Ideas for areas in London, nice but not naice

[NightBus]

Accidentally posted in wrong section. Posting in London now.
Currently live in London and looking to move in next couple of years. Looking for suggestions I've not thought of for areas in London that fit the following criteria:

• nice area with nice architecture (eg period properties) tree-lined streets etc
• access to good green space, large parks within walking distance (this is essential)
• either v central or excellent transport for commutes within London (45mins max to city)
• v good / excellent secondary schools
• conveniences / shops etc nearby

AND CRUCIALLY

• nice but not necessarily "naice". Not homogenous white middle class. Somewhere more diverse. Want DC's yo go to school with a diverse intake of students.

Budget for 3+ bed house would be anywhere between £750-1m ish.

Definitely take a look at Ealing.

I third ealing/Hanwell. Outstanding schools, greenest borough, the bunny park, basics restaurants, you’d get a good sized 4 bed semi for £900,000.

@RicStar I know, that's my worry too! So I thought I'd ask in here. Had some great suggestions though so worth a look.

I think we would be prepared to compromise on the property style and not buy a character property but somewhere we could make our own. However I would like the general area to be full of characterful properties / tree-lined streets etc purely because it's so lovely to walk around and creates a lovely atmosphere. Kirsty Allsop always says you hardly ever look at the outside of your house- so if ours was the ugliest property on the street that wouldn't be too bad and might mean we could afford somewhere. We would enjoy making it homely inside.

Haha @HundredMilesAnHour yes Stratford can be a bit like that! But we live in the bubble of East Village so we rarely venture onto the high street.

I'd say Beckenham as well, although if you could bear z5/6 then Sanderstead would work too - I do door to desk in 45 mins and that includes a change at Clapham.

Despite it being written off upthread as too rough , I’d definitely encourage you to think about Mile End, or Bow as we like to call it when we’re being naice.

I’m a ten minute walk from Victoria Park, where I go with the DC all the time, great transport links to the City and Canary Wharf, we’re in a conservation area with nice period properties. The streets have trees.

The Fuerzdown area of tooting ticks yours boxes. Along with Herne Hill, Streatham Hill, Dulwich, Ladywell, Figges Marsh, some areas of Mitcham (either Figges Marsh end or Colliers Wood end - some areas of Mitcham Junction and common are nice but town centre still a little iffy), Merton Park, Colliers Wood, Raynes Park.

There's loads on the edges of the SW19 enclave that would suit your budget and needs.

@Rainatnight to clarify, I live in Mile End too but thought since op thought Catford was rough, she'd think those areas rough too.

Ah, hello neighbour. Sorry, got you now.

You wont get a 3 bed period in Herne Hill in catchment of Charter school for £1m even now prices are down a bit. Ditto Dulwich. Maybe Streatham for Dunraven but with the primary kids feeding in from next year the area is going to shrink so you need to get in at primary or be really close. You can take you chances with the Kingsdale lottery but that is a lottery. I love this area of se london but good state secondaries do not currently abound and depending how old ops kid/s are it is only going to get tighter over next few years.

Leytonstone? Easy for getting into town, Epping Forest for open space. Lots of nice period houses

Too rough ? lol Like Stratford isn't .

The centre of Catford isn't great , granted, but it covers up to the Lee borders where there are some lovely houses in lovely leafy roads . Parks like Mountsfield are popular and you are not far from Blackheath (a 202 will get you from Catford (outside the Theatre) to Blackheath village and the heath.

Other areas I would think of are
East Dulwich
Some of Camberwell
Greenwich

Twickenham or Whitton

East- Highams Park, Walthamstow, North Chingford, Wanstead, Snaresbrook

North- Harringey Ladder, Crouch end, Muswell hill, Hornsey

West- Acton, Chiswick, Ealing, Twickenham, Hampton

South- Dulwich, Catford, Streatham, Herne Hill, Forest Hill

Another vote for Leytonstone

I would look at Greenwich or Blackheath

Dollis Hill

London fields in Hackney. Really lovely and you’re a two minute walk from Victoria Park.

Enfield is 26 minutes by train into Liverpool Street. There are some absolutely beautiful period properties especially for thar budget and tons of green space.