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).

I was in London aged 16. Not daunting if you are living there too. However, IME London has more in common with New York/Paris/big foreign cities than the countryside - Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire and I'm guessing, Gloucestershire too. (prob in no small part due to fact that London is itself a melting pot.)She can however take the train back to your old place and see her friends at some weekends if she feels she misses it. But on weekdays she'll too busy with school to be upset by it. But 16 is a great age for absorbing and enjoying new experiences. For a start, there is miles more variety of music/sports/art/events/cinema available in one NIGHT than there are in the countryside/villages in one month.

I always lived in North London, but imo South East is best if you have younger kids(although I know you don't OP) cos the overground is less stressy than the tube anyday.
Also, love Greenwich park. There is (or was) a great little pool on the east side of Greenwich Park where you get changed in a little wooden cubicle by the side of the pool, old style.
South London also feels a bit more laid back, and you get more for your money.
I think Greenwich (Borough of) also has some decent schools.

Thinking of moving back to London too...I just realised this!

Richmond is lovely, but a very expensive area to live in.

Quint - haha, that is funny!

dont leave hector and meeeeeeeeeeeee

i loved living in bristol (though agree with you about the schools) and cardiff (too far for you to commute). i am from rural wales and thought gloucester would be best of both worlds - lovely countryside plus easy access to a city. it isnt though i really do not get why people rave about shopping in cheltenham (so pretentious) and gloucester city is grotty. countryside is pretty here but not stunning

sorry not been much help!

If anyone wants to buy my house see here!!

(P.S. "Not daunting if you are living there too" = not daunting if mum and dad are there too. I just reread and realised it could have a double meaning)

Quint are you sure I can't convince you about SE? This place, maybe? (I forget what your budget was but I'm thinking it can't be too small if you're looking at Richmond/Sheen/Mortlake!)

It's right though, Chick.

Cheltenham shopping is rubbish. It is a vaguely pretty street with high street shops. But speak to anyone who is a Cheltenham local and they think it is marvellous.

Poor old Gloucester really is shit isn't it. As rubbish as Cheltenham is at least it is better than Gloucester.

I do love Bristol (and I love the people, Bristolians are in general very friendly) but DP would earn far more in London.

I still think with a teenager I would stick to somewhere more surburban. I like Barnet/finchley/archway(parts of) and Camden is on the doorstep. She will love Camden and you will love Primrose Hill (not to live in just to mooch in). Did you look at Belsize Park?

Ealingkate that is a lovely house.

Are you sure you want to move near Swindon

OMG Ladywellian, that house is erm, well, I hope they take that church organ with them when they move!

Can you find me something near Dulwich?

Yes I have looked at Belsize park (or rather Gospel Oak), you are right, DD loves Camden.

I am very pleased and surprised at what is in our price range, it is very exciting.

i'm tempted too....love London. have lived there twice

there is a house on houseswapper (housing association) in Islington....they are looking to move here to my area.....its a 6 bed townhouse. be a good swap.

really tempted,but cant yet.....dd's exams next year,then free to go..

Thank you GAML, we just want somewhere where the kids can get out and play more. Also DH's family are all round Avening, Ciren, Nailsworth area.

I wonder if she could get into Camden girls 6th form? It's all very exciting. Her friends would love coming to stay and going round the market and to the Worlds End!!!

Quint... if you don't mind modern, I've always rather liked the look of these houses, and it is very well situated for the best state school in the area, which is definitely a consideration in Southwark (and one of the reasons we now live in Lewisham!)

Oh, and I was rather hoping the church organ would stay. I think it adds character

Where'd everyone go? I know I was a bit off-topic but I was having fun indulging my inner Phil & Kirstie.

Let's do a nice houseswap - I live in Woodford (next door to Wanstead) and am looking to move back to Gloucestershire (I'm a Chalford girl!)

Wanstead lovely - water and woods. Woodford not quite so water, woods and village but nice too.

Victoria Park in Hackney, East London, v. lovely - village + close to E. London coolness, the City's history of cashflow, and Canary Wharf gleam.

But, Gloucs is lovely!! And mortgage-free ... You could have an isolated second-home/shack near the sea-side, and go there to dream among the wheeling birds.

I've just spent twenty minutes stood up on the tube and i could hardly breath. Are you ready for that?

[jumps up and down chanting 'Putney Putney Putney']

Harlesden? feckin' hell. Actin also rough.

Love Fulham, Chiswick & Richmond. And Hampstead.

Lots of shops and nice places to go in all of those and easy to get into central London.

In the last 10 years or so I've worked/lived in around west London and can say with some authority Harlesden is the most awful place I've ever worked. Very poor area, low education, high crime. And Acton not much better. Knife crime not uncommon. I used to get danger money working in Harlesden although I did really enjoy working in the rough bits and hated the posh (Chiswick/Kensington) but working and living are completely different requirements for me.