Looking for somewhere quiet with good air quality, Twickenham, Teddington, Whitton, St Margaret, Strawberry hill sort of areas

[QuintessentiallySW]

We need easy commuting distance of Barnes Station (and Hammersmith)
and would like to be within easy reach of St Richard Reynolds or other good secondary schools.

Any recommendations?

Any thoughts about air quality and pollution?

I suffer so with hayfever, sinusitis and asthma, doctor recommended moving out of Thames Valley, but ds1 is adamant he does not want to change schools (he is starting Y9).

I looked at the London Pollution map, and it seems like the western side of Richmond Park is better than where we are now (Putney way)

Ham? Much more green space and much of the housing away from main roads but not sure about the readings. Access to Grey Court or Sir RR if you walk across the lock and catch a bus. Probably need to get bus to Richmond station.

Ham is lovely - we cycled through yesterday. Incidentally, we nearly bought a house in Tudor drive but opted for Putney which was more central for work.

My only worry about Ham is the difficulty in getting to school for my oldest, as he would need the train into Barnes, or the bus 493 (which would take for ever in the morning traffic) He is adamant he is not changing schools, and I agree with him.

What is the area like just opposite the river? Teddington / Twickenham?

Teddington is lovely. Twickenham very very busy and I doubt the air quality is much cop! It is full of busy roads. Mind you, Teddington is fairly busy these days too, but definitely cleaner than Twickenham. I would say Ham would be a good option as it really is quiet and green. 65 to Richmond and train to Barnes for your oldest. I did a similar commute from Twickenham to Hammersmith as a child and it was fine.

Very variable housing in Ha. It seems like nice houses in Ham/Petersham are generally a lot more expensive than Teddington/Strawberry Hill? Doesnt Petersham road get very busy?

I can imagine ds1 being stuck in traffic on the 65 bus! He would be better off cycling through Richmond Park to school... (Need to buy panniers for his bike....)

Petersham Rd is busy but there are lots of bits of Ham that aren't near it.

OH reckons Twickenham/strawberry hill is/quite bad for hay fever. Always/worse here than other places especially near Twickenham green. ??? Due to horse chestnut trees. Also aircraft noise can be bad . Always seems worse in summer when you want windows open. Road pollution from A316/m3. He laughed at the idea it might be better here for hay fever!

My friend lives in North Kingston close to Ham and apparently the pollen there is bad as they are so close to Richmond Park which has ever natural allergen known to man (apparently).

I have also found Teddington High Street and very close surrounding roads bad too in the summer months. There is a lot of traffic and the road is quite narrow and high so I have found it builds up.

I live on "the other side" of Richmond park, only with busy Roehampton Lane between! I also have Wimbledon Common in vicinity. I think everywhere around Richmond Park is bad for havfever, but air pollution aggrevates it more.

I was hoping getting away from some of the air pollution would help - seeing as DS1 wont move school, dh still needs to get to work, and we do love Richmond Park for cycle rides and walks.

I honestly don't think anywhere round here is great for pollution or air quality. But Ham definitely less traffic-ridden than most places.

There's a reason why all the local driving instructors take beginners to Ham.

I'm asthmatic and have found Hampton to be nice. There are some nice been spaces near Twickenham too, round by the parks. Hampton Hill is nice too, but I guess they are all a bit polluted really.

I lived in Hampton for a year, close to the river, albeit on a main road & with a huge garden, masses of trees, lawns & shrubs.
My very bad hayfever induced asthma was much better than in Teddington.
It depends very much upon what flips your switch re pollution & hayfever.
Have you had any testing done or have you logged symptoms against location/pollution readings?
I charted them using a pollution app & noted that my symptoms worsened at very specific times of year & also against high NO2 pollution. I can't do a lot about pollution other than keep windows & doors shut with only trickle vents open & ioniser on. And I keep air vents closed from before I reach Richmond Park/Bushy Park till well after I'm through, and also in slow traffic.
HTH