Relocating to London..looking for reacommendations on places to live

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Hi all, We are moving to London as a family of 3 with a 7 year old boy. I’ve been overwhelmed with the number of decisions to be made - including school, where to live etc. My husband has to commute to Tilbury and will be driving. I’m looking for a location recommendation that has a) outstanding state schools b) connectivity to central London c) cosmopolitan and gives us a flavour of the ‘London life’.
Any recommendations would be super super helpful! Thanks a ton!

What do you mean by London, do you want to be in central London? The drive would be a nightmare. Somewhere in Essex would make a lot more sense

Also what’s your budget?

It would make more sense to live in Tilbury (or near by). Trains from Essex to London are very frequent so you can easily go there regularly.

Tilbury is a tough commute from the nicer areas in London. Somewhere is Essex would probably work better

Budget will be key to what people suggest. But I agree with others that commuting out of London to Tilbury is an odd choice. Most people would choose cheaper housing outside but within reach of London.

I'd move to Leigh on sea in this situation or somewhere around Chelmsford

I wouldn't live in London if I had to get to Tilbury as the train you would need to get doesn't really go through that many nice areas that are family friendly.

I second living out towards Southend way as Tilbury is reachable by train and car.

Thanks folks. How does Essex do in terms of primary schooling options? That’s a primary factor. We are okay to spend 2500-3000 on rental.
Also, does living in Essex allow you to get the London experience?

I would also start looking for a job, which might be in London. So connectivity to London is crucial.

According to Google it takes 43 minutes by train from Tilbury to London Fenchurch St.
That's only 20 minutes more than my London Zone 3 train journey.
I'm not exactly sure what "London lifestyle" you are after - but Essex would be fine.

What do you mean when you say ‘the London experience’?

You’d have to check on schools (sorry, am focusing on the London lifestyle/connectivity part of your question) but how about somewhere like Walthamstow/Wanstead/Snaresbrook?

If you really want to live in London, Essex won’t be the same!

But your life will be easier with a smaller commute and there are obviously lovely places to live in Essex.

What kind of thing do you want out of London? Lots of foodie places? Art and culture etc? On a tube? What’s your budget? How long would your DH be willing to commute for? (An hour each way etc).

Where are you moving from?

I don’t know the direct train links, but Walthamstow Village (guessing you can get a train to Tilbury from Stratford?) or Wanstead or Victoria Park might be the right side for you?

Upminster. It’s got the fast train to London 20 minutes and the district line tube. It’s also a good place to live with excellent state schools. Nice high street with Waitrose and m&s.

Apologies - should have been clearer in my message :) What I’m hoping to get out of London is access to a lot of art, culture, things to do with my kid over the weekend. That’s the part that I’m extremely excited about.
But of course, schooling takes precedence over everything else.

Super helpful. Checking upminster out.

You could live in Essex and take your child into London regularly no problem.
Remember that children are also happy with going to their local swimming pool, play park and events at the nearest library. London "culture" is nice but you will soon get bored of it if you are going every weekend.

Also Upminster falls within London’s zone 6, so you don’t need to buy an additional rail ticket. The Oyster card covers you. Plenty of green spaces, nice coffee shops, restaurants, library on high street, good bus transport links and not too far from lakeside shopping centre if you want to visit all shops. There aren’t any tacky chip shops on the high street.

I assumed it meant easy access into the centre to take DC to museums, shows as well as a more vibrant multicultural place than many uk towns.

Commuting into London can be soul destroying (thanks Tories 🙄) so look for somewhere where you have options. The Elizabeth line is fantastic and is great for connecting with Thameslink and tubes. It is still a bit unreliable though.

I knew someone in St Albans years back and I swear his journey into St Pancras was quicker than my commute from Merton to Wandsworth in the morning traffic 😂I'd definitely look outskirts or places that have fast trains but closer to your workplaces.

London is overrated. Can't even use your phone without concern some youth with scoot by and thief it 😂😂 museums with long arse queues, going to all these places - the second you get out the station its tourists everywhere. Might as well be one of the tourists that comes in rather than suffer that daily. I'm clearly from South London and tbh have no idea where Tillbury is but still am voting for closer to work but check what's got good connections to London.

Will DH be driving to Tilbury? In which case I would also consider going Bexley/Greenwich as he can nip over the Dartford Bridge into Essex but you then have some decent schools and quick access into London. Blackheath area maybe?

"nip over the Dartford Bridge" this made me chuckle. I don't think I've ever managed to do that. It's always so congested.

Just had a look, Upminster (not been there) but seems close for husband to travel and then you have district line - blackfriars and earls will get you easily everywhere in London.
Ooo Romford is nearby I knew someone who worked in Merton but lived in Romford so must be decent connections there too.
London is awful for cars too hence my long commute in traffic so for your husband to be driving out during rush hour would be awful too I'd assume. Maybe check time and what sort of traffic Google shows?

You do know there's a Ferry service between Gravesend and Tilbury? It takes up to 10 minutes, depending on other ships and boats on the Thames.
That opens up a lot of north Kent as a possible location.