To want to move to Sutton, South London

[YungMAMA]

Me and Dh are currently living in Hove, he grew up here and I grew up in the Sussex countryside. DH works locally as a mathd teacher, I commute into London. However, im increasingly frustrated at the long commute, often getting on for 1:30hr, 1:45hr.

I began looking at London but our budget of £450k means we are limited to less trendy boroughs. We ideally want south London for easy access to South Coast.

Yesterday we went to view the area as well as a few houses.Dh has said the areas we looked at were rough and that he wouldn't want DC to grow up in that area.

AIBU to think Sutton is an ok place to live. Can any of you on this site from that area give any insight. From research the schools are fairly good, I know its a grammar area with some of the Comprehensives being bad.

[YungMAMA]

Oh forgot to mention my work has to be in London, I work in a specialist area of Law. If I was to get a job in B&H I would take a huge paycut.

[AaronBurrSirr]

Sutton is a bit... salt of the earth, putting it politely! Saying that, I’ve lived here for 6 years, and so do a lot of my family (growing up we were further into Surrey) and I love it! Like a lot of London boroughs there are lovely areas, not very nice areas, and lots in between. Plenty of good schools and good transport links, I’m pregnant with my first child and happy to be having them in this area. There’s a lot of regeneration going on in the town centre, and lovely parks nearby I.e. Nonsuch, Carshalton ponds, Cheam Park. It’s not fancy, but we like it!

[AaronBurrSirr]

If you were looking for somewhere a bit ‘nicer’, consider looking at Cheam and Ewell - further out but still good transport links

[Merryoldgoat]

What are you looking for? 3 bed house?

If so I’d try the Morden Raynes Park border, Wallington, Carshalton, Cheam (might have to be North Cheam though), West Ewell and bits of Epsom.

[Crazyoldmaurice]

I would give a pass to sutton personally. We live close to sutton in another much nicer borough (for the time being, due to have masses amd masses of new properties built over the next 10 years) and we are desperate to upsize with a new baby on the way but would rather make do here than move to a bigger pad in sutton which we could afford. Mainly down to the schools in sutton, I had a friend who moved from sutton to hove solely to avoid the schools in sutton. Could you not move a little further out into Surrey? Somewhere like walton on thames or weybridge?

[TreesRUs]

JoJoSM2 is always advocating for Sutton in property threads... sure they’ll be along shortly.

[SapatSea]

Would your DH consider changing schools? if you move closer to London he could get an inner or outer London weighting (depending on school location) which would add significantly to his salary. Experience of teaching in London is always desirable to schools elsewhere and there is often more opportunities to advance.This would open up your search, so you could target nice pockets in London areas and if needed still be near the SE coast train terminals for weekend visits to the parents.

Do you particularly want a house? if not, you could get a 2 bed flat in some nice SE London locations e.g. Balham (close to Clapham junction for trains to Hove). Would you miss the sea and the Downs?

[Paperyfish]

I work in Sutton and live near by- I think it’s really quite nice. Not posh by any measure, but feel safe there and plenty to do.

[YungMAMA]

We would ideally like a 3 bed house, but are happy with a 3 bed apartment. We looked at homes in Sutton (SM1) and Carshalton, Wallington and Hackbridge which was a new development so Help to Buy.

Cheam appears to be out of our budget, as is Surrey. I dont drive so need to be near a Station and Bus routes so imagine Surrey would prove difficult.

[Getoffmylilo]

Sutton is fine, it's a functional place with plenty of lovelier places in easy reach - don't know if you saw the Willy Wonka parade thing in the high street yesterday, that happens every day (that's not actually true).

[PrincessBattercup]

Sutton is great, yes there are nicer areas but I've lived here 8 years and no issues. Schools are fantastic, transport is great and shopping is fine - Sutton high street is a bit rubbish but close to Kingston and Croydon for shops and Sutton has the pick of all the supermarkets.

[YungMAMA]

Would you miss the sea and the Downs?

The downs I will miss, but not the sea, as much as I love Hove, the cold wind is not my cup of tea.

[MitziK]

Out of all your places, I'd say Carshalton, especially the Beeches, then Wallington would be your best bet if you can't go slightly further out towards Banstead.

Hackbridge tends to enjoy the particular air carried over from Beddington Lane Sewage Facility and there's the Viridor Incinerator/Energy Recovery Facility punting out a significant amount of pollution to take account of.

[GinDaddy]

The snobbery on this thread is hilarious.

[PrincessBattercup]

Yes to avoiding hackbridge. Lived there for a year and it felt depressing and smelled like sewage.

[YungMAMA]

Oh Hackbridge was DH favourite of the 4 actually. We were told by the developers that the sewage smell no longer happens due to a change in the sewage process centre, no longer doing something. I wasnt entirely sure.

[DartmoorChef]

I lived there for almost 20 years. Moving away 5 years ago was the best choice we ever made. Still visit occasionally as we have family there but I would never move back.

[easyandy101]

Sutton is dying on its arse

Carshalton, cheam, ewell, wallington, even the nice bits of Croydon are preferable

[SoupDragon]

The snobbery on this thread is hilarious.

Helpful.

[easyandy101]

A bit further out but also consider oxted

[Darbs76]

It’s not hugely bad but I’d consider Wallington, Caterham area instead. I’m in Whyteleafe and it’s nice and leafy here but still Zone 6. Lots of parks and dog walking countryside (and that’s coming from someone who grew up in Wales so I don’t consider any bit of green country!)

[SoupDragon]

I think Sutton and the surrounding areas are going to be a huge change to the Downs or the coast. I'm not sure it's a change I'd want to make.

[easyandy101]

Sanderstead also

[Darbs76]

Banstead is lovely but it’s not cheap

[traveller11]

I'd be giving Sutton a hard pass.

You actually couldn't pay me to move back there.

It's a complete shit hole, and I was there for near on 25 years

Wallington, Ewell and Carshalton Beeches are ok. Even Ashtead, Epsom, and Dorking will bring you closer to London without losing the Sussex feel to living