Where to move near London as single mum?

[Swedishsinglemum]

Looking for advice, please! I’m getting divorced up north, and looking to move with my 3yo daughter somewhere commutable to my workplace on the Strand in London. I don’t know anyone in London, so I’m especially keen to move somewhere where I can find a new community, especially among mums with kids a similar age. I’m afraid that central London won’t be a place where I can find community as well as good state schools. I’d welcome anyone sharing their experience/advice.

Ideally, I’d like to be somewhere with less than 50 minutes commute by train to Charring cross, Waterloo station, or City Thameslink, or somewhere within a half an hour bike ride from Aldwych. I’ve got maybe £600k to spend on a house/flat. I’m looking for somewhere I’ll get to know people, build a network, and want to stay for the long term, so I’m looking at both primary and secondary schools and have been seeking out grammar schools. On my list of possibilities so far are Tunbridge wells and Sevenoaks, maybe Tonbridge, Richmond, Twickenham, possibly Fulham, or Guildford further West. I would have loved to move to Brighton, but think the commute is just too long.

I appreciate thoughts on where I might go, and how to start building my new community and network of friends.

Thank you!

Watching

Look at St Albans or Harpenden. Nice, safe, family-orientated towns which are about 30-35 mins from City Thameslink. both places are pricey, but £600k will get you a nice 2-bed for sure. They're also the right side of the M25 for trips back up North.

Great state schools too, both primary and secondary.

Would you consider somewhere in London zone 2? Trains can be awful here and might affect your ability to pick up your kid from childcare.

Southfields. Lots of flats there within your budget. Easy Tube direct to Embankment, just by The Strand. Lots of community. Local schools good. Big park.

literally no downsides.

Worth looking at Acton and Ealing both nice areas within your budget with good schools.

Bishops stortford

I am thinking St. Albans.

Elephant and castle 🏰 I live near there and can get to any part of London in under an 1hour. They have a lot of new builds also. Travel links are pretty good.

Thank you! That’s great, I’ll look there too then. What schools do you think are worth moving close to, for a girl?

I’m not sure how I should think about this. I’ve been thinking that a direct train commute is less stressful than the tube, and if I’ve got to travel for awhile I can work on a train. I’m an academic, so I can work from home most days, but I’d like it if I could come to the office more often. How do you think it’s helpful to think?

Thank you, I hadn’t looked there. Are there any particular schools that you think are worth looking at?

Are you at Kings? If you can work remotely some of the eek that will help on travel costs. You need to factor in pick up times for nursery into your commute. Also travel costs. And good nurseries/primary schools. For many London schools you need to be very close to have a chance to get in so be very careful about that when choosing - place to live.

If you are working on the strand - south eastern trains go straight into Charing Cross so Sevenoaks / Tonbridge / Tunbridge wells. All family friendly, very good schools, great places to have children. The commute into London is 30 mins from Sevenoaks. 50 from twells. There are more train options from Sevenoaks and Tonbridge as you are on the Ashford trainline as well.

In my opinion if you are commuting into London (and I have) you want to be able to go to the main station and walk once you add in a tube journey as well it just makes it more hassle / longer.

I am in South Croydon, >30 mins on train to City Thameslink (or change at L Bridge), good community and schools, 10 minutes to countryside with fields/horses and your budget would buy you a big house.

i know several kings lecturers who live here

I want to live as centrally as poss when I eventually buy there. I think make your life as simple as possible and especially with Elizabeth line opening up east to west there is more choice and the tube isn't stressful at all IMO. I think travelling in from commuter belt land is still tiring whatever - drive to station, parking, factoring in late trains, last train home etc etc. And culturally so much to o do with kids in city. I don't want to be stigmatised as a single mum (I feel I am now) and in London I don't think it is quite as prevalent you have much more choice in terms of keeping up with social life and meeting new people.

Yes, I’m at King’s. I find it quite hard to understand what schools are worth moving there for, but I’m taking schools as the point of departure.

My thinking precisely. Do you live out Sevenoaks/Tunbridge way yourself?

Cool. Are there any particular schools or areas that you think are worth looking at?

We've just sold a 2 bed in Clapton with a garden for 600k, and can cycle in from there in 25 mins which is much more reliable than trains. Great schools, lots of green spaces. We are very happy here.

I’m sorry you’ve felt stigma. I see what you say about being central. Do you have ideas about more central parts where it might be easier to become part of a community as a newcomer?

That sounds amazing. Are there schools that you think are particularly good to look at?

Jubilee school on Casenove road is lovely, or Shacklewell down by Dalston is also v good. William Patten is nice but you have to live very close to get in.

I would consider transport options carefully.

I love zone 6 and I have 3 mainline stations I can use plus tube and then bus. That means if there is an issue on one line I have a variety of methods to get home. If you are somewhere fitter out line Tunbridge wells and that Trainline goes bad you are stuck and as a single parent that's not great.

Hi there, not sure what replies you're responding to so it's not easy to address your questions. If you're asking about St Albans or Harpenden, you can't go wrong with schools. In Harpenden for sure, they're all great.