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Original poster

Where should we live?

38 replies

august24 · 11/09/2003 17:36

We are moving to London, and we need to decide on a place to live. I cringe at the though of living ouside of London, but we have a 5 year old who needs a good(I'll settle for Okay at this point) We are moving from the U.S. and we are looking to rent a 2 bedroom flat. Any advice on places to look?!? In London and in areas outside of London?

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Original poster
august24 · 11/09/2003 17:37

I meant to write we have a 5 year old who needs a good school!

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CountessDracula · 11/09/2003 17:41

Putney has amazing primary schools. Do you want state or private?

Are you or your husband going to be working in the city? If so then being on the railway to Waterloo is good.

Do you want inner city or leafy suburbs? How much can you spend a month?

CountessDracula · 11/09/2003 17:42

www.findaproperty.co.uk is a good site plus has info on the area in it.

Jimjams · 11/09/2003 17:50

What's your budget? We lived in Bromley- good family area- and cheaper than some parts.

WideWebWitch · 11/09/2003 17:56

you could have a look on Upmystreet.com

lou33 · 11/09/2003 18:02

SW Surrey has good schools. Guildford, Godalming and surrounding villages.

OldieMum · 11/09/2003 18:13

Oxford is a good place to live. There is a lot going on (music, theatre, cinema), it's pretty, the schools are very good and it's small enough to bump into people you know when you walk around. There is a plenty of open space and it's easy to walk out into the countryside from the city centre. There is a half-hourly train service to Paddington, which takes about an hour (though having made this commute for 7 years, I wouldn't recommend it). Rental prices are high, however, because it's commutable from London.

Original poster
august24 · 11/09/2003 20:04

My husband will work in Watford. I like the idea of London, but the reality is what scares me! Also I would like my husband to have an easy commute, as he works long hours and it would be easier for us all for him to have short commute. I want a hip place, with lots of cool parents, a great school system, short train ride to London and a waitrose! Is that too much to ask?

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Original poster
august24 · 11/09/2003 20:04

Our budget is about 300 a week.

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Jimjams · 11/09/2003 20:15

St Albans? It's a very picturesque town. Easy links to London- and north so easy to Watford. Cheaper than London itself as well.

Thunderbird · 11/09/2003 20:19

Sounds like you are looking for West Hampstead, direct Metropolitan tube to Watford, good Waitrose, tons of good private schools and some good state ones, thriving "cafe society" and close to Central London (20 mins by tube to Baker St max). St Albans is also nice but TONS of traffic and I live in what would be considered to be quite a central area but think we actually suffer much less from traffic than places further out. Good luck!

judetheobscure · 11/09/2003 20:20

Why do you want to live in London when your dh works in Watford and your child needs a good education? Doesn't make sense to me ....

lou33 · 11/09/2003 20:23

Chorleywood sounds like where you need to be looking.

Original poster
august24 · 12/09/2003 03:22

I am not set on London, I just really like it as an adult, as a mother though it does leaves a lot to be desired, mainly good schools. I know we are at a disadvantage because we are coming in late. I have only spent time in London, so I really have no clue where else to look. I have always lived in cities, and it is hard to imagine moving to the suburbs. We have made it work in Boston to this point, got a good city run school, and a great neighborhood and we are just looking for something similar in London. So keep your suggestions coming I am busy looking them up!

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Thunderbird · 12/09/2003 08:38

Forgot to say about West Hampstead or other nearby areas, there is also the Jubilee Line which goes direct to Bond Street in 20 mins max
Alos, look at this

kayleigh · 12/09/2003 09:07

We are in Barnet which is Hertfordshire but still on the tube line (although it is the Northern Line !). There is also a main line tube station that goes into Moorgate/Kings X via Finsbury park. It is a 15 to 20 min drive to Watford from here either round the M25 or through the back streets. There are some very good schools in Barnet. My ds1 is in a small local primary that caters for 5-7 year olds and we are very happy with it.

aloha · 12/09/2003 09:24

St Albans is quite funky - very easy drive/train ride to Watford. Parks and schools etc. Very easy access to central London for a suburb.

alibubbles · 12/09/2003 09:56

St Albans, excellent schools, from 4-18yrs. @0 minutes to Kings Cross, and Alibubbles lives there!!

We've just let our very nice new two bed flat, furnished with all Marks and Spencer bed, furniture etc, overlooking a beautiful park, next to a beacon school, for £950 a month. would have been ideal.

When are you looking to move?

aloha · 12/09/2003 10:20

St Albans has a lovely cathedral, beautiful park, lots and lots of restaurants and my friends like there!

aloha · 12/09/2003 10:20

'LIVE' - thought they like it too!

Jenie · 12/09/2003 10:22

Avoid Milton Keynes at all costs, terrible place to live and they have concrete cows. I hear that lots of people who work in London are moving towards the area due to easy commuting (when the lines aren't being dug up) but don't.

Along with Aylesbury terrible place to live! Visited friends their once and they were in the middle of some kind of taxi drivers revolt and the taxi drivers were looking for some guy to beat up and wouldn't pick up white people for some reason (not very good if you're trying to get home and are too drunk to walk or drive).

bobsmum · 12/09/2003 10:26

Also avoid Hemel Hempstead (where I am). Not because I'm there, but because it's a hole in the ground. dh works in Watford and it's all we could afford at the time. Schools are chronically bad too.

Copper · 12/09/2003 10:34

What's wrong with Watford/Bushey itself? No commute, see more of DH, good schools etc

Original poster
august24 · 12/09/2003 13:46

Thanks so much for all your advice. We are planning on moving by the begining of November. My husband does not want to live in Watford. We like West Hampstead, but are worried about getting a spot in a school at this point. St. Albans sounds really great. How hard is it to get a spot in a school in St Albans? Is it based on where the house is located or is it where ever there is a spot? Also is St. Albans diverse? We are a biracial family so that is important. Finally is it possible to walk around St Albans? Here in the U.S. there are some suburbs that one must drive everywhere as there are no sidewalks or crossing walks! I appreciate all of your advice. I have posted this request on two other sights and had very few responses! Thanks so much

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bobsmum · 12/09/2003 13:50

august24 - not sure whether you want primary or secondary schools in St Albans.

Here's a fairly comprehensive list:

St Albans Primary schools

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