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!

Surbiton or Thames ditton - easy commute and good mix of good family life stuff and also social buzzy stuff

Sutton and carshalton also have great schools, good transport links and really affordable houses you could get a little house for that not just a flat

Hi. I’ve I’m looking at houses in Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, which are next to one another in Kent. I’m also really keen on Twickenham, specifically around Twickenham green, but there I worry a bit about how I’d cope with all the planes that fly super low. All very expensive, but nice environment and pretty houses, and really amazing schooling options for my daughter. I can get to work door to door in an hour when things run as they should. I also went to check out St Albans, beckenham, Surbiton, Long Ditton, Kingston, Teddington, Guildford, Barnes, St Margaret’s, Richmond, which were all good options, but seemed slightly less optimal for either my daughter’s particular schooling needs, the commute, what I can afford to buy, or the feel of the place for me. The bit of Kent I’m focusing on seems to get me the best combination for my situation of those things. Good luck to you!

For 600k thats a 4/5 bedroom house in newbury Park. Make sure you are in the catchment for Ilford county/woodford girls grammar school if your children are yet to do 11+, then Seven Kings High School or Oaks Park. This little pocket has a lot of great schools and is very quiet. A lot of properties in the area on sale have reduced in price over the last few months!

@Swedishsinglemum thank you, interested to read as the areas you mention are the same as where I have looked, albeit I have DS. I’m focusing on Tunbridge wells, Ham, Amersham and possibly Reading. Good luck!

The only problem with going out on the train lines to commuter towns is what do you do when it all goes wrong and you can't get home from London? Could be particularly tricky as a single parent unless you have friends and family nearby. Personally I prefer to be on the outskirts of London where there are a number of options for getting home. Eg where I am, if the tube line is down you can get the Overground instead and walk a bit further, or get a bus, or absolute worst case a cab that isn't too horrendously expensive.

Hackney is great for single mums and is very central with excellent schools! East london is pretty ‘hip’, which isn’t for everyone though.

Hello @daylight7777
i am also trying to decide between rtw- tunbridge and ham -Richmond.

Which öne have you decided?

@Swedishsinglemum how about you dear? What is your destination?

Hi mums

I will be moving from Turkey to the UK with my two daughters, 8 and 12-year-old.

i used to live in London for 12 years before moving to Istanbul. I was single then and life was good in London.
Now with the kids, I need some advice.

My 12 year old has some English, but 8 year old can’t really speak much. I am considering state schools to start with and try for 11+ and 13+ exams for grammars for both for kids. Possibly private education from year 10/11 year onwards.

I have a close friend who lives in Royal Tunbridge Wells therefore I considered that area. There is a Christian school with great GCSE and A level results. However, we’re not Christian so I’m worried about being left out even if they could get a place on non-Christian category.

I lived in Beckenham and ;Bromley and Dulwich between 2002-2012 and I liked bromley most.

my, motivation is education however, I want to be in a nice society where I can have friends, play tennis, go out for walks, some parks, maybe Riverside, and shopping center but it is cold and wet. With all this, I considered Kingston to be a good area and a good schools around is in Ham and Twickenham. However, I don’t know this area as I don’t know royal Tunbridge Wells.

I am a white collar working from home on a contract and I may need to work in the long term. I will be away from my husband who will be staying in Turkey and he will try to visit us as much as he can.

We had a hard relationship, I decided to separate, filed a court order, but then he apologized and we decided to try again. I feel like we might do better if we are in a long distance and carry on the marriage for the kids sake.

it is a tough decision to make; my initial question is, would you prefer London versus Royal Tunbridge wells? I don’t want kids feel singled out one day won’t have the father around. Also, I wanna be able to socialize. At the same time I know living in London is more costly which means less equality of housing. I’m planning to rent a flat to start with and my budget will be between £2500.- 3000 at the max.

Look forward to your opinions moms. Thank you so much in advance.

@Hellenhellen I've now settled in Sevenoaks, Kent. So far, it's good. My new house cost me a fortune, but I'm really pleased with the commutability to my office in central London - I get door to door within an hour, on a pleasant walk and good train. Just that bit quicker compared to Tunbridge Wells down the road to make it worth the more expensive location. For me, it's a distance that means going in to central London feels very easy for work or to go to a museum with my daughter. Trains have been really good, and relatively affordable. I've got a couple of new single mum friends, and the school parents are nice. Really happy with my daughter's preschool. Nice nature and parks around, and enough activities to keep our little family busy. Not exactly the cultural capital of the world, but on the doorstep of London, that's OK. Thanks everyone who gave advice on the way here!

I've lived near the Strand all my life, daughter of a single mum, single mum myself, and I think it's great fir children and community.

If I were thinking of living a commute away, though, I'd go for Brighton, Folkestone or Cambridge. Friends tell me Leigh is good for families. I know Reigate and Redhill are good for a quieter life.

Wow great update indeed! I am so happy that you twisted it so well 🍀 fingers crossed for me too.

Tbh I may add sevenoaks to my list, a friend mentioned it stating it is a grammar school heaven.

Sorry, didn't see you've settled happily already. Sounds great there!

@Hellenhellen
im still in the middle of financial proceedings in my divorce and need to move this summer, haven’t made the move yet.
however…I’ve taken lots of advice and done research. My son is very academic. I’ve decided that I will move to south richmond/Twickenham/Dulwich or Kent to access the best primaries and academically high scoring secondaries. Happy for you to pm if you want

Surbiton cobham

Kingston

i am wishing you all the luck on that, been there, done that.. fingers crossed it is resolved quickly and to your best. easier to find outstanding primaries but harder on the secondaries. yes please pm me and lets keep in touch - who knows we may end up in the same area in September

Milton Keynes - soz just saw how old this thread was