AIBU to choose more space over location between Wimbledon and Worcester Park?

[Mumlondon12]

I am completely stuck and would love some Mumsnet wisdom.
We are currently torn between two very different moves:
Option 1: Wimbledon. It’s the area we love, great vibe, better transport, and DS is starting at Squirrels (Wcps) soon. However, we’d be in a much smaller house for oodles more money and I’m worried about outgrowing it quickly.
Option 2: Worcester Park. We’d get a much larger space, a proper garden, and a driveway. It feels like the forever home we want, but I’m worried about the school run and missing the buzz of being more central.

DH also has to travel into central London 3x a week.

AIBU to prioritise the forever house even if the location is more average and the school run is longer? Or is the Wimbledon lifestyle and convenience worth the sacrifice of a garden and extra bedroom?

Location location location every time! Can the house in Wimbledon be extended in the future?

Have you considered Surbiton?

Ooh I grew up not far from Wimbledon & went to school there. Some of my friends have moved to WP. They went for the bigger houses & schools, they are really happy.

I really like Wimbledon & its buzz & would love to live there however your priorities do change as your dc get older & I have found that I don’t have much free time outside of family & work these days.

When I say love to live there, I mean Wim village, there are other parts I wouldn’t eg far from the high street/station.

I have found space really important as my family has grown & wouldnt trade it now. Love having bigger garden too.

Depends what you mean by "the buzz of central" and "outgrowing the house".

If you live in Wimbledon you'll have to be hopping on a tube for half an hour anyway for things like theatres, art galleries, gigs, the buzziest restaurants and bars, any nightlife whatsoever etc. Wimbledon doesn't really do nightlife. On the other hand if the buzz you want is the bougie Wimbledon village lifestyle on your doorstep then yes, that's a big selling point.

If by outgrowing the house you mean you want more kids and therefore will need another bedroom at some point then you should prioritise that. But if it's just about a bigger garden then I think location takes precedence.

Parts of WP really aren’t very far from Wimbledon either, I still often meet up with friends who are spread around SW London in Wimbledon.

Is the commute from Worcester Park that bad? Have you looked at South Wimbledon? I live closer to Morden and find the commute relatively easy.

Are you going independent the whole way through?

It is beneficial to live close to school when they are young. Do you work?

Maybe look at New Malden if you don’t need state as some lovely housing stock & good food options. Although prices have increased there the last few years.

Go for more space. Moving house later is a PITA.

Wimbledon’s high street is quite generic, though it does have more than WP. Depending on which end of WP you’d be in the commute (if by car) can get tedious.

I'd also say that the real number one selling point of Wimbledon is the proximity to the Common and so much wild green space.

Nonsuch is a lovely park, I went for the first time the other day.

Wimbledon is literally a 15 minute drive from W/P and unless you can afford to live in Wimbledon village it’s a pretty ordinary place to live.

So option 2

I’ve always gone for space over location myself - I get miserable when my living space is too constricted, and for me the ‘buzz’ and convenience of a better location doesn’t outweigh the peace and tranquility of a tidy house and loads of light and space. But the downside is that I’ve never made oodles of money on house sales, and when I come to sell my current house I’ll be needing a buyer who has the same priorities as me, so I’ll be fishing in a slightly smaller pond. There are trade-offs in everything.

I used to live around the corner from Squirrels and
I assume you expect your child to progress to Kings so the commute will not change. Is there a bus available in later years? I believe most students at WCPS live fairly locally, so you will also be travelling for playdates, parties etc. I would live as close as possible frankly. I know it’s expensive within walking distance but even down the hill to the town centre or Raynes Park would make life easier. I am unfamiliar with Worcester Park but the traffic can be a killer on the A3 heading to Wimbledon during rush hour.

We couldn't afford Wimbledon, even many years ago, but we didn't like Worcester Park (bit boring there tbh), so we moved to Surbiton - which was absolutely fantastic, and much cheaper than Wimbledon. Later, we moved to Thames Ditton. Both were excellent for commuting and schools (mine went to Notre Dame in Cobham and Hampton but the Kings buses stop at the same places).