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Original poster

Where to live in London (or out of London)?

60 replies

gottasmile · 26/01/2010 20:19

Hi,
I'm currently in Canada and will be moving to London with dh and 2 dc this summer.
I've found out a lot about finding a school for ds from mumsnet, now I was wondering if anyone had any advice on where to live??

My dh will be working near Victoria station, so we were thinking either somewhere near Pimlico station, or somewhere in Surrey (direct train line to Victoria)

Can anyone recommend somewhere in Surrey? There are so many towns, when you don't know the area, it's hard to work out where the really lovely places are. (I've googled different areas, but it's still hard to tell!!)

Thanks!!

OP posts:
Ewe · 31/01/2010 19:46

Epsom, Ashtead or Ewell would be my suggestions. Commute directly to Victoria in about 40minutes, three per hour in rush hour and there are Waterloo trains which run about 6 per hour in rush hour so it's a good route to live on.

Schools are pretty good, Wallace Fields is an excellent state school based just outside of Epsom. Secondary schools are mixed, Rosebery (all girls) and Glyn (all boys) have good results and there are grammar schools nearby too. Plus tonnes of private options.

Carshalton is also worth a look.

What is your budget? If you have £££ to spend then Clapham, Fulham, Wimbledon, Chelsea, Richmond etc.

2old4thislark · 31/01/2010 22:23

Ewe - I guess it's each to their own , as always........however desirable and up market all those London areas are, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than live there! I just find it all so claustrophobic - I know they all have green spaces but compared to the likes of leafy Surrey? No contest!

JustAnotherManicMummy · 31/01/2010 22:31

Plenty of places in Richmond to accomodate a grand piano. Just have a look in Knight Frank's window (I often do, like an urchin against the sweetshop window). Although you'd need a lot of 0000s on the end of a bit fat £3.5 to pay for it.

Change at Clapham for trains straight to Victoria. Will add an extra 5 mins changing but worth it to live in Richmond.

Or there's Twickenham side of course (same train line)

Ewe · 01/02/2010 10:17

I completely agree 2old which is one of the main reasons I live in Surrey best of all worlds imo!

However, I think if you have SERIOUS cash (and a country house for weekends, natch) they can be great to live in if you want that kind of lifestyle.

sprogger · 01/02/2010 10:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

2old4thislark · 01/02/2010 15:32

Good point sprogger - my friend used to live in Bickley - suburb of Bromley and that was nice with good schools. Parts of Kent still have Grammar schools for secondary eduaction too!

Once you're out of town you should get a good sized garden and off street parking. You can spend squillions in town on a big house and still get a tiny garden and have to fight to park the car. My friends had a huge house in SW17 and a 20 foot garden!
I'm 15 miles from central London and have a 120 foot garden! That's presuming a big garden is seen as a good thing!

Blu · 01/02/2010 15:37

How old are your children?

Original poster
gottasmile · 02/02/2010 15:31

thanks for all the great info and comments!

I do think that Surrey will be our choice. I like Richmond, but for the same money you can get a lovely house in Surrey surrounded by trees, grass etc. (so yes, a big garden is seen as a good thing!)

My ds is 6 and my dd is almost 2. We think we'll be in England for 5 years, so we want to make a good choice, both for schools and where we live.

I'm now off to take a look at Ewell, Epsom, Tadworth and Ashtead. From what you've written, they sound lovely! Thanks again!

OP posts:
Ely79 · 04/02/2010 14:04

Hi,

Anybody knows how is Horley? We are planning to move there soon and dont know the area. Are there good schools?

Thanks x

Louise2004 · 04/02/2010 15:48

Following on from sprogger's suggestions about SE London and Kent, isn't Brighton and the other larger Sussex towns en route, such as Haywards Heath, also on a direct train line to Victoria under an hour (40 or so minutes if I remember correctly)? No idea about schools, though, sorry.

Original poster
gottasmile · 04/02/2010 20:13

Yes they are, and they look lovely too, maybe around 45/50 minutes if I've done my research well. Ps. Why is there a Surrey/SW London supplement?

OP posts:
amidaiwish · 04/02/2010 20:21

I have lived in SW London all my life and know it pretty well, i'll answer whatever questions i can (Richmond/Twickenham/Hampton area)

also worth looking at Esher area, further out (Surrey) but good state schools and fast, regular trains to waterloo (from claygate station better than esher i think). lots of Americans/expats/commuters to London/City.

lots of green space there, if you are looking for a decent sized house to fit that piano you will get more for your money than in Richmond.

Ozziegirly · 05/02/2010 05:50

Have a look at West Sussex as well, as that is on the Victoria Line - Horsham is a lovely market town with nice, if unpretentious shops, some nice restaurants, lots of green space and is cheaper than Guildford. Good schools; Millais for girls or Tanbridge for mixed, plus a few private schools too including Christs Hospital which has an excellent reputation.

Also, lots of lovely villages on the Surrey/Sussex border such as Loxwood, Godalming, Haslemere, Shere with lots of old cottages if you fancy something like that.

Original poster
gottasmile · 05/02/2010 21:19

I agree, amidaiwish. From looking on Primelocation, we've worked out that Richmond isn't for us (even though I love it, have stayed there with a friend before). We'll be looking further out for sure.

Ozziegirly, how big is Horsham (roughly)? I'll take a look at those villages you mentioned. I think I'm going to have to focus on a few areas otherwise I'm going to get too frazzled!

OP posts:
Original poster
gottasmile · 05/02/2010 21:52

So far, I really like the houses around Kingswood and Tadworth..... is there anyone who's lived or lives near here?? I'd love to hear your experiences...

OP posts:
nicefleece · 05/02/2010 21:59

Sunbury on Thames, south of the M3 (slow train though), nice arty groups
Richmond, but prefer Petersham, Ham & Barnes
Cobham

Is it obvious I like SW London & Surrey.

I live in the Westcountry now though....

2old4thislark · 05/02/2010 22:52

Nicefleece - I grew up in Sunbury - good schools and still nice - my wrinklies live there and I'm not too far away!

I don't live in Kingswood or Tadworth but travel around there quite a bit when working - I'd happily live there! Especially if I could afford a big house!

Second Cobham and Esher too!

nicefleece · 05/02/2010 22:56

Bet I went to your school - SM?

Ozziegirly · 05/02/2010 23:17

Horsham has a population of around 50,000 - it's a kind of medium sized town I suppose, with all the main shops, big supermarkets etc (plus a nice farmer's market at the weekend).

Shodan · 05/02/2010 23:17

Will third Cobham and Esher but highly recommend Claygate. Less 'towny' than either Esher or Cobham, very green, large range of houses.

Walton-on-Thames, although recently revamped for shopping, which is great, is quite built up and less green and leafy.

Weybridge (where I am) has a good secondary state school and an excellent primary (Cleves) but the town runs either side of a busy main road which is a cut through for everyone heading to the M25. Also not a great range of housing options.

Original poster
gottasmile · 06/02/2010 02:44

This is too hard!! We're really going to have to start narrowing down our options.

2old4thislark, I trust you and am going to put Cobham and Esher on the list too.

Now off to check out Claygate Shodan.... I had looked at Weybridge and it looked nice, I'm glad you mentioned the busy main road.

Once I've got about 6 - 8 places, I'll be able to focus on these when we go over.

Again, thanks for your help!

OP posts:
Original poster
gottasmile · 06/02/2010 02:46

Ozziegirly, are you Australian or have you lived there? I only ask because I'm Australian

OP posts:
amidaiwish · 06/02/2010 16:45

gottasmile - Claygate will come under Esher anyway, they are basically the same place. Many people living in Esher have Claygate station as their nearest station. The nicest part of Esher imo is the bit towards Claygate.

2old4thislark · 06/02/2010 17:49

Nicefleece - no BW and SF for primary.

Don't forget Epsom towards the downs (south side) I'd love to live there. Great for walking the dogs on the Downs and good town centre too!

mangoandlime · 06/02/2010 18:21

Banstead is fab but the station is a long way from the centre of Banstead..more into Nork. Primary schools are great but they feed into a not so great (at the moment) secondary.

Kingswood is fabulous, I love it, lovely houses (lots with a pool!) and a brilliant family 'old style' pub with wonderful food and garden, (The Kingswood Arms). A few shops, not many, it's a very quiet village, most people travel into Banstead to shop. I also second Epsom Downs which, (if I'm not mistaken) does have a mainline into London. Lovely countryside...move out of town on Derby day though!