Tips on househunting with twins

[minimisa]

Ok, so we are looking for a new house / flat and have 18 month old twins. I'm curious to know people's tips on the ideal place to live with twins - so would you go for open plan / how important is garden etc. We live in London so will obviously have to compromise loads but would be interested to hear the views of those of you that have experienced the toddler years....

Garden is a must if you possibly can. we live in a ground-floor flat with a tiny garden (patch of grass!) but we are in and out all day, sit on the doorstep all the time. really wouldn't be without it.

Garden if at all possible and a playroom would be good (we don't have one and I hate clearing away the toys from the living room every night).

With a view to the next few years it would be really good to have a kitchen at the back that looks out on to the garden, so that when they are a bit older you can do things in the kitchen while being able to keep an eye on them from from inside. Also more than one loo - a downstairs one as well as an up.

Good tips everyone thanks - another question does anyone live on a fairly major road and does this give you heartstopping moments every time you venture out?

Garden if you can manage it - supervising twins in public parks can be hard work so having private outdoor space can really help.

We live right on a main road, moved here when twins were 18 months. Up until v recently I only took them out in double buggy
/ single plus sling on back / twin reins. Recently I've been taking them out in foot not on reins but only when I can really concentrate on supervising them.

The upside of the main road is the closeness of our bus routes (I don't drive)!

garden and big kitchen diner rather than separate dining room, so there's space for them to play while you cook/do the laundry.