Moving to London renting -Help with areas and schools

[Movingmovingmoving16]

Posting for traffic.

Please advise on areas you would recommend to move to in London.

Plan to move from current area (North) to London for the school year September 2017 (assume a new school year would be the best time to move for a then year 2 child?)

Currently have no ties where living, just divorced. Have decided for work (IT contracting), lack of childcare and good schools, London would be the best option.

Need a safe area with lots of good schools (state) where a place offered is likely! (Along with a good school club/childcare at home). Plus nursery or home childcare for then 3 year old.

Will be renting (Buying will be unobtainable in London).

Suggestions please

[Movingmovingmoving16]

Thank you Firawla, I don't mind at all us living in outer London. The concern is the commute (as certainly at first there'll only be me to collect children ontime from separate childcare). I'll look into these areas thank you.

[Movingmovingmoving16]

The schools are what I find most concerning -oversubscription and requirement to live almost within metres. At least with renting it'll be easier than being able to buy. Thank you toots, I'll contact the councils to find out our chances (I had thought at least with moving next year, with my younger child we should have a choice as applying for reception in area, and to go to the same school as older child. The biggest concern is the older child's school place).

[Rollercoaster1920]

You mentioned that family of over seas, so what nationality are you? There trend to be pockets in London with large numbers of ex-pats that you might find helps. French in Kensington for example.

[Domino20]

Sounds like you should be trying to do a house share with another single mum (or two). Bigger better property possibilities and possibly some quid pro quo with childcare arrangements?

[Movingmovingmoving16]

Family are outside of Europe and can see living in the same community has benefits it's not what we need/important or want to be living in the area just for the community, which would be one area. Preference (not important) would be Londoners with mixed communities.
Another single parent/s and bigger house sounds good (not so much children getting along and parents, makes it even more complex).

[cestlavielife]

I think you will find it difficult to get some one reliable for 7 to 8 and 6 to 7 pm. You may be better offering regular and more hours so after school til 7 pm . Or an au pair living in. How many dc? Can they share ?

[JacquettaWoodville]

Can you stay in your current area, even if you need to sell and rent/buy something smaller there? I think the move you plan will be very difficult.

[Movingmovingmoving16]

We could stay where we are. Problem is the schools are only OK, childcare limited. My work is limited, no choice to take planned time off from work or work concurrently. (Need to accept what work available, whenever it is available). Positive is owning our house. Houses are realistic prices to buy.
I worry all the time about the work and must work.
We have no family, not many friends here and only live here for ex husband work. here (good for his job, sector and good commute, living in cheap housing area. Not so good for schools and opportunities, now and future for children or me to keep them).

[TheAnswerIsYes]

I second the suggestion of Eastcote/Ruislip/Pinner areas. I live here and my closest 5 schools are all outstanding. Getting into London is easy as you have Metropolitan, Picadilly and Central Lines for the Tube as well as Main Line. The area is fab for children, there is loads to do locally. Rent costs are reasonable compared to the rest of London.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-61037264.html
Something like this would probably suit you. Walking distance to station, good and outstanding schools nearby, 3 bedroom yet under budget.

[Sosidges]

East London has good transport links and tends to,be cheaper. Good schools, Ilford, Woodford, Loughton. Cheaper properties in Manor Park, Foresr Gate.

Close to Central line in Barkingside, 3 bedroom house is renting for £1400 a month.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

We used to live in Forest Hill which was nice enough, and the Horniman side I found nice and peaceful, and Peckham Rye and East Dulwich walking distance :) lots of primary schools around which all seemed very nice. Great transport links into London Bridge although Southern Rail and no tube. I'd recommend though!

[coffeeslave]

I had been put off East London with how a street can be safe and the next seems to be one to avoid

That is ALL of London, not just east! There are some very very "naice" parts of east London (Aldersbrook is one, no-one ever seems to have heard of it; also Wanstead is super naice)

[SoOverItNow]

Look at Balham or Tooting areas. Zone 3.

Good place for families , lots of parks, good childcare and schools, on tube and also has mainline trains.

[Kpo58]

The Sutton borough has some of the best schools in the country.

[Blu]

Good schools is one thing; being near to a cluster of sizable schools where there is a certain level of mobile population will give a greater chance of an in-year place. Many of the popular outstanding middle class favoured schools don't have new places coming up because the families moved to be there.

You don't need an outstanding school. London schools perform well on the whole and since the ofsted recalibration, good schools are good schools, iyswim.

Look at Streatham Hill and West Norwood. Somewhere in the thick of the Hitherfirld, dunraven, Streatham Wells triangle would be good, or Sunnyhill / Julian's / Dunraven.

Good train lines from W Norwood, Tulse Hill or Streatham Hill, bus down the road to Brixton Tube.

Brockwell Park, West Norwood Feast, etc.

Not a totally fashionable area so tents cheaper than E Dulwich etc.

[fabulousathome]

Highams Park and Chingford, though not on the tube network directly allow you to get to Liverpool Street on the Overground very quickly. Nice areas that are getting more popular and are leafy and safe. Schools are good too.