strong sense of community.

brockley, honor oak, crofton park, forest hill are all lovely.

Forest Hill 'lovely'....oh, come on!

My friend bought an ex-council house cheaply in Ham two years ago, close to the river, richmond park, ham common, good orimaries and an improveing secondary, but you would need to bus or bike (10 mins) to the railway station and tube it on the district line.

You could do Pinner for £250k, not the village itself maybe but nearby. Also Eastcote/Ruislip or Harrow Weald. Lots of green space, good for kids, Northwick Park hospital close by. Easy commute to London Bridge via Met and Jubilee lines. Only issue is I have heard that some schools are so popular that the catchment areas are tiny and £££. But I think that happens everywhere.

ROFL at lots of these suggestions. i think some of you are a little out of date re prices. 250k will not get you a family sizes (ie 3bed) place in nunhead, never mind east dulwich! we moved out of SE15 because we couldn't afford more than a flat, and i agree with the posters who recommend getting out of greater london altogether. we transferred jobs and came north, but if you can't easily do this then i think you are realistically looking at a longer commute.

Why do people keep suggesting places like Brockley, Honor Oak etc? - someone show me a house there for £250k!

valium you don't spend the difference in property on travel. Our 3/4 bed with garden cost £190k. A 3/4 in Zone 4 is +/- £300k. Travel doesn't cost £110k a year.

Sorry Charlotte x posted with you!