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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think there is nowhere within commutable distance to London that I want to live?

181 replies

Teacherprebaby · 26/07/2024 10:31

Any advice greatly appreciated; if you commute to London, where do you live and what is it like? I have seen some less than desirable areas and don't want to make a mistake. I'm sure there are fabulous places, I just don't know them.

Must be within commuting distance to London Bridge/Victoria.

OP posts:
Hangingupnow · 28/07/2024 15:30

There just isn’t really anything in South Norwood. No great high street, transport links, amazing schools.

SeeSeeRider · 28/07/2024 15:31

Boomer55 · 28/07/2024 15:12

Goodness, you’re a bit of a snob aren’t you? 🙄

I don't know about that. I have a distinct Pam Ayres type of Wiltshire accent myself. I just don't like the South East England 'Estuary' accent that seems to be taking over from older local accents. It just grates on me, that's all. People who use it include Adele, Olly Murs, Stacey Dooley, Jay Blades, and most annoyingly of all, Prince Harry. (I don't see how you can call me a snob if I include him!) I have heard people not liking Brummie, Geordie, Cockney, Essex accents and nobody says they are snobs.

Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit · 28/07/2024 15:53

Where I live OP! Honor Oak Park SE London. We have direct trains to Farringdon and we have the overground. Two stations you see. We also have a Southern train service to Victoria or London Bridge. We have a local community, bit too active for me.
Nice primary schools and nice secondaries, at least the teenagers behave politely. Some lovely shops and my hairdressers. More soughdough pizzerias than you can wave a stick at. And a successful vegan restaurant. We also have a Sikh temple and allotments. No cinema but we are close to East Dulwich Picture House. And a fuck ton of cafes catering to most sections of the market.
No particular accent dominates and we aren't on the tube, which is awesome on strike days. You can also get a bus to Lewisham dlr in a dire emergency. I'm a teacher and I commute to custom house but schools are available nearby!

Oblomov24 · 28/07/2024 16:04

Your op could have been a little better. If you'd given all the important info.

London Bridge, Victoria, Vauxhall, Farringdon.
£900k
40 minutes.

Any requests? How many bedrooms. Any other requirements/wants/no-no's?

I only take the sw trains out of Waterloo towards Woking, via Clapham, Surbiton etc, so only know that train route mostly.

JonathanGirl · 28/07/2024 17:12

OP, I presume if you change your teaching job to a closer school you will have to pay back any extra maternity benefits? Or maybe you don’t get anything extra anyway.

I would definitely consider having one person closer to home if possible, and prioritise the Farringdon commute.

I would say things that make a commute easier are only getting one form of transport. So being able to walk to the station each end is just so much easier - I would look at somewhere on a direct line to Farringdon.

The other thing is that if the trains to where you live aren’t very frequent, it is completely soul destroying waiting on the platform for 58 minutes for the next one because you were delayed by 5 minutes at work. I personally would choose somewhere with at least 4 peak time trains an hour.

Royston, Herts might work. Market town. Nice countryside around, should be within budget for a house within walking distance to the station. Direct train to Farringdon. Fast, frequent trains to Kings X, so if you end up having to commute to Vauxhall, you can get the Victoria line.

Other train lines nearby, so if there’s a problem on the line from Kings X, you can still make your way close to home from Liverpool St.

Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 18:04

We have been doing some serious research today based on all of your suggestions! Thank you so much! Tried Honour Oak Park, over budget or needs work.

Any advice on Raynes Park, New Malden or Stoneleigh? Seems like they have quick trains to Vauxhall.

OP posts:
Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 18:06

TikehauLilly · 28/07/2024 15:16

Surbiton
Quick travel to London
Walk along Thames to kingston or hampton court

With that in mind... esher , molsey thames ditton etc

Looking at these now...thank you!

OP posts:
Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 18:08

Merryoldgoat · 28/07/2024 15:17

Cheam Village is nice and the line goes into Victoria.

Raynes Park and New Malden are nice with good transport links.

Surbiton and Kingston (but might struggle with £900k. I prefer Surbiton.

Ashtead - bit further but pretty.

Just saw this! Thank you. Any other info on New Malden?

OP posts:
Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 18:09

Oblomov24 · 28/07/2024 16:04

Your op could have been a little better. If you'd given all the important info.

London Bridge, Victoria, Vauxhall, Farringdon.
£900k
40 minutes.

Any requests? How many bedrooms. Any other requirements/wants/no-no's?

I only take the sw trains out of Waterloo towards Woking, via Clapham, Surbiton etc, so only know that train route mostly.

3/4 bed, partner fussy about two bathrooms (not just toilets), nice garden would be great as we don't have one currently. Nearish to a 'nice' high street with a few decent shops/cafes...

OP posts:
User364837 · 28/07/2024 18:14

Those stations go into Waterloo rather than Victoria

(sorry that was to the person that mentioned Haslemere Portsmouth and Petersfield!)

HowardTJMoon · 28/07/2024 18:24

Carshalton is delightful but the town centre is quite small. It's not a market town but, rather, has a real village feel to it.

Merryoldgoat · 28/07/2024 18:27

Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 18:08

Just saw this! Thank you. Any other info on New Malden?

It’s nice I think. Lots of restaurants and cafes on the high street. Nearby to Kingston and Richmond Park. Varied housing stock.

Large Korean population so absolutely gorgeous food around. It’s not the most ‘villagey’ feel - more ‘high street’ but I’d be happy to live there (nearly did).

The side closer to Coombe have nice houses. Also very good local schools (Coombe Hill Junior and Senior) plus a few independents and good senior schools across Kingston.

Train into Waterloo takes about 20 mins but if you get off a Vauxhall you get Victoria Line

Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 18:40

User364837 · 28/07/2024 18:14

Those stations go into Waterloo rather than Victoria

(sorry that was to the person that mentioned Haslemere Portsmouth and Petersfield!)

Edited

Waterloo works too, thank you! Such helpful advice on here it's great.

OP posts:
HowardTJMoon · 28/07/2024 18:49

I used to live in St Albans. As with anywhere it's got some areas that a bit less desirable than others but on the whole it's a fantastic place. I miss it.

TemuSpecialBuy · 28/07/2024 18:59

Crystal Palace / Sydenham / Penge

penge east goes into Farringdon
Crystal Palace runs into London Bridge and Victoria

you’d get something decent for 900k

LIZS · 28/07/2024 19:06

There is a Thameslink from Sutton which goes to Farringdon, maybe check the intermediate stations,

Hangingupnow · 28/07/2024 19:18

Any advice on Raynes Park, New Malden or Stoneleigh? Seems like they have quick trains to Vauxhall.

Raynes park is nice, very small high street but benefits from close proximity to Wimbledon. Best primaries are around Wimbledon Chase though from memory.

New Malden has a bigger high street & nice housing stock. I don’t think the secondary options are amazing unless you are Catholic.

Stoneleigh feels more outside of London and small high street. Not sure on schools either.

Worcester Park is one up from Stoneleigh so cheaper & faster commute. I know it has a brilliant primary & certain catchments for a very good secondary. High street not as good as NM, pretty generic.

Hangingupnow · 28/07/2024 19:20

The trouble with SE London is it’s fairly dominated by Harris schools, they are a bit marmite. I can’t remember if you said you wanted state or private though so maybe irrelevant.

Therapeutic70 · 28/07/2024 19:32

Cambridge?

Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 19:41

Hangingupnow · 28/07/2024 19:20

The trouble with SE London is it’s fairly dominated by Harris schools, they are a bit marmite. I can’t remember if you said you wanted state or private though so maybe irrelevant.

State and no, not a Harris, I've worked there before.

OP posts:
Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 19:44

TemuSpecialBuy · 28/07/2024 18:59

Crystal Palace / Sydenham / Penge

penge east goes into Farringdon
Crystal Palace runs into London Bridge and Victoria

you’d get something decent for 900k

Crystal Palace is top of my list, we are searching. Thank you!

OP posts:
belladonna22 · 28/07/2024 19:46

Teacherprebaby · 28/07/2024 18:04

We have been doing some serious research today based on all of your suggestions! Thank you so much! Tried Honour Oak Park, over budget or needs work.

Any advice on Raynes Park, New Malden or Stoneleigh? Seems like they have quick trains to Vauxhall.

We've lived in Raynes Park for several years and love it, have no intention of leaving. Husband and I both work in central London and the frequency of trains is such that we just head to the station in the morning, don't need to rush to catch one particular train every 30 mins. And from nearby you can get the district line, northern line or Thameslink, so even if the trains are stuffed you can still get home!

Lots of nice nurseries, good schools, and good proximity to both Wimbledon and Kingston. And amazing green space!

High street is smallish but has a big Waitrose, restaurants, pub, post office, dry cleaners, nail salons and several nice cafes! Three Apes, Raw Deli, Babylon, Veggieberg...

It's gotten pricier recently, but you should still be able to find what you're looking for:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143975186

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146920358

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145969601

Hangingupnow · 28/07/2024 19:47

@Teacherprebaby lol, you are not the first teacher I’ve heard say that!