Relocating to the big smoke...where in London?!

[LondonTowers]

Hello

We're exploring the idea of moving to London. I lived in London, both South and North, a number of years ago. I was young, free and single then....now I'm not as young, not as free and partnered up with 3 small children. Seems to me most people in our age group (thirties) are looking to leave London with their small people in tow, not the other way round... would ove to hear encouraging stories from others seeking/ living a similar relocation.
We having been living the rural dream (not) and I feel it's now or never (now or in 18 years

Please could anyone suggest any areas that are great for families with parks/ activities for toddlers and ok state schools. We would also like a couple decent pubs and cafes as we like to socialise when we can too. Heres the rub...we are not millionaires...but, we are ok financially. We would be interested to hear any upcoming areas etc....

My partner is starting a PhD and he has a choice of several central London universities. We know a few people but are hoping to make friends.

Many thanks in advance

xxx

Well, budget is going to make quite a difference!!

The place that springs to mind is Nappy Valley (the area round Wandsworth and Clapham commons) but that's quite established so might be beyond budget. So perhaps Tooting or Streatham?

Herne Hill would probably be a good fit as well, but again, price. You might want to look at the less fashionable bits of Dulwich and into Peckham and Camberwell

Commuter belt zone might give you a better life for the money, and possibly still leave your husband with a shorter commute. Eg. Hitchin to Kings Cross is a shorter commute than Richmond to King's Cross.

I only suggest it because you've not said any reason you're set on being in London itself. Sorry if I've misread the situation!

For example, Hertford to Kings

Budget will make a huge difference here! What sort of property are you looking for? Will you be renting or buying?

If your budget allows, look at Stroud Green - it is between Finsbury Park (excellent transport links) and Crouch End (ideal London village with tons of families, but very pricey) - there are loads of families with young kids and plenty of parks and playgrounds. Lots of cafes and restaurants, good schools, very easy and quick to get just about anywhere in London. If you want to buy then you are looking at £700k to £800k for a three bed flat (not house) with a garden.

If you’re looking for leafy but with great links into town then try the following: in the West, try Chiswick or Ealing, in the South West try Putney Bridge or Richmond, in the South East try Dulwich, Greenwich or Blackheath, in the North try Finchley, in the north east, Finsbury Park — I’m less familiar with the East. Hope that helps!

Thank you. I used to live in finchley and highgate.....love crouch end- it would be ideal but, yes, its pricey. I imagine our budget is around £700k..... not loads in terms of London prices but a start. Not too worried about hubby's commute, a lot will be done from home.

I miss living in a big city, probs would avoid commuter belt but I'm not ruling it out, we have to sell our current home for a number of reasons and I'd always put off moving away because of kids/ schools & now the opportunity to move with hubby's study plans has come up and I'm thinking perhaps it's now or never...the house is up for sale anyway.... maybe we should relocate now rather then wait 20 years!..... I don't like where I live. I felt I've been slowly dying for the last 5 years, I know that sounds dramatic but.....its true.... I'm not sure i could manage another 20 years.

I've heard Woolwich is up and coming.....I've also heard good things about leytonstone.....any ideas??? We have a friend in dulwich and it sounds great but think it might be pricey too.....thanks xx

I would say go west - Ealing is nice and has good schools and transport links and parks

Leytonstone and Leyton are great - lots of green space around, great community spirit and easy commute into the city. Depending what you like Francis Rd in Leyton has a great community feel with nice deli, wine bar, coffee shops etc, also great primary schools. Upper Leytonstone or Bushwood are both great areas, mainly for being close to the flats/forest.

We have recently moved to Dulwich and loving the area. So many parks around and lots of other great things for kids plus good pub scene. Dulwich itself is pricey but surrounding areas are more affordable but with similar benefits - Peckham, Forest Hill, Honor Oak. We're very happy with the choice we made. We previously lived in Angel when child free.

Work out where your OH needs to be an look at best transport options from there. Are you likely to be working too ?

He will be studying in ucl or east London but he will be working from home a lot which is why I'm not basing our search around that. I will probably want to work at some point, I can work in most places though...

Does anyone know what crystal palace is like?

How old are your dcs? Presume you want somewhere with good state primary/secondaries. How many bedrooms do you need? Presume 4 and a decent garden

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74322624#/

You can get reasonable sized places in Twickenham for eg, this not far from the Green so nice area

I'm in Muswell Hill and love it. I think it's brilliant for families we are very happy here. We have the woods, ally pally etc, lots of family friendly eating spots and it's 40 mins to central. East Finchley, Highgate, crouch end - all really nice too but yes... All expensive.

Sydenham, Forest Hill, Crystal Palace all good – leafy, full of families, hundreds of BabyZen Yoyos clogging up the parks, etc; Horniman museum, Crystal Palace dinosaurs, Sydenham woods, a little river down Catford way, plus fairly easy to get a bit further afield for more stuff to do and close enough to Brixton/Dulwich etc to go and get a taste of the high life there.

Should be stuff available within your budget. And in the conservation areas, plenty of houses at double that to go and ogle at

We’ve got friends with children in Leyton and they really like it but it just still feels very deprived when we visit (at least the bit they live in anyway).

Out of the areas I can think of that feel inner London rather than suburbs, I think Crystal Palace could be quite good with a nice big park. There’s the Triangle with so you’d have plenty of options for going out for drinks and food and it’s got buzz to it.

Beckenham is worth a look too. Cusp of inner and outer London but without ‘grittiness’, pleasant town centre, very popular with families and known for good schools.

If you wanted to try outer London, then Carshalton Village is pretty, nice cafes and a lot of pubs, leisure centre, community run theatre and a lot of events throughout the year eg Artists’ Open Houses, fireworks, fairs etc Very popular with families, very green, affordable and non-gritty.

Oh, and that ex-council linked in Twickenham is round the corner from Twickenham Green which is a pretty area and there are established residential areas. Somewhere that would probably get suggested if you ask for an MC/ staid option.

Crystal Palace is great, and very good for families. Lovely park, too . Only problem is it’s not in the tube but if you don’t mind that it’s great as there are train links to Victoria and London Bridge.

@JoJoSM2

Oh, and that ex-council linked in Twickenham is round the corner from Twickenham Green which is a pretty area and there are established residential areas. Somewhere that would probably get suggested if you ask for an MC/ staid option.

I don't think the OP has specified what sort of area she wants! I know someone who lives round there, I was amazed when I visited at how reasonable is was given it's a nice area, hence suggesting it. Obviously there are much cheaper areas which might be more suitable, but it has very good schools and transport links it seems from their comments.

@CountessDracula

I just wanted to add more info so the OP has a better sense of what different places are like.
The price for that particular house is understandably a fair bit lower than the Victorian/Edwardian roads given it’s a street of 30’s council housing.

Penge!

Close to Crystal Palace park, community feel, good high street, decent primary schools, secondaries are a bit more hit and miss but good if you have girls. There is some work being done on secondary provision. Reasonable house prices. Good transport links. There are 2 train stations with trains to Victoria, Blackfriars, London Bridge, Highbury and Islington via Canada Water for Canary Wharf.

Thank you all for the helpful replies. South does sound very promising and we have a friend in dulwich and one near beckenham and one in Twickenham so that would be nice. Definitely not ruling out north though, just don't think I could afford it.
@jo definitely up for a bit of 1930s ex-council so thanks for the heads up. Really open to anything but it must have 3 bedrooms (in an ideal world a 4th) and a garden (doesn't have to be big) and in walking distance of some amenities.

If you want to live more centrally, try looking at the Shaftesbury Estate SW11 - they sometimes have 3 bed maisonettes within your budget.

Otherwise Crystal Palace could work very well - ditto Gypsy Hill and South Norwood. Lots of independent shops just to the north of Crystal Palace Park and the park is lovely (has both a parkrun and a junior parkrun, good play area and dinosaurs!)

According to Zoopla, the average price for a terraced house in London is now 720k. There’ll be plenty of nice areas to choose from so don’t feel like you haven’t got a good budget