To ask where young families are moving to when leaving London?

[Yellowstickynote]

DH and I live in SW London and absolutely love it. So much access to green spaces, wonderful bars & restaurants on our doorstep and so many friends in the area. Sadly, we own a 2 bed flat without lift access. We need more space, and heart is set on 3 house w/ garden, which is out of our budget if we remain in SW London.

We have Hybrid jobs (in office 1-2 days per week), so need good commuting links in to London (any London station is fine as can work from multiple offices). Most importantly, we want to move to a vibrant area which has plenty of things to do for young couples in their 30s, both with children and without. E.g. we love being near to green spaces and going to wine bars and restaurants. Some of the areas we’ve visited are lovely but so quiet and a much older crowd. We’d love to move somewhere that’s full of other young couples/families where we can make friends in the area.

Any recommendations welcome! Our budget isn’t the highest - don’t want to spend over 750k if we can help it.

I know quite a few young families who live in Walthamstow if you're willing to consider NE London rather than moving out. You can just about get a 3 bed house with garden in budget and then you're walking distance to the Victoria line.

For example:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150127895#/?channel=RES_BUY

Right, but you will in Beckenham, Mitcham and Orpington.

And in fact Raynes Park, Motspur Park, Worcester Park, New Malden. Maybe even Kingston.

We left London altogether to the West Country 36 years ago as house prices were unaffordable even then in nice areas. Luckily my husband could get a transfer (engineer) and I didn't have problems getting work when our children were older. It is a global problem. Cities like New York, Vancouver, and capital European cities all are unaffordable for ordinary people

You can definitely get something around Mitcham on that budget. We are 5 mins walk from station then 5 min train to balham. 20 min train to victoria. Plenty of young families around. Reputatuion isnt greatest and Mitcham town centre isnt that great either, but we are close enough to tooting/streatham etc it doenst matter, and never felt unsafe or anything.

Why wouldn't you recommend Leicestershire? I'm from there, and moved back from London with my husband during COVID - couldn't be happier to be living in a nice place!

Streatham is nearby - houses on my street are usually £750k for a 3 bed terrace. Not as fancy as Balham of course but lots of green space and there are nice enough places for coffee and food. Look at Streatham Common area. We are between Streatham and Streatham Common stations which is great for transport. Trains into Blackfriars take about 21 minutes from Streatham..The only thing I regret is that where we are is a bit of a black hole for secondary schools so will need to move at some point. If you look at Streatham Vale area you'd be able to buy for less and be in catchment of a good secondary. Excellent primary schools though, and loads of them.

I'm going a bit further afield here. Here's two options, both of which I'd pick in a heartbeat.

1). Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Super beautiful town, lots of amenities, green space, river, countryside, wine bars, brunch spots etc. Requires a change of train but still under an hour to London.

2). Bath. Again, absolutely beautiful, lots of green space and amazing city centre. Good links to Bristol and Cornwall if that's your thing. Longer train but very frequent.

I was going to say this! Also Purley and out from there- Riddlesdown etc??

I live in Walthamstow and I love it but I also know west London where the OP currently lives and I don't think Walthamstow is the move the OP is looking for. If nothing else, the secondary school situation isn't great - my son is in Y4 and families are starting to move for that reason.

Bishops stortford, ware, hertford

Around Mitcham cricket green is lovely. Big houses etc.

They’re all in Guildford & villages surrounding 😁

Genuinely everyone who lives here either moved from London or grew up here - which bodes well that it’s a nice place to grow up and hopefully our kids will stay close! 😁

A colleague of mine has moved from Camberwell to Camberley, and likes it, but she complain the trains aren't brilliant.

Friends of my ex moved to Market Harborough and like it a lot. It's historic and pleasant and the trains are quick.

@Peonies12

• yes, why would an area like Tottenham not suit do you think?

There seem to be 3bds houses there for 800k - beautiful to me period houses... Does the area have a bad reputation?

(Sorry I'm foreign and don't live in England ...)

I’m in Kingston and £750k would get you a 3 bed house that needed some work in the ‘nice’ bits near good schools.

You could afford what you're looking for in Morden, I think, which isn't a huge move from where you are.

Alternatively, further out I've always liked the look of Dorking. I have two friends who have recently moved to Tonbridge and Sevenoaks and both seem very happy with the moves.

Move down to Morden South/Sutton. 30 minutes tube to central London, really well connected, Wimbledon is close by, etc

You'll have Morden Hall Park and the Wandle for your nature fix. Lots of local playgrounds.

There's plenty of free events by Sutton Children's Centres.

You'll get a nice semi/terraced house for that budget.

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. There's a train direct to Marylebone which takes 1 hour. Plenty to do with children, surrounded by green spaces and National Trust properties, restaurants/nightlife is improving depending on what you're into!

Mitcham is far from green and leafy though unfortunately. Its poor reputation is deserved sadly.

I just moved to Bromley from SW London and we love it!!! Our budget was a bit more than yours though (1m) and we got a five bed detached house with big garden on a leafy street. Commute into the City for work is 30mins

For 750k I imagine you could get a 3/4 bed detached or semi here

Chislehurst is also pricey but lovely, has the pretty villagey feel of Richmond imo

Despite it's crappy reputation Peterborough would fit your description. Plenty of stuff to do, train into London is less than an hour, and green spaces everywhere. Open countryside literally 10 minutes from the centre.
Not to mention you could easily buy a gorgeous 5 bed with an acre garden for that kind of money. 🤷

There's lots of nice places that fit your description in Leigh on Sea for that budget.
It's a good place to live in my experience. Easy train journey into London.

You are in the most expensive area of South London, looks further but still within south London, there are plenty of places for that budget!