To turn down dream house Londoners

[Nochangeplease]

I’m Abu for posting here but need to make a quick decision and although I’m aware strangers on the internet can’t advise I’m interested anyway.
Have the option of moving to a nice place in Sydenham hill. Don’t know the area well or anybody in it but am aware it’s very green and I like that.
But... feels a bit like the middle of nowhere. Nowhere in walking distance. Coming from zone 1 would I be mad to give this area up. Where I am now is great. Kids are settled in their school and wouldn’t want to change.
Anyone have any advice or knowledge of the area?

Stay where you are, but you really should give your teen her own room even if it means you sleeping on a sofa bed in the living room.

My mother grew up in a 2 bed flat with a brother, sister and 2 parents. The sisters shared a room, the brother had the other, and the parents had a sofa bed in the living room. It's not fair to expect a teen girl to share with a brother.

It is a lovely green area with good schools and close to several different train lines (Sydenham Hill, Crystal Palace and Forest Hill)

My vote is don’t do it. I moved from zone 1/2 borders to zone 3 and it was tough- missed being central more than I thought I would. Happy now but my kids are a bit younger than yours, and the key thing is not at secondary school yet.

A house is lovely, but not if you’re all miserable in it. It sounds like your life is where you are.

I wouldn't give up Zone 1 for anywhere in the world! And would you ever be able to return if you changed your mind?
Get out there and make use of some those world-class attractions on your doorstep.

If you were buying I’d say move to Sydenham, as it represents good value for money, but as a council swap in your circumstances - no. It’s an area with tonnes of potential and lots of things going on, but your being single and relying sometimes on a close by support network, plus the kids ages, I don’t think the pros outweigh the cons.

As pp have suggested, I would look at ways to reconfigure the flat to make it work better, if you’re mostly happy there.

I would not give up zone 1!yes I can see its tempting.

But realistically how often would you/kids use the parks... Would have thought this would be scant reward for having massive bus commute /having to leave pals/good schools....

I moved from zone 1 to Bromley.... Never again!!

Depends if you have a garden with your flat. Children (and grown ups!) benefit loads from having a garden. Sounds like best option is move to a house a bit further out but with a walkable station.

Interesting reading all the different replies. I was born in and grew up in London and I loathed it - the pollution, the dirt, the constant noise, the crime... Can’t imagine wanting to live in zone 1 let alone raise family there but to each their own.

I moved to a rural village in stunning countryside, a station 3 mins walk from my house takes me to central London in 30 mins, can get a 4 bed house with 100ft garden for much less £ than a zone 1 flat. Perfect for us.

I think it is too late to be thinking of moving your teen daughter's school ...especially if the school she is now in is good. As someone up thread has said, it takes quite a while for kids to resettle ...new friends/teachers/routines ext and it's not a good idea to have all of that going on while studying for exams.

If you have no partner on the scene I would share the larger room with your 7 year old and give the smaller room to the teen. She has privacy and he has space for toys/play/friends and you won't want the room until he's long been in bed. Alternatively you could try ways of separating the bigger room into two private spaces for the two kids leaving the 2nd room for yourself. Difficult choices but it doesn't seem the right time for you to move away from the centre and your support net work.

Don't leave zone 1 unless you have to! Yanbu to not bother.

If you have to move, just go a little further out and get a flat with another bedroom. I don't know if I'd move out to somewhere just for a garden again - bitter.

If this is a social housing offer then will turning it down mean that you won’t be a priority for future properties ? If so then that makes this quite a big decision as you would be damaging your chances of getting a bigger property in future. I think ?

I live close to Sydenham it’s a pretty good area but from reading your posts I’d stay where you are and look to move to a 3 bed flat instead

No it won’t affect my future chances at all. The house is very small. Smaller rooms than my flat. Think I’ll be turning it down.