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.

[Trebla]

I'd never leave Hove. I'd take the pay cut. We only left Saltdean to move to NZ. B and H is an amazing place for kids to grow up compared to where you are thinking of. Although Hackney could be cool. We had a flat there before kids. I'd move back there again with the kids if it came down to having to be in London.

[Trebla]

DH used to commute from Saltdean to The city on a daily basis, he would move back and carry on like a shot.

[YungMAMA]

Hey guys thank you so much for all the recommendations me and DH have seen a house in Kenley we both like, seems perfect as very convenient for the A23. Also a lot more surburban than Wallington/Sutton. We are going for a viewing this Saturday. :)

[Newbie1981]

House sat in Cheam once. Such a nice place.

[busybarbara]

Kenley is nice and also very easy access to Croydon for shopping or potentially work one day. Getting to and parking near the station can be a bit of a pain depending on location.

[JoJoSM2]

@YungMAMA

I hope it went well at your Kenley viewing.

I’m here to chip in for future reference in case anyone else needs the info. Re posts above - I do have one rental in Sutton but do live here myself and find it great.

It’s the safest borough in London with crime rates below the national average. Nowhere is rough but some parts are scruffy (you can have a look on police.uk).
Schools are the highest attaining in England with a mixture of grammars and mostly excellent comps.

The other things that make it a great place for a family is the proximity to coutryside- from South Sutton or Carshalton Beeches you can walk to farms, lavender fields + the Banstead Commons start just over a mile south from Sutton station (over 1000 acres of accessible coutryside). It’s also only a short drive to Surrey Hills AONB. There are plenty of smaller and bigger parks dotted about.

Local amenities include the Sports Village with a play park, trampoline park, leisure centres, libraries, public golf course, climbing centre, lots of sports clubs (national excellence centre for tennis + more tennis clubs than corner shops, cricket, rugby, football, badminton etc). There’s a David Lloyd in Cheam Village with indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts and lots of classes for kids and adults. Obv things like ballet, dance, a very nice cinema and a bunch of useful shops and eatieries on the high street.

South Sutton is very leafy and affluent. It is also served by shops on Banstead Rd and in Belmont Village (both smaller but you get butcher’s, bakery, florists, dry cleaners, hair dressers etc so plenty to get on with).

Cheam Village is only 1 mile west and and lovely with a fab park.

Carshalton Village and Beeches are also lovely.

I’d also say that the commutity spirit is great- both our last and current road had WhatsApp groups and regular parties for neighbours. There’s a community run ecology centre, the Sutton Community Farm is entirely run by volunteers and there are a lot of other similar projects.
Carshalton also hosts annual Artists Open Houses and a number of events such as the Environmental or Frost Fair.

So all in all a great family area with plenty going on.