Affordable places to move to with good state and grammar schools & commute to London

[Fruit26]

Hello!

My wife and I are expecting our first child and thinking about where relocate to in the next few years. We currently live in 2 bed flat in Ruislip, in London which is a lovely place but not really difficult to find anywhere affordable for a 3-4 bed.

I work in the city so need a commutable location whereas my wife is fairly flexible. Ideally we want to be close to family, who live in Harrow but if not happy to be 30-40 mins out.

• Budget is around 700-800k
• 3-4 bed property with garden
• Access to trains into London
• Outstanding rated state schools or Grammar school
• Ideally close proximity to family in north-west london

Areas we have started considering are:

• Iver
• St Albans
• Beaconsfield
• Watford / Bushey
• Hitchin
• Slough
• Surrey (little far out but seems more affordable and with good schools)

Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated!

High Wycombe? RGS for boys is a good grammar AFAIK

Given that your child isn't born yet, you might be better looking at the state system rather than grammar schools which presuppose that your child will pass the 11+ in the first place! You might, after all, need an area with outstanding SEND provision...

I've had friends who lived in St Albans and liked it, having said all that.