London First Time Buyers

[CuriousLondoner]

We have been in London for only 4 years and have spend predominantly living in East London due to affordable rents.
We want to buy our First home, in an area where we can raise our 2 year old daughter. Our focus has been on good community and schools, along with easy commute to Central London for work.
Given the goverment's gradual increase in taxes, we want to live in a property for atleast 10years.
Open for suggestions on which areas are good.
Note: We explored a little bit around Welling and Sidcup, due to close proximity of Grammar schools.

Our budget is around 400K, which rules out many areas.

You might want to move this to the Property section, and include your budget and other key info like no of bedrooms, house or flat etc. Also worth searching for similar threads as there have been many which will have good advice on areas to suit you.

Ah x-posted. Good to know. I’d probably stick to south then. Have a look at Bromley, Beckenham, Sydenham, Sutton maybe.

We have just moved to Sidcup for the same reasons - the Grammar catchments are getting smaller and smaller so we are hedging to be closer to the options for when the time comes. We moved from Lewisham borough and are loving it so far. Leafy and green, super friendly and pretty easy commute in to London Bridge / Cannon Street. There are quite a few restaurants - although we also have young kids so we never go - but they are always full so assume they are pretty good.

If it helps your search, we also looked at Beckenham (to be close to the catchment for the good state secondaries) but landed on Sidcup because you are in catchment for all of the Grammars and the state options are also ok (ish).

My opinion having only lived here a few months is that Sidcup is much nicer than Welling if you can afford to be closer to there. New Eltham is a lovely little pocket as well, but I think you want to be the Bexley side vs the Greenwich side for Grammars, but don't quote me!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161227241#/?channel=RES_BUY

Lick of paint - and that's nice! Catchment for Dulverton as well which is the best state in the area.

Good luck!