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.

[alwayscrashinginthesamecar1]

Just don't, whatever you do, be tempted by Morden. I've never lived in a more depressing shit hole. Although this was 20 years ago, but I doubt its improved. I worked in Sutton back then, it wasn't thrilling but it was ok. We even looked at houses there, you could get a 3 bedroomed house for 200k back then.

[FizzyIce]

Hard pass on Sutton ..

[Seeline]

SM5 postcode area is huge - not just St Helier (which can have problems).

It covers Carshalton Beeches and Carshalton on the Hill (along Stanley Park Road, heading towards Wallington) which are lovely areas for families. Most of Wallington is also very nice. Where abouts were you looking?

I would avoid Hackbridge as it is a bit of a no-man's land. No real centre, facilities or amenities.

Personally I would prefer a lot of the LB Sutton, than parts of Caterham, Kenley etc which others have recommended.

[Toomanycats99]

I live 2 miles from sutton in one of the other towns listed.

It's not a fancy town but it has all you need and does the job. It has loads of green space and great schools if you need them. It has a couple of quite distinct areas. There is south sutton which is mainly large houses and then the other end heading towards rosehill which is more your 3 bed semi / terrace area.

I would avoid hackbridge tbh - built up and not too much to it.

Carshalton is lovely - smaller village centre lovely ponds and 2 enormous parks. It also has great train links to London - it's on thameslink and also has some fast trains that go straight to Clapham junction and VictoriA.

Wallington is more a chain shop type town but beware the trains are not as good - a slower meandering line and no thameslink.

Both carshalton and Wallington are on a bus route to morden to pick up the northern line.

In my moms the best spot is between carshalton and Wallington - near enough time walk to carshalton station and the village but also near the bigger shops in Wallington.

Banstead is a nightmare for trains - it's a single line past Belmont up to Epsom down a so you can never have more than 1 every half hour I don't think!

Cheam s nice. Again lots of green space.

[Toomanycats99]

@Pmalexander @SalemsMumHasGotItGoingOn

My dd is at greenshaw now - still a great school!

[onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad]

In my carefree 20s I lived in Sutton, Wallington, and Couldson at various times - this was through the 80s and early 90s.
Loved Sutton when I lived there early 80s but from what I've heard from old friends it's not the place it once was. I also lived in Wallington (happy days) and am now on the town's FB page and although residents do complain of crime there seems to be more of a community feel there compared to Sutton. Carshalton (between the two) especially around Carshalton ponds is probably better.
Would you consider Redhill? Bit further out and longer commute but close to some lovely countryside around the South Downs. I lived there too for a period - sort of between Redhill and Reigate - and was very happy although didn't have kids.

[Toomanycats99]

@YungMAMA

I don't think crime in Wallington is bad - it has the usual petty crime stuff but the borough as a whole is the Safest in London and I think many of the people that post on local fb have rose tinted views of years gone by - few free to pm link for House you liked and I may be able to say a bit more on that specific area.

[MrsToothyBitch]

There was a huge thread on the area a few months ago, if you search it, you'll get lots of opinions.

There are some lovely houses in Sutton, it's the high st that's off putting and as Pp said, perhaps not the strongest community feel? Great schools in the area though. I grew up in Banstead & now live in Epsom KT18- picked it over Sutton due to a better (although not impervious to empty store fronts) local high st and the station which has services to Victoria, Waterloo and London Bridge. Drive out of Sutton & you'll be in Banstead & beyond pretty quickly, which is a bit greener & prettier. Epsom is v quick to get on the Downs, too.

@Toomanycats99 - having grown up in Banstead, I've never been in Banstead station & I've always advised visitors to go to Sutton or Epsom & bus it to the village or ring us for a lift. The service is rubbish & Sutton & Epsom are better. I always treated Sutton as my local station.

[Toomanycats99]

@MrsToothyBitch

As a teen I hated Banstead from a travel perspective.

Many of my friends at secondary were carshalton / cheam based so we gravitated towards sutton but I always had to time journeys and also to get anywhere on a Sunday was a nightmare!

I have fond memories of working in the 'old' waitrose though at 15-17 Thats was great!

[busybarbara]

You might want to “test” the commute from anywhere you pick. If you are really able to do a commute from lovely Hove in 1h30, but it still ends up taking an hour from somewhere in south London (and it can! Especially if you have to get a bus to the station) then what’s the real point?

[JeezyPeeps]

Sutton is a bit... salt of the earth, putting it politely!

I'm really confused by this comment. This makes it sound like there should be a negative to 'salt of the earth', but I can't think what that would be.

I can't really help, sorry op. I have a friend that lived there a few years back and she liked it well enough, but it may have changed since then.

[MrsToothyBitch]

@Toomanycats99 I never minded it but my friends & I didn't go out loads & often socialised in Banstead or at home - but then I went to school in Banstead until 16 when I started boarding. My dad gave loads of lifts! I found it way more restricting when I was in my 20s & at home for a bit to save money to move out. I can drive but I'm a fairly nervous driver so hate driving everywhere & got fed up of having to trek home from the station. Dreading moving home for a few weeks next week because of it.

Miss old Waitrose, was prettier than new Waitrose! Came home from first term at uni the day after the fire & couldn't believe it! Still sad The Ibis is gone, but the utter cow that ran it towards the end did herself & the shop no favours IMO.

[newdeer]

I'm the one who always comes along to sing the praises of Chessington. It looks a bit bleak at first but it is full of hidden gems. Really easy quick commute into London. Zone 6, so much cheaper. Houses are a reasonable size with gardens. You have the jaw droppingly beautiful Ashtead Common on your doorstep, good primaries (Lovelace Primary has its own swimming pool) and a newly built secondary. Lots to do - bowling, gym, cute swimming pool, World of Adventures. It's a runners'/cyclists'/hikers' paradise. Great pub The Star. And all the people I know there are quite quirky - professional chess player, musicians, artisan chocolatier, fashion designer, faith healer. It looks like a post war pebble dashed graveyard but underneath, it's lovely.

[MidnightMystery]

@YungMAMA if it's anywhere near the big estate then yes it is especially with the teenagers. I do believe there are good and bad places within areas but that is defo one you won't enjoy with children growing up in its rough.

If you are looking to move south east then defo go to a more greener area x

[busybarbara]

I'm the one who always comes along to sing the praises of Chessington

It’s a really good option. Very frequent trains, only 30 minutes from Waterloo. Having the theme park helps it feel bigger than it is and all the theme park goers travel the opposite way to the commute! Even getting to the south coast is easy.. especially by car but otherwise via Clapham junction..

[anitagreen]

I love sutton I've lived here now for quite a few years the schools are brilliant and the community is nice. The high street is a bit pants but it has everything you need and Kingston isn't far at all for better shopping also the thing I love about sutton is the park space there is just so many green areas it's lovely

[BigSandyBalls2015]

Where’s the bowling and swimming pool in chessington?

I’d avoid Wallington and hackbridge, neither have a very nice vibe, it seems like croydon and Thornton Heath are spreading out further.

[Lauriestory]

I am relatively local and would also recommend Ewell or Chessington over Sutton.

Chessington has great transport links and good schools. You’re only 10 mins on the bus from Surbiton which is 15 mins into Waterloo if you don’t want to get the slower train from Chessington. Clapham Junction is quick to get to, to pick up the trains to the coast.

You could easily get a 3 bed house for £450k there.

[Rosehip10]

Many parts of Sutton are rough.

[Pangur2]

What about Coulsdon South or the older side of Merstham? Such fast trains into town!

[ColaFreezePop]

Chessington trains are always cancelled if there are problems which means you have to get to Surbiton. Then the traffic can be a pita.

[IrridescentButterfly]

Sutton is okay. Its a good borough generally, green, good shopping, fast trains, the high st is a bit shabby, imo Carshalton is nicer.

Hackbridge is worth a look, its being developed, massive new housing estate, brand new primary school, and has the bonus of beddington park.

Also look at Coulsdon, slightly more for your money here, good high st, fast trains to London bridge, also to Horley and Gatwick, nearer M25/M23.

Good schools too.

[spanglydangly]

Sutton, defo not Wellington or beddington the crime around there is crazy. I live near so I'm not being a snob just know you have children and to be honest I'd move to the country or coast if I could! X

I also live near and don't have a clue what you're talking about.

[easyandy101]

Wallington is more a chain shop type town but beware the trains are not as good - a slower meandering line and no thameslink.

24 minutes to London bridge, twice an hour