Is Teddington too posh for us?

[PrincessBananaH]

Love the area and we are considering relocating there. We have 1 DD who will start primary next year.
our budget will only stretch to a nice 2 bed flat or maisonette there, are we going to feel a bit out of place? It seems to be a really expensive area but we love it so much and has good schools and transports.
Anyone familiar with it ho can help?

Anyone there?

I live in Twickenham and while Teddington is a lovely area ( near the river, plenty of green space, lovely houses and at least one nice pub), I wouldn't call it posh - but then I guess that depends on your definition of the word. Affluent, certainly, and a lovely part of London to live in.

Sorry about the overuse of 'lovely' there. You've also got Kingston just down the road for shopping. The only slight downside is the commute - stopping service to Waterloo and every half an hour (IIRC - not used it for a while).

Close friend used to live in Teddington. She was lovely and not posh. Lived in a two bed flat! It is very nice from what I saw.

I've been in Teddington for 20 years and happy to answer questions by DM if you'd like, OP.

If you can afford a flat that suits you, what is the problem?

I lived in Hampton Wick for a few years and loved it.

I'm in Teddington and wouldn't consider it posh - nice place to live with Bushy Park and the river, good schools etc. Wouldn't say good transport though - train takes 40mins to Waterloo, stopping everywhere on the way.

I suppose I am just loooking to move our family in a place where we fit in. Would we be the only or one of few families to live in a 2 bed flat whilst most others will be in a 1 mil + house/mansion?

Re trains, based on my search there seem to be more than 1 every 30 min, is that not correct?

Nope, lots of flats in Teddington.

IIRC there is a train from Teddington that goes via Richmond and a train that goes via Wimbledon, the latter is the 40 min journey. Via Richmond takes about 30 minutes, or you can change at Twickenham or Richmond and pick up a faster one.

There's 2 train routes that come through Teddington - the loop that goes via Richmond in one direction and via Kingston in the other direction - both ways are approx 40 mins into Waterloo. There's also the Shepperton branch that goes into Waterloo - again approx 40 mins. At peak times there's 4 trains an hour.

You certainly wouldn't be the only ones living in a flat, but there's also a lot of small terraced houses round here which probably have no more space than a decent sized flat.

It's a lovely area. I wouldn't call it posh - safe, a bit arty and reasonably affluent. I had friends there who moved out - they are lovely but not mega wealthy.

I live in Hampton Hill, near Teddington. We're not posh - we're educated, from the north, moved to London after graduating, and worked our way up the housing ladder. Most of my local friends did similar, and there are many from other parts of the world. Generally the bigger houses are owned by older people who got on the housing ladder sooner, or inherited. Everyone understands how expensive the housing market is so nobody will look down on you for having a small house, they'll just assume you've followed a different trajectory.

I think that’s super accurate, Wildebees. I’m on the Teddington / Strawberry Hill border and we are exactly the same.

I live in teddington in a two bedroom flat. I would say it’s old money, upper middle class vibes.

its beautiful and safe, but if making friends here it’s rather cliquey unless your face fits. If you aren’t white or middle class and live in a five bed other families may not want to socialise with you. Unless you have a career they can brag about to their friends…

I have one child of school age and it hasn’t been easy for that child. There’s been some racist comments.

Teddington has a very villagey feel and is so nice in many ways. There is definitely a sense of entitlement quote a few people have a around here.

You make it sound as if living in a flat (or small house) with kids is unusual in Teddington - but it isn't. There are flats and small terraced houses everywhere, with loads of kids in them. Some of them are families that used to live in bigger houses but split up after divorce. Others have moved to the area from places where house prices are cheaper. Some own their flats - others are renting. There are a lot of families from abroad because parents come to work in London for a few years or permanently. They like to rent near good schools so are often in flats. The area has a lot of green space, so a garden isn't top of everyone's list of necessities.

A friend lived there in a flat. What she struggled with was school mum friends who were also in flats invariably traded up to a house or left for a house. Very few stayed in their original flat. She decided to move further out in the end, she also said many of her dcs friends ended up going private for secondary which she hadn't anticipated.

Oh & I wouldn’t call if posh but in these sorts of places in London you do get a higher % of umc white people who are normally pretty privileged.

I didn’t say it was unusual. But it seems there’s not a lot of friendliness unless you fit the five bed criteria, skiing holidays during half term etc.

This is my experience and teddington is not all happy clappy as it seems from an external point of view.

@Suburbianlife this is so sad. It makes me sick people have to navigate these social norms to make friends. I am not from the UK and this whole class division is one of the things I hate the most about living here, such a shame especially when you have kids.

Sadly £1m wouldn't be a mansion there. Just a decent house semi or terraced.

I'm sure there will be lots of flat dwellers at school with your dc if that is your worry.

It's a nice area with lots around. Perfect for raising a family

Yes I’d definitely say it’s more a class issue or a “what do you do” career wise type of situation. But the subtle racism and/or prejudices are definitely present.

I do know white families who aren’t middle class but are hard working and have good careers who feel the same.

applogies if I sound negative, Teddington is lovely. I just think it’s important to share the other side to it too.

It’s very safe and so much is nearby, great extra curricular activities etc etc and no area is perfect. Overall I’m happy here, just having a hard time navigating some issues surrounding some things! Xx

What happens in a few years when you outgrow a flat? You will want more space. A bigger home. Most probably another bedroom

That's when you will be moving out of London, changing schools, making new friends etc

Best to do it now before kid is at schoom

Fwiw, North Teddington/Fulwell, Hampton Hill and Twickenham are a bit less expensive than Teddington and within walking distance.

Please don't fall into the trap of stereotyping the UK like this. It is no different to any other country on earth - some people are snobby and like to hang out with people who are similar to them and some people are more inclusive with their friendship groups.

London is way more diverse and inclusive than other places I've lived.

@crampycrumpet why would we outgrow a flat? I don't want to move out far from London so in the areas I'd consider living in, I could only afford a 2 bed house which in most cases would be smaller than a spacious flat