Nice areas to move to around London...Help please

[granarybeck]

My Dh has been offered a job in London (Farringdon). We currently live near manchester. We've been thinking of moving to Harpenden or st Albans (just really because someone suggested they were nice and easy to commute to that area of London). Now we need to seriously look at moving, i though we better just check out any other options before deciding on harpenden. got lots of useful advice about st albans/harpenden recently on another thread, thanks for that. Though when i looked through archives read another thread where lots of people didn't seem keen on harpenden, have i missed something? we don't know the area at all and are moving from northern to southern house prices so know that might be a struggle.

Have got to pop out now, but would be really, really grateful for any help or suggestions/opinions.

just had a look at radlett southeastastra, looks nice. I had somehow missed it when ii've looked before, Though house prices seem a nit more expensive than harpenden and st albans? Had a quick look at ruislip and harrow too, look nice. Yeah mercy, the ones i've looked at have been around 320-350.

ComeOveneer - basically anywhere in zones 2-5. Islington, Hackney, Haringey, Enfield, Walthamstow, Barnet etc. Not all parts of all boroughs but you are still looking at £200/250K even in a crap area for a 3-4 bedroom house.

really don't want to move to crap area if i can help it mercy. especially not accidentally.

look at the surrounding areas within 10 miles of radlett too

are schools ok in surrounding areas ok? or is getting into them ok?

Is this the sort of area you are thinking of moving too though - ie, good access to motorways/rail-links to Manchester?

I can recommend specific areas within the boroughs I mentioned - or rather can advise on areas to avoid!! I believe there are a fair few of us who live in N/NE London. I don't know muchc re schools though tbh.

there are lots of schools to choose from, there are schools for everyone around here !

I guess good motorway links to manchester have got to be an added extra really mercy. woiuld be nice, but if we're moving we're moving and the new place is most important. So yes, good links to farringdon, not too bothered about closeness to city as never had it so don't think would miss it. that's why quite liked look of st albans and harpenden as could pick or choose a bit. I guess being affordable is a big one too. somewhere family-friendly would be nice as won't know anyone at all which will be quite scary. my ds and dd are 7 and 9.

Mercy, most of those areas have pretty shite schools, though, with the notable exception of Barnet. Okay, there are individual good schools (secondary) in Haringey and Enfield, but houses within the catchment areas are likely to cost far more than outside. And as for Hackney and Islington...just don't, schoolswise. For primary you might get lucky, secondary is trickier.

I reckon St Albans, Harrow, Watford are all good bets, otherwise places like Bishops Stortford, Hemel Hempstead etc. Not sure about train links to London, though.

oooh that sounds reassuring southeastastra!

Don't forget that the good line through Farringdon starts out in some pleasant areas of outer SOUTH London, and that generally, you get more for your money south of the river.
I know the trip back to Manchester is a factor, but I know for a fact that schools around places like Sutton and Wimbledon are generally very good.
Just a thought.

thanks frogs, good to know as they are at a v good state school now so would hate to give that up for a worse one. And certainly for now, couldn't afford private and huge mortgage increase!

ahem, my dd goes to a primary school in Haringey and a good school it is too!! Maybe not academically but that's not everything

Have to go and talk to dh but will be back!

yes , i think we should look at south london too marina. dh knows it better as he stayed in balham (i think)whilst he did a placement a couple of years ago at the firm his new job is at.

granary, we used to live in south London and my DH worked in the City, so got the Thameslink train in.

The journey was really quick (albeit a bit crowded). A bit more pleasant than using the tube.

Basically, it is do-able.

Here is a link showing \link{http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/pages/destinations/network-map/Thameslink stations on that line}

The only downside is that it takes ages to 'get out' if you want to head up north. We moved further out recently (although still south) and being 10 mins from the M25 makes a massive difference. If that's really, really important to you, I'd stick with your St Albans-type area.

Poo! My link didn't work. Sorry!

Magicgenie, thanks for the link, i'll cut and paste.

That was my worry of keep having to go round m25.

love your name by the way!

Mercy, by the same token, my kids are at a pretty decent primary school in Hackney. But the secondary options are few and far between unless you are either (a) very religious or (b) lucky enough to live in the catchment area of one of the few good schools. Or your child is very academically able and prepared to travel a long distance to one of the freakishly selective state schools. Or you have enough money to go private. All of these can be done, of course they can, but suspect that may not be what granarybeck wants to let herself in for.

was just thinking 'my god, what a minefield' and then you last sentence!

then read your last sentence even!

mercy? where are the 300-400k houses?? pleese let me know- around us (n8) in the more livable areas 3-4 bed houses are 500k +

try rightmove to give you an idea of prices, and upmystreet will give you some idea about areas too-
it depends how urban you want to be i think.

oops, the ladder(also N8) is £300k or thereabouts.

frogs, we maybe have different standards. my dd is in reception, she's doing fine. Secondary school seems a long way off - I may well think differently then, maybe not. As I said I can't advise re schools

hi mercy, i was thinking that a few seconds after i posted.
i suppose i am a bit suspicious of that area- it may be coincidence etc and just a run of ba\d luck, but 2 of my friends were stabbed down towards turnpike lane and i just feel wary of the area past the bridge tbh

i know it is silly, and prevents us from oving to a bgger place, as i do know that it is not a bad area.

anywa, yes, there are 300-400k houses...

Travelling north is MUCH easier if you move north of London. We lived in West/SW London before moving to Herts and it is fantastic to be able to go and see my family without it turning into a polar expedition.

Don't think Welwyn has direct trains into Farringdon.

If you are looking at Radlett, check out the schools carefully - someone I worked with lived there and was planning to move to St Albans as her children were approaching secondary age. Also, Radlett only gets the slow trains which are, I gather, packed to the gunnels by the time they pull in there. And Radlett is inside the M25 - just feels as if there is less green space around it but could be wrong.

St Albans and Harpenden get the fast trains, 25/30 mins to Farringdon. Harpenden is the stop before St Albans so you are more likely to get a seat in the morning.

Harpenden is a small town - about 10,000 people, I think - whereas St Albans is a smallish city. Depends which you prefer. Both are very family friendly and have good schools although you have to check the catchment area in St Albans. Harpenden's very green and pleasant and middle-class. St Albans is also pleasant and middle-class and has some history about it.

In Harpenden, you could get a 3 bed end terrace in a very desirable area within walking distance of the station for 330k. Four beds start at 500k. If you are willing to drive to the station, you'll get more for your money, unless you go for Roundwood, another very desirable area. Think house prices are roughly the same in good parts of St Albans.

I live in N. London and would have to say that the majority of areas will not give you much for £300k.