AIBU selling my house in zone 3 and buying a flat in zone 1?

[karmi2010]

I have actually posted in DIY as well but thought may be I could get more opinions here...

AIBU seriously considering selling my house in zone 3 and buying a flat (possible an ex-LA flat as they are larger and cheaper) in zone 1 primarily to shorten my commute?

I have a terraced house in London zone 3. It was OK for me previously, but now I have a 10-months old DD, schools around me aren't great so I am thinking of moving. I work in the City of London and my commute is just over an hour now. I am a single mum and have my mother living with me who is looking after my DD. This will be my home for the next 10 years or so, and realistically I need 3 bed, ideally with a garden or terrace/balcony.

Now the dilemma - when I sell the house, I can either afford a 3-bed ex-council flat somewhere closer to the centre of London and shorten my commute to 30mins or so, or get a nice house somewhere in zone 5, the commute will then be the same (hopefully) 1 hour or 1.10min.

I always thought that when I sell, I will move further out into a nicer house with more space and bigger garden, but when I started work a couple of months ago I realised that I really struggle with an hour commute - I work long hours and at the moment only see my DD for 30mins a day before she goes to sleep...

So I am seriously thinking about moving somewhere near Paddington or similar, so that I have 15-25mins commute door to door.

Am I mad? Will I regret not having a garden/living in a flat/living on an estate etc...?

Thank you so much again everyone!
Sparechange - the flats look great! Unfortunately, they won't work for me, sorry, I should have also mentioned that I need to be on the west side of London as all my friends are west/south-west and being a single mum I really need them ))
But I do feel better now, I will continue looking!
If anyone has got other area/flats suggestions more west of the centre, that is much appreciated!

Dammit now I want to move to Shoreditch, and I don't even live in London:o

I'd consider locations like Rotherhithe/Bermondsey as well - you'd be a short walk from Tower Bridge or the Jubilee line, and you still get a bit more for your money south of the river. Something like this? www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45159585.html

I think it sounds like a great idea. I'd give my eye teeth for a flat in Zone 1.

It's 30 mins to Farringdon on the met line from where I live (zone 5).

What about this 3 bed in Bloomsbury www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/41420822?search_identifier=919904dc3cb132ada941ff93c319cc9f#vLkuuDgOwzO4sFQl.97 although it seems to be currently let/

Or this one NW1 £660k www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/42059926?search_identifier=230b9df70ac85a2106541034a3119675#S0hkwUQEUZkYZ0a0.97

Or further out Harrow a house www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59345138.html

My god London prices are ridiculous...

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55458418.html

YANBU. Little Venice is a lovely area. I live in Clerkenwell which is also nice but being so close to the city does tend to 'close down' quite a lot at the weekends. There is a new development going up at the moment though behind Leather Lane, don't know what the prices are. Also I have primary and secondary age dc and they both are in excellent local schools.

I live in Zone 3 and it wouldn't take me that long to get to central london.
Probably half that time.

I would love to live centrally because that is my natural home but there are downsides.

Its up to you if you think it will work.

Makes a lot of sense to me (I work in central and live in Guildford but my commute is still only an hour thanks to fast trains) you don't need a garden but worth being near some green space.

Wondered if this website might help you:
www.locrating.com

how about a garden flat? or a roof garden if that would be safe enough?

Gardens are great but really only very important up to the age of 10 or so.

If there is a park close to where you buy then at least you would have that option.

For me quality of life with a short commute wins every time. London is crazy money though and 700k for a 3 bed is not a lot (madness i know)

I wouldn't live in Paddington its quite grotty. Have you thought about Bloomsbury? I loved living there when i was younger, these days I want a garden and space thouhg.

What about Shepherds Bush/Acton way?
You'd still get loads of your money but would be 20/30 mins on the tube to your office?

This looks like a fab buy and has 2 beds and a residences garden www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56525233.html

Just to add when i lived in bloomsbury I walked to the city, was a nice 25 min walk. All the amount you and your children save on travel cards will probably be over 100k, so worth paying more

As an alternative how about Bedford or St Albans? Direct line to Faringdon or Blackfriars. You would be at the start of the line with a guaranteed seat on the train. St Albans to Farringdon is 23 minutes.

Within 1 mile of St Albans:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchType=SALE&locationIdentifier=STATION%5E8573&insId=1&radius=1.0&minPrice=&maxPrice=700000&minBedrooms=3&maxBedrooms=&displayPropertyType=&maxDaysSinceAdded=&_includeSSTC=on&sortByPriceDescending=&primaryDisplayPropertyType=&secondaryDisplayPropertyType=&oldDisplayPropertyType=&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=&newHome=&auction=false

jdoe8 you're one bedroom too short there. And that has a terrible small kitchen.

The ex-LA ones are better bets for a family.

Consider the Barbican?

How would Greenwich or Canary wharf work for a commute? Both are areas that I would consider for London family life

Sorry for delays in responding, I am extremely grateful for all opinions and suggestions, and will be carefully considering them! Lot of things to think now! Thank you all very much again!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-47257535.html - Marylebone

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55458418.html - Maida Vale

St Albans?!
Suggesting St Albans to someone wanting to live in Zone 1 is a bit like suggesting an Iceland buffet to someone asking for recommendations for a restaurant!

The Central Line is the best line on the tube. Work your way along it until you find somewhere you like and can afford. Shepherds Bush and White City are already expensive but you may get lucky. Acton is still edgy but could prove to be a very clever buy.

Sorry to be mean but I'm tickled at someone suggesting Acton when she already lives in Zone 3!

If you're already in West London zone 3, could you hang on for Crossrail in 2018? I live in Ealing and can't WAIT for it to open and cut my commute into the City in half!
Even though 700k is a lot for a flat, it's a pretty safe investment.
My parents did the same thing in the 70s - moved in from the 'burbs and I grew up in zone 1 not far from Paddington. Everything was only a short hop away, it does make life easier. I do resent the 2 hrs a day I spend going to work and back now.... Do it!