Where to Live

[TravelDrift10]

Hi Mn, I need advice on where to live. We are moving from another country (African) to London.
DH and I lived in London for 4years (Islington) many years ago however our circumstances have now changed.
We now have 2 dc (4,2) so schools are an important factor.
DH office will be in London Bridge.
We loved living in the city area, Zone 2 would be ideal but open to looking further out if necessary.
I think the school factor is most important, and looking for an area that will be ok for us to feel welcome.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Are you looking at state schools or independent? Bothered about secondary options too or just primary? Will you be renting or buying and if buying, what’s the budget?

Currently my dc are in private schooling but that is because our state schooling is really bad. So i am not sure wrt to state or independent schooling there. No offense intended, I really dont know much about the differences in the school system. Very happy to go either.
We will be looking to rent for the first year and then buy. Budget is around 1.2m pounds.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

That might be useful to check out the stats of state schools. Generally, you’ll be ok for primary in many places. Secondaries get trickier but the state ones are much nicer further out. There are loads of independent schools too if you’d rather (much better facilities, much smaller classes).

If you like city living, you could easily try someone close to where you lived before and on the Northern line for an easy commute.

South of the river, there will be a lot of places to choose from that have quick trains into London Bridge. Places like East Dulwich or Greenwich are zone 2 and vibrant. Blackheath is in zone 3 but v pretty and buzzy and also easy commute. On the Northern line going south, somewhere near Clapham South (around Abbeville Rd or towards Northcote Rd) will also have young families.

Generally though, there are more families further out, especially with older children as it’s greener, houses and gardens are bigger, it’s safer for older children to go outside on their own etc. Zone 2 is younger with some families but mainly younger ones and lots of young professionals.

London Bridge is served by trains from south London suburbs and Kent - if you want a great house and garden you can easily afford a good size with that budget with a commute under 45 mins. Kent schools still have grammar schools so are highly sought after in the older age bracket. Closer in dulwich is nice but you won't get a detached house despite on paper a lot of money

Do you want to stay north of the river, if that's where you were previously? I would look further out on that budget to get a nice family house with a big garden. London Bridge is on the Thameslink. What about Mill Hill, or St Albans for a good commute, but just outside of London? Both very fsmily oriented areas.