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London

Where to live in London

43 replies

Internationalpony · 03/07/2023 22:39

My husband’s got a new job split between Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Charing Cross Hospital and I work just by Trafalgar Square. Commute time is really important as my husband works on call (including over night) and needs to be able to get to work in under 30 mins. I’d also like a commute which is 40mins or less. I’m pregnant so we’d like to live in a safe area which is good for families with lots of green spaces and good schools as we’d like to find a place we can settle long term (or at least for a few years). I’d like to find a place with a nice community feel, a nice high street and where there’ll be mum and baby groups I can go to and make mum friends as none of my friends have children yet.

In case it impacts on the areas you’d recommend, we’re both from fairly ordinary backgrounds (my mum’s a teacher and dad’s a surveyor, husband & I both went to local comps in the North) so I worry I’d find it hard to make friends living somewhere like Chelsea if most people I’d meet would be the family money type as I’d find it hard to relate/find common ground.

Our budget is £700k to buy a place or £2.5k renting and we’d need a 2 bed. We’d love a second bathroom and bonus if we can get a 3 bed but location is the most important thing as we expect to save a good amount over the next few years and then upsize.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice!

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Springinthecity · 03/07/2023 22:51

I would recommend Fulham - you can get a 2 bed flat easily in your budget.

Location wise the corner of Fulham palace road and Fulham road (which are direct to Charing Cross & C&W) would be ideal. Around Bishops Park / Munster road area

Also lots of parks, safe, great for families, loads of baby classes.

Florissante · 04/07/2023 07:33

Renting in Fulham on that budget, yes. Buying a two-bedroom place? Tricky. It can be done but the flat will be tiny and probably won't have any outdoor space.

Internationalpony · 04/07/2023 07:50

Florissante · 04/07/2023 07:33

Renting in Fulham on that budget, yes. Buying a two-bedroom place? Tricky. It can be done but the flat will be tiny and probably won't have any outdoor space.

Thanks for your input. Where would you recommend instead that might be better suited to our budget?

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Motherzly · 04/07/2023 08:01

Hi,

It sounds like Chiswick might suit. Property prices are a little ridiculous in Chiswick but I think you could get a nice flat in that budget.

Endless mum & baby class options, parks, nice high street etc. The district line goes into Embankment station (25mins). It's 30mins to Chelsea & Westminster hospital by car.

Good luck with your search!

Thirty5 · 04/07/2023 18:03

I would recommend somewhere on the Victoria line. Perhaps even as far out as Blackhorse Lane, you can get to Green Park in 19 minutes.
Im from the North and there seem to be quite a few of us in E17!

thenewera · 04/07/2023 18:11

Putney? The High Street is rubbish but the rest is nice! Easy bus or walk to Charing Cross and C&W and direct tube to Embankment.

Haneggsandchips · 04/07/2023 18:14

The bus from Putney to CC Hospital can be terrible given how gummed up with traffic the Fulham Palace Rd can be.

Around Hammersmith or Shepherds Bush could work - Piccadilly line good for you. Challenge is going to be the quick commute for your husband to C&W - it's not that handy for the tube

thenewera · 04/07/2023 18:26

PutYourBackIntoit · 04/07/2023 18:23

Can you stretch the budget a little...there's a lovely maisonette in Telegraph Hill

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136879718#/?channel=RES_BUY

But that's rubbish for both hospitals!

Internationalpony · 04/07/2023 19:27

Thirty5 · 04/07/2023 18:03

I would recommend somewhere on the Victoria line. Perhaps even as far out as Blackhorse Lane, you can get to Green Park in 19 minutes.
Im from the North and there seem to be quite a few of us in E17!

You must be right as I have friends in Walthamstow who are also Northern! But the commute is too far for Chelsea & Westminster unfortunately!

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Internationalpony · 04/07/2023 19:30

PutYourBackIntoit · 04/07/2023 17:59

Southwark?

Something like this?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136536380#/?channel=RES_BUY

Although, you might find you'll want to move fairly soon if you look to have another child.

This looks great but it looks like it’s in Elephant & Castle which I know is supposed to be up and coming but I didn’t think it was very green/leafy? I don’t know the area well though! Do you think it would be a nice place to settle and raise family?

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dancinginthesky · 04/07/2023 19:44

Greenwich is a green, community, type place and 20 mins from central London commute - not sure if it's too far as I can't remember where Charing Cross hospital is but your budget might stretch to some properties

ChocChipHandbag · 04/07/2023 19:51

The requirement to be Abel to get to both hospitals within 30 minutes is very unusual and restrictive. Would it not be a good idea to ask colleagues at the hospitals where they live and how they manage this? There is no substitute for taking the advice of someone with direct experience.

ChocChipHandbag · 04/07/2023 19:51

able (autocorrect)

ChocChipHandbag · 04/07/2023 19:52

Sorry, I’m sure it’s not an unusual requirement for doctors, what I meant was that it’s very unusual in terms of house hunting criteria.

Phineyj · 04/07/2023 19:55

Population is falling in Elephant and Castle due to development so schools have spaces. Good leisure centre. Lots of building work though. I'd want to be near the Imperial War Museum to have access to their park.

Verite1 · 04/07/2023 19:56

Yep - it’s a pretty difficult ask as most areas within 30 mins commute are v expensive. But Chiswick might work. Have just had a quick look and you probably could get 2 bedroom for 700. Maybe no outdoor space though.

3WildOnes · 04/07/2023 20:02

I was going to suggest Chiswick or Fulham but see they have already been suggested. Putney/Wandsworth near Wandsworth Park. Or barnes near Hammersmith Bridge.

karmakameleon · 04/07/2023 20:03

I think the 30 min commute to two different locations is the killer here. For example Battersea Park would be in budget and perfect to get you to work, your husband to C&W but impossible to get to Charing Cross in 30 min.

ChocChipHandbag · 04/07/2023 20:04

If he had to get to the hospital when on call would he be able to travel by Uber? And have a longer commute by public transport when not on call?

liptoneyes · 04/07/2023 20:05

How would your DH travel to work if they have to do it at night? (When the tube might be closed). Places which have a 30 min drive at night would take much longer in traffic during rush hour, often double the time. I think I'd try to stick within 30 mins walk/cycling as then you're not affected by traffic or tfl, but it will be expensive. Baron's Court or Parson's Green areas would fit, but I don't know what the vibe is like.

user1494050295 · 04/07/2023 20:12

St Margaret’s. Driving is 20 mins and 27 mins in little traffic. Both easy by car and train. For you get off at Waterloo and straight over hungerford bridge. St M has great community, excellent schools. Trains etc loads of green space

user1494050295 · 04/07/2023 20:12

Or Kew

Internationalpony · 04/07/2023 20:13

ChocChipHandbag · 04/07/2023 19:51

The requirement to be Abel to get to both hospitals within 30 minutes is very unusual and restrictive. Would it not be a good idea to ask colleagues at the hospitals where they live and how they manage this? There is no substitute for taking the advice of someone with direct experience.

The split the between the two hospitals is fairly unique to his role (just him and one other in the team) rather than the norm and where people live is a bit of a mix as most of his older colleagues have a lot more money (having had a long time to build up a well established private practice, bought when buying a house was more affordable etc.) and others live further out and choose to stay at the hospital for on calls (including sleeping there overnight) which is the alternative if you live more than 30mins away but we really want to avoid that & have him home as much as poss when we have the new baby!

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