to want to move to London next year

[GitAwfMayLend]

Hate living in Gloucestershire. It's bollocks.

I work in Swindon - loads of Londoners commute down here.

DP can work anywhere.

DD has got GCSEs and would need a college place, but she would certainly be up for it (has the wanderlust like me and DP).

Acton is in west London between Ealing and Shepherds Bush. Quite nice and affordable according to one couple who moved out to start a family. I don't know it that well - NB if you see properties advertised, you need ring up and ask what the postcode is, because some estate agents choose a "nicer"name to sell their property, eg it might be in Camberwell (rough) but they say Dulwich(varies from plush to crowded, but most of it is plush) as they are next to each other.

I liked London a lot, but it does depend on which part you choose to live, and I expect the buzz and stimulation is great for teenagers, possibly more educational for them too. Worth checking which colleges/schools with sixth form your DD will be able to get into, so she gets the best chances of uni/higher education offers. It sounds like a good idea, esp if you DD (no other kids who are younger?) is now college age.

Obviously also need to check ease of access - how far to train station, commuting times from door to door, train timetables to make sure frequency of trains is sufficient. Do you have this weblink? www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1106.aspx

Or get to Reading on the Waterloo line and change onto the fast train. That opens up lots of SW London options - Putney, Richmond, Twickenham.

a 3 bedroom flat in Fulham

What's wrong with these places? I thought we would get a bedsit for our budget?

3 bed Art Deco in central Richmond

Don't forget to factor in the train fares!

Poor Pia is holding her head in her hands sobbing.

Richmond and Fulham!

South makes a very good point about the postcode thing

Bathroom in that Fulham one looks a bit poky though GO

we're moving back at the end of May after 6 years away. Can't wait! We're going for North London.

Chippy did you move back with children?

Burlington Place, Fulham SW6 sounds lovely. I could live there

I don't think of Richmond as proper London ...

Hillingdon can be quite congested - so too many people on roads, not enough schools, hospitals, too much pollution, etc. But you can't always tell just from one name. If you like the look of the flat/house from pictures, get the postcode and type it into Google Maps to see how far it is from the train station. I presume you will to need to commute for a while before your work actually moves to Whitehall. Also use the tfl link to work out how much time it takes to commute into the Westminster area.

And then you'll need a couple of day trips in to look around and try out the trains. Timings on tfl and google maps will vary according to traffic, and some places are at a standstill at certain commuting times. For areas like Whitehall, it is now not unusual for people to leave home (even in zone 1) at 6.55 to 7.10am to beat the rush hour, as rush hour (paradoxically) can mean a snail's crawl in some areas. Looks like you will need access to Paddington for the Swindon train. District line (most parts of Acton) is better than Metropolitan or Piccadilly Line going to Hillingdon - more trains, andnot as crowded as M or P lines at rush hour. Or you could just stay around the Paddington area if you don't mind being in a very small (but resaleable) propert. Don't forget congestion charges and parking space if you need to keep a car. (If you want 2 cars you'll definitely have to stay outside zone 1). Pick an area that has more than one tube line as well as buses for your commute - if there are engineering works/repairs (which can last months) you don't want to be stranded taking 3 different buses and walking just to get to the train station in the mornings and back in the evening.

For trains look up www.nationalrail.co.uk/

May I put in a word - as I always do - for inner SE London. 10 mins to London Bridge/15 mins to Charing Cross on the train, loads of green space, close to nice places like Blackheath and Greenwich, some decent 6th forms and you could get somewhere like this 3 double bed house with plenty left in your budget for decoration.

My parents live in Gloucester and I HATE visiting them there, I come from a rural area originally, and Gloucester really is the worst of both worlds.

I live in East London (Bethnal Green) at the moment and I LOVE it. I don't have any kids though, so can't really comment on how it would be for your daughter. I think people really overstate how dangerous London is - I get far less hassle here than I have done in other places I've lived and generally people are friendly if stand-offish (which I prefer). For example, my neighbours invite us round if they're having a party, even though we don't know them, and people offer to help you with luggage/whatever on the tube. They just don't stick their nose into your business.

Bethnal Green has loads going for it - the area round Columbia Road is particularly lovely, loads of coffee shops and little shops. Battersea is OK too but a bit crap for public transport.

Even though we really scrape by and never have any money at the end of the month, I wouldn't change living here. You have everything on your doorstep, you never miss out on stuff like gigs or theatre, and you can do loads of stuff for free. Spose you just have to weigh up the pros and cons but if you're bored in the provinces, why WOULDN'T you move here? If the worst comes to the worst and you hate it, you can always move again, no?

Thank you so much south.

I moved to London straight after my gcses and did my a levels there and loved it. I had been brought up in ireland and wasn't shocked at all just delighted by teh whole vibe.Lived in Wimbledon til I was 32 and now in Brighton and often wish I had stayed there! Although brighton is great it isn't as cool and never will be Go for it. Dulwich and Blackheath Greenwich are ;lovely. My oldest closest friend lives in Acton its nice

Fulham and Richmond sound good but could actually be miles away from any shops or train stations/bus stop despite the name. Could just be surrounded by tons and tons of houses-converted-into-flats, which usually means 1) hell trying to park one car (friends might not visit if you are inaccessible, but that's ok if you plan to meet outside in cafes/pubs anyway) 2) absolute congestion trying to get out first thing in the morning, unless you are happy to walk one mile to nearest tube/bus. Again do the type-postcode-into-google-maps routine to get your answer.

It's shit isn't it squashy.

That Ladywell house looks brilliant - I must say I am still very tempted by East London more than West. I can always wait until I get moved to Whitehall before I move.

We all heart Hackney

No to Harlesden

Ealing is lovely and green for children. Bits of Acton are nice

Hillingdon is not like living in London, nor is Uxbridge, IMO - suburbanish

That's good Noddy.

I often think how much dd would love to do her a levels in London. I know the reality is often different to how you would imagine it, however she is very much someone who embraces change and likes novelty, all 3 of us are like that. It does mean that we can get itchy feet and like change for changes sake, but the good thing is that we don't really get scared of moving about.

London would be daunting, though, for a 16 year old.

Richmond, Twickenham, Mortlake and Sheen are all lovely, but also not "real" London, IMO.

You're welcome, longtime Londoner, can you tell......didn't like it intially but for the remaining 10 years absolutely loved it, the crime/strikes/delays regardless. I even commuted out of central London daily to places from Fulham to Romford to Barnet to Guildford to Redbridge (Essex) as that was the nature of my work. And enjoyed it as I was in the opposite direction of the crowds.
That was great for Liverpool Street trains, Paddington trains and some southbound trains like Guildford. North London (the Winchmore hill/Gordon Hill/Stevenage line) commute was terrible because there were v few trains going the "opposite" way but you learn to get organised. Worth it once you get on the train and carriage is peaceful with plenty of seats.
You'll get very familiar with train station shops and stalls like Upper Crust, WH Smith, Costa Coffee ("cost a lot coffee!!") if you like that sort of thing ;-)

BeatieBow - yes, moved back with DC. Extended family were delighted to have them on the doorstep.

The problem with house-hunting in London is that nice and not-so-nice areas can be cheek-by-jowl. Agree that googlemaps and streetview are your friends here. Rightmove is a good property site as it has all that info on its listings, so eg the Richmond flat I linked to is slap bang in the centre. Richmond is on the tube line too. I live a few stops further up the Waterloo line and it's very easy to get in and out of town for the day/evening.

Do it Do it Do it Do it!

I also totally agree with FlamingJamie, those are the areas we have in mind....
So I will shout GetIntoMypatch!

It was not meant the way it sounds....