Moving from US to London, housing/preschool advice

[sks2015]

Hello all! We will be relocating to London around July/August, and our daughter will be almost ready for preshool (she will be two in October). We are very excited, but I am a bit overwhelmed at the high demand for both good nurseries and real estate. I have been researching as much as possible online, but would love first-hand advice from others. I know London, but as a grad student, and life will be completely different now.

My husband will be working near Liverpool Street station, and with long hours would prefer a quick and direct commute by tube. I will be taking a break from work, possibly having a second child, and the transition itself is a big one for me. We both enjoy urban environments, and given that I will be at home I would love to be in more vibrant area - safe and not overly congested, but active with cultural and other amenities. We live in that type of neighbourhood in Washington, DC now. Also, being a Canadian/American/multi-cultural family, a diverse and open environment is important to us. We are lucky enough to afford certain comforts, but I am experienced enough to know that affluence doesn't always breed open-mindedness!

My plan is to work on my writing and other projects from home, and as mentioned, with this transition to staying at home I'm hoping to meet other creative types and form connections. We have some friends and family in London, and I don't expect our social circle to be only expats. There seem to be lovely residential neighbourhoods a bit further afield, but we've always lived very urban and I'm nervous about being lonely in a beautiful but quiet setting. A balance would be ideal. We are looking to rent a 3-4 bedroom house or flat, with parking and some outdoor space (or access to a garden).

As for our daughter, I would love her to start in a part-time preschool with various activities and outings - preferable a warm and progressive approach, rather than a strictly traditional one. She has been with a nanny so far, but is social and curious so it's time for more. We aren't sure whether London is long-term at this point, but we will be there for at least a few years, and if longer I would like a school with good connections for the next stage. When I have called a few of the good preschools, I was told waiting lists are going into 2016 (and that would be her year of entry for schools strict about the 2.5 year entry age). I'm hoping that we can at least start her somewhere in January, if not this September.

Based on my late-night excited/anxious online researching, the areas we are looking at are:
1)Notting Hill/Holland Park
2)Primrose Hill (St. Mark's Nursery)
3)South Kensington
4)Islington

If you're still reading, thank you! I would be very grateful for your advice and suggestions, on schooling, housing, anything else I should consider. Many thanks in advance, look forward to hearing from you!

What budget do you have per month for rent?

Budget for rent is most important. Ie to rent a 4 bed flat, in South Kensington, with parking and garden your not really going to have change from £4000 a month minimum.

School wise remember that some good schools ie private people will have put baby down at days old, so check if they will still have spaces

For Liverpool Street I would go east. If you can afford it (and it certainly sounds like you can!), Bow is lovely, as is the Victoria Park end of Hackney. Spitalfields and Bethnal Green very vibrant.

South Ken and Notting Hill and Primrose Hill all rather chi-chi and well-heeled. Islington is quite a nice mix.

I worked at Liverpool Street and lived in Brook Green. If I had a family I would have lived in Chelmsford. Its a pretty nice city, easy commute in and much cheaper to live. You can easily get in/out of London. There are more families in this area so more nurseries etc for your 2 year old.

With what you are describing I think you are easily looking at GBP4k a month in rent. Actually I would say expect GBP5-6k a month for something suitable for a family in any of the areas you have mentioned.

The good news about London is that it's diverse. Don't be fooled into thinking that places like holland park are not diverse. On the street my family own a house there are many many nationalities. Our neighbours that we know include Egyptians, Greeks, American, Russians, Iranians, Cantonese, Israeli, German, French, South African, English and Welsh.

If you will have a car you need to look at parking options. Very few apartments have parking. One advantage of Kensington and Chelsea is the parking permit allows you to park anywhere within the borough.

2 or 4. St Marks isn't that great, I don't think: all name, and it's in a pretty dismal basement. Ready Steady Go is better. Or, if you really do like diversity, then I very very strongly recommend you look at both Camden and Islington's various community nurseries. Not chi chi at all - the total opposite - but GREAT.

How about st John's wood and the american school?

Earl's Court is great. My husband works near Liverpool Street and it is about 30 mins commute by foot and tube. We have a flat with access to a communal garden which is great. Also means that you meet other children/parents/nannies! I always feel very safe inEarls court and it has a friendly vibe.

I would very much recommend Bermondsey Street area or Kennington for a quick commute to Liverpool Streetm south of the river has the charm you describe.

Do you want diverse and affluent or diverse with comfortable accommodation available and what is your budget?

I'm assuming you have the budget, and I think you've identified it yourself : Notting Hill and Holland Park. Amazing part of town, full of expat families but plenty of homegrown as well. Greener and less urban than Islington etc but still definitely central not outer London. Persistence is the key with nurseries and schools in this area. Great as on central line so commute still quick into the city. Try the famous five: Rolfes, Ladbroke square etc for nursery.

If you find you can't afford 1-3, look at Victoria Park. Your husband could cycle to work down the canal, much better than tube. The park is beautiful, the community is great, you have all sorts of lovely London things on your doorstep, like Hackney City Farm and Columbia Road - infinitely preferable to Islington which I find somehow miserable these days. Angel is eurgh.

If you want diverse, liberal and artsy definitely go East or North rather than South Ken/Notting Hill etc - have you looked at Stoke Newington? The thing that you might find tricky is that it is very rare to get off-street parking and then it is often equally tricky to park when you get to your destination! There are some lovely bits of Islington too - all with quite a bit of social and ethnic diversity. But the main thing to be aware of is that all of London is socially mixed - there will be social housing next to million pound houses, but some areas are less diverse than others.

Re-reading your OP, if you want open-minded then Stoke Newington will suit you down to the ground!

Are you sure you'll need a car in London?

@sks2015

Hi! I am in same situation, moving to london after securing a job in liverpool st station, and wondering what you decided eventually and the experience so far?
I would appreciate opinion about school and nurseries as well

many many thanks!!!

What do you mean when you say urban and vibrant? All the areas you’ve mentioned are quite posh. Is that what you’re used to?

There’s no point in people suggesting places like Bow and Victoria Park if that’s never going to be an option for you.

I don’t think any are really suitable for a short commute to Liverpool St, and they’re not particularly urban or arty. I did the South Kensington to Liv St commute and it was a pain. Liv St is a short walk from Moorgate, so Hornsey would be a good bet for you. Crouch End has an arty feel more in keeping with what you’re looking for. Or go East, Hackney is on a direct train (London Fields would be a good match), or Walthamstow is particularly arty and direct train to Liv St.

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