Being able to walk to the high street vs having a garden

[tangobravo]

Which is more important to you? Budget means either a terrace without parking or garden, but walkable to a gorgeous park and the high street (good mix of amenities) OR a bigger house with a lovely garden, driveway etc but would need to drive (around 10 mins) to high street/amenities. Good schools in both areas, access to work similar in both areas. 2 kids age 2 and 4.

YANBU driving to places when needed is worth having more space and a garden
YABU driving to places when needed is a PITA and not worth having a garden for

No parking or garden is an absolute no no from me .

I would have hated the primary school run to need a car.
But I live in London and don’t love the car based life that many MNers rely on.

Central house for me every time, it's what I have. Loads of parks and playgrounds nearby, walk to school, walk to work, to shops, to restaurants etc. I do have a very little garden so we can sit out, but it is pretty micro. I would hate no outside space at all, but am quite happy with a patio.

This. I know people manage in flats etc with dc, but it becomes a real faff when you have to organise going out every time you want to get some fresh air.

Easy access to high street much better than a garden. I regret moving further out to have a garden, DH and I never find time to do gardening and it’s such a faff, it also never ends and weather is never nice for long enough to enjoy it. With all the rain, you’ll be lawnmowering the grass at last once a month.

You cannot beat being abele to access coffee shops, gyms, parks. I now have to get busses everywhere as I don’t drive because I’ve always previously had easy access to a high street.

A garden every time no question. Your kids are so young, a garden would save your sanity more than a walk to the town! Couldn’t imagine not having a garden for young children if it was an option.

I have a Victorian terrace, with a small garden big enough for a trampoline and shed and patio with seating, and a five minute walk to the high street, doctors etc.

We had this exact decision to make and went for the terrace house with small garden and parking, next to huge park.

There are times when I regretted it, but the children had SO much freedom as teenagers, being able to walk into town at all hours and to the park to meet friends - they are among the most independent of their friends and I'm sure this is why!

Sounds great, but that's not an option open to the OP.

Presumably the house near the high street has a bit of outside space. A small yard? If so I'd definitely go with that. I live in something similar with 2 kids. I would hate to live anywhere where I had to drive to pick up a loaf of bread or pint of milk.

Our old house, had a driveway but no outdoor space for sitting out/washing. It was within walking distance of bakeries, chemists, butchers etc... it was handy but we still drove most places e.g. a bigger supermarket or DIY shop.
We ended up moving to a more rural area with a garden.

Definitely walking distance, it makes such a difference not having to drive everywhere.

You say a ten minute drive, but is there potential to cycle at some point in the future?

We're hoping to buy a house in a rural area soon, but part of the plan is to get an electric bicycle so that we don't have to always drive.

We think that will reduce the hassle of always needing to find a parking space and dealing with the traffic.

In your situation 100% garden

from experience, option 2 is much better

I've had the walking distance with small garden and now have slightly further with large garden - the latter has been much better for quality of life

Not having to rely upon a car for everything is a lovely way to bring up kids

Walking distance to amenities, but I'm very biased as I am a non driver and also never lived anywhere with a garden.

Having a garden is a way better way to bring up dc. They play in it, can grow things in it, you can eat in it and relax in it. They could even camp out in it. You can have parties in it. You can make it an extension of your house and personality. Shops don’t provide this. Give the dc more space at home and get that vitamin D up! They won’t be shunned as teens - secondary age dc come from all over. It’s worth a bit of inconvenience to have you’d own garden!

I’ve lived in the city center and I am so much happier in the middle of nowhere. The quiet is invaluable.

just budget for driving lessons and a car for your children. We also pay insurance for now. When the time comes, you will want to retire as chauffeur asap. We planned years ahead with our car purchases so we would have a good, reliable car ready to hand down right as dd came of age.

Neither tbh. I prefer to be within walking distance of the local shops, and don't mind the lack of garden, but wouldn't consider anywhere without a driveway.

So people without big gardens are shunned?

Not anywhere near as lovely as having their own garden to play in!

Are there any houses and/or ground floor flats in walking distance with garden? I suggest to keep a look out and wait for these possibilities in line with your budget. If you live out of walking distance is there a bus service into town? Gardens are great for kids to play easily as you don’t have to set off to the park. Even if it’s just across the road you’ll have to all go back for something and that makes it less convenient.

@Allfur Who said shunned for not having a big garden? By whom? And who says big garden? Not me. I don’t believe teens are not shunned by living a bit further out. They still have friends.