Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Good (affordable) towns near London?

108 replies

UnsureHmm · 19/03/2023 22:19

Apologies, posting for traffic.

I am looking to move out of London over the next couple of years as I cannot afford to buy in london.

I am also not sure of the surrounding areas as I am from up north originally. Unfortunately, I need to be near London for mine and my partners work.

Which towns/areas are good for families with kids, with good schools etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
UnsureHmm · 19/03/2023 22:20

I guess preferably Surrey/Kent as my daughter's grandma lives in South London.

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/03/2023 22:21

How are you defining affordable? What are your priorities?

SocksAndTheCity · 19/03/2023 22:24

You might want to give Sevenoaks a miss Grin

Original poster
UnsureHmm · 19/03/2023 22:24

So the budget would be 400k prefably for a 3 bed place (flat or house, obviouslyI would prefer a house but I understand the first step on the property ladder will probablybe a flat.) I would also prefer a flat in a good area, to a house in a bad area.

I need to be in london 2 days a week and my partner 3 days a week.

The commute time doesn't matter too much as we can work alternate days in the office.

OP posts:
ACynicalDad · 19/03/2023 22:25

You might still get that in Abbey Wood’s and still be on the Lizzy line

Expectingfirstbaby · 19/03/2023 22:25

Best thing to do is make a list of places you can buy a home the size you want in your budget (use rightmove to check house prices) and then do the legwork and see if you like the area. Maybe one/two areas each weekend and call it a day out.

Out of interest what is your budget and how many bedrooms are you looking for? Any other requirements?

Original poster
UnsureHmm · 19/03/2023 22:27

ACynicalDad · 19/03/2023 22:25

You might still get that in Abbey Wood’s and still be on the Lizzy line

I live in woolwich now and have looked at Abbey Wood, I guess my worry is that the secondary schools in the area aren't great.

So I guess schools are my main priority, I was thinking of moving into grammar areas, but then what if she doesn't get into a grammar school

OP posts:
Original poster
UnsureHmm · 19/03/2023 22:28

Budget 400k
3 beds
Flat/house, would love a garden but not essential.
Good schools.

OP posts:
Chickenly · 19/03/2023 22:30

Surrey or Kent with a feasible London commute for a 3 bed for £400,000? 😯

You’d be better off looking further north on the lines towards Bedford or Cambridge or Essex direction maybe? Anything in Surrey/Kent for that price would be so far from a station that your commute would be torturous.

I haven’t massively looked into it but out towards Oxford (not Oxford itself) may have something affordable.

ACynicalDad · 19/03/2023 22:30

Dartford and Medway might get you affordable grammars

Chickenly · 19/03/2023 22:32

Where in London? You could add an hour to your daily commute going into Waterloo rather than Liverpool Street, or going into Kings Cross instead of London Bridge etc.

Ivesaidenough · 19/03/2023 22:32

What about Sutton? We were looking there and the surrounds a while back, as it was affordable and there are some really good grammar schools.

Capricornone1 · 19/03/2023 22:53

North Herts

Drakmo · 19/03/2023 22:55

Dagenham

HazelBite · 19/03/2023 22:58

Watford, Hemel Hempstead, both in Herts. You would only be able to get a flat in Watford in your budget, as prices have risen recently, due to people relocating from London due to good transport links.

Soproudoflionesses · 19/03/2023 23:00

Chelmsford

HazelBite · 19/03/2023 23:01

Just to add, schools in Hemel Hempstead and Watford very good, Watford has good Grammar schools

Wowzel · 19/03/2023 23:05

Reading? 25 mins to Paddington but peak time trains are expensive

Sisiwawa · 19/03/2023 23:06

Tonbridge, Dartford, the Medway towns, or a flat in Bromley, Orpington. All in reach of the grammars

Deftandglory · 19/03/2023 23:16

How about posh Hampshire. A small village outside of the main commuter town could work. Liss for example. Even has a direct train to London twice an hour although it’s only the slower trains ( 1hr and 15 to London). Lots of countryside.
There’s a few in budget. A large village primary and two excellent state secondaries to chose from.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131228582#/?channel=RES_BUY

qpmz · 19/03/2023 23:21

Edenbridge/Hurst Green eg.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/128583758

Burgess Hill eg.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132205793

Fredface · 19/03/2023 23:28

Northamptonshire, 50 minutes to Euston from Northampton. OR 1 hour to St pancras Market Harborough 50 minutes Kettering or Wellingborough easy commute back up north via a14/n1/m6 easy commute to surrey via euston/vicky line/waterloo. Beautiful countryside, great schools. Look at villages, kislingbury, bugbrooke, Brixworth (pricy) or chapel/ church brampton ( top ten villages in UK from the Times)

qpmz · 19/03/2023 23:41

The OP said she prefers South to be near relatives yet people are suggesting North of London!

Yes there are homes under £400k in Kent/Surrey.