Leaving London for space, affordability and an easier family life. Where to go?

[ThisPithyRobin]

It’s becoming clear that my family can’t afford to live in London. I grew up here and dearly wish to stay close to family and friends, not to mention all the cultural activities on offer. But after two years of living with my elderly parents we simply can’t find a house of our own that isn’t cramped, a wreck, or in an area we don’t feel so comfortable in. Anyone who’s been here, and moved out of the capital, where did you go and how are you finding it? We have two girls (10&12), we would like a home that’s got room for our family and our two cats, as well as a dog that my older girl is desperate for. Our family is creative and left leaning, not that politics is front and centre for us - just wouldn’t want to be somewhere that everyone else was very right wing for instance. We would like to be somewhere with a greener, calmer vibe but commutable to London a few times a week. We’re hoping to spend about £700k on a family house with a decent sized garden. Bonus if there are nice secondary schools that aren’t too old fashioned and uniform crazy (current one has no uniform and I’m dreading a move as older girl has adhd and big sensory issues). Maybe I’m expecting too much! Just hoping someone out there was made a similar change and found a place that works well for them 😊 any suggestions I’m all ears. We went to the Isle of Wight last half term and wondered if that could be a place to go- although definitely not commutable!

Forest Hill is the next area down from (East ) Dulwich and you can get a spacious house there within budget. Great parks

But it doesn't have the wild ,more rural downland of Coulsdon, for example

What about tonbridge or orpington

Look at East Kent. Faversham, whitstable, Canterbury, all on the fast lines and put you into St Pancras so easy for north London.

What about Cambridge or one of the smaller towns and villages around such as St Neots?

Have a look at Stroud in Gloucestershire. Less than 90 mins into Paddington and surrounded by beautiful hills

Personally I’d head to Sevenoaks in Kent, still commutable but countryside on your doorstep … or near Sevenoaks to get country living.
another suggestion would be the vale of belvoir, fast trains to London from Grantham / Newark

Sussex is a solid shout, we looked at the Horsham to Haywards Heath stretch and there's a lot to like. For the school stuff especially with your older one having sensory issues, it's worth properly comparing the areas before visiting. I spent ages on spreadsheets until someone pointed me at https://localeiq.co.uk where you can plug in postcodes and get school data, safety stats and deprivation info all in one place. Made it much easier to cross off areas that looked nice on Rightmove but had issues you wouldn't spot otherwise.

Some of these are grammar school areas and they’re defintely going to be school uniform heavy I would have thought

Chesham

SE London? Forest Hill (close to Dulwich), Greenwich Borough (Eltham, Blackheath Standard, Charlton), Bromley - very good schools and more or less comprehensive as there are only two super selective grammars.