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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

161 replies

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 10:57

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.

OP posts:
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mumto2teenagers · 28/08/2024 15:16

Twickenham is within your budget and seems to offer what you are looking for.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/08/2024 15:17

Have a look at these OP- surbiton/ new maiden/Kingston area- it's a low budget for that area but some are very liveable indeed and tick your boxes- you then have Kingston and Wimbledon easily accessible which tick all your boxes, lots of green space, good schools and far less commuting costs -

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145514288#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149077055#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147673553#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146126858#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151805111#/?channel=RES_BUY

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:20

Going further out makes a big difference to commuting costs.

jokish · 28/08/2024 15:20

York

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 28/08/2024 15:21

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

They move to the Home Counties pushing up the prices so those who come from there have to move elsewhere.

But on slightly less grumpy note the Home Counties are actually a good place to live. Good train links to London, green spaces, not sure about wine bars mind, plenty of pubs though.

UprootedSunflower · 28/08/2024 15:21

My house in NE London has a nice garden and is in your budget. I recommend looking at cheaper London areas.

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:22

They move to the Home Counties pushing up the prices so those who come from there have to move elsewhere

Im a Londoner who was pushed out of my area, what should I do?

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 15:29

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:22

They move to the Home Counties pushing up the prices so those who come from there have to move elsewhere

Im a Londoner who was pushed out of my area, what should I do?

Quite!!

OP posts:
Reigateinformationforyou · 28/08/2024 15:30

So Dorking station might fit the bill. Longer commute but cute town.

Also Redhill, Merstham, Earlswood station for better commute options but less cute town. Reigate is v close by for park/higher end restaurants etc. Think long term if you are thinking of kids - grammar area (Kent)? Religious schools (Surrey)? Private schools?

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:31

Londoners are constantly pushed out of their hometown but to make matters worse we get no sympathy & often hated for driving prices up!

Goldbar · 28/08/2024 15:31

xxSideshowAuntSallyxx · 28/08/2024 15:21

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

They move to the Home Counties pushing up the prices so those who come from there have to move elsewhere.

But on slightly less grumpy note the Home Counties are actually a good place to live. Good train links to London, green spaces, not sure about wine bars mind, plenty of pubs though.

Limited sympathy, I'm afraid. People did this to London first.

GingerPirate · 28/08/2024 15:32

St Albans.
A lot.

susey · 28/08/2024 15:33

foxglovesandharebells · 28/08/2024 12:08

I'd stay in London. Whereabouts in the SW are you at the moment? You can get a 3 bed house with garden and easy access to wine bars and green space etc within your budget if you look somewhere like Tooting. Plus you'll be much closer to your friends and not paying a fortune to commute.

Maybe ten years ago...

Saga21 · 28/08/2024 15:33

If you would consider SE london we moved to Charlton.
15 mins on train to london bridge. Short bus to jubilee line at north greenwich or Elizabeth line at woolwich

Charlton slopes has a great community. Lots of excellent nurseries, primary schools and a couple of outstanding secondary schools close by.

A couple of nice pubs in blackheath standard and a shortish walk to blackheath itself with lots of restaurants.

A quick look on right move has a few properties on at 750k at the moment

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:34

@Yellowstickynote I would think carefully about secondary options, commute times and convenience & what will life look like when your dc want to start doing things independently.

RedRedRobot · 28/08/2024 15:36

Examples of houses in your budget in West Norwood 15 minute drive away from Balham! (Or ten mins on train or less, trains every 15 mins)

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150126188

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150538322

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151747013

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:36

@susey my colleague bought a 3 bed in Tooting last yr for 700k, there were quite a few they looked out. Yes it was closer to Mitcham then the Heaver estate but still Tooting.

Ratisshortforratthew · 28/08/2024 15:38

Comedycook · 28/08/2024 11:06

You could still live in London on that budget.... you'd just have to move to a less fashionable part. You can easily get a nice house in SE London for 750k

This. Stay in London, just go SE

Comedycook · 28/08/2024 15:38

Im not sure quite what it is you want op? Do you want to stay in London ideally or do you actively want to live in a different type of environment? Because if it's the former, there are many places in London where you can buy a family home on your budget

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:38

@RedRedRobot aren’t the best secondaries faith or a lottery though in West Norwood?

Jessieshome · 28/08/2024 15:40

Essex! Well that's was the classic move in the 50's for east Londoners (admittedly thought that was rather a very long time ago 😄 )

Upminster, Cranham, Hornchurch. You'd be maxing out your budget in Upminster, but the commute is incredibly easy and it is very leafy. I love Upminster, some good secondary schools too.

Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:41

Leigh on Sea is lovely, friend moved that way. We strongly considered it but decided to stay nearer parents who are getting older.

Yellowstickynote · 28/08/2024 15:43

Comedycook · 28/08/2024 15:38

Im not sure quite what it is you want op? Do you want to stay in London ideally or do you actively want to live in a different type of environment? Because if it's the former, there are many places in London where you can buy a family home on your budget

We did look at some options for remaining in London, but we didn’t find any areas that appealed to us taking in to account our budget and feeling safe, good access to green spaces and amenities etc. That’s not to say we’ve explored every possible area, so we remain open minded and will be looking at some of the suggestions on here.

Our thoughts were that our best bet is to leave London to get the most for our money in a good area.

OP posts:
Freddochips · 28/08/2024 15:46

You won’t find any areas that rival Balham with your budget. However you may find somewhere that will change & evolve. Balham had nothing there when I was a dc.