Advice needed - where to live in London

[notyet]

I moved to London a couple of years ago and am currently living in Islington and loving the access to "interesting" shops, delis etc - i.e. a living highstreet. We want to try and start a family within the next year and want to buy a house. The issue is where. DP would be happy with any safe/decent area, but I am latish starting a family (31 next week) and am really worried about being isolated with a young child and nowhere to go.
Money, of course, is an issue. Where in London can you all recomment where there is an "interesting" highstreet with nice shops/cafes, places to go etc, nice area, but doesn't cost the earth. I really want to be able to walk places, not be dependant on a car as well. and be within walking distance of tranport links.
I know this is a tall order but its becoming a real issue as DP, while kind of understanding my fears, also just wants to get a nice house and settle down in suburbia, and I am really frightened of being isolated at home with a small baby. My support network in London is not large and I really want somewhere where there are parent/todler groups, schools within walking distance etc.
Please help

I'm about to have my first baby (2 weeks away ) as a bit of a shock and have to sympathise with the fear of being stuck at home with no contact etc. We moved to Kingston last year and the facilities around here are excellent - I think I'll be busier once the baby's born than afterwards. It is a bit far out but still only 20 mins to Waterloo. You could easily find a 3 bed for your budget. If not, Raynes Park/New Malden are definately places to look at.

OK; we lived in Isligton until our daughter, now 6, was ready to go to school. I had lived there for 12 years and loved it. I work on Upper Street and we have lots of mates round here. Somewhen mentioned Palmers Green N13, which we had heard of but didn't know. It's the other side of the north circ, towards enfield. Overground train goes into Moorgate, and PG to Essex Road takes about 14 mins. There are plenty of Victorian/Edwardian houses with decent gardens. Winchmore Hill, N21, is really nice and villagey, especially round WInchmore Hill Green, but a bit more expensive but nice. Wonderful parks. And the schools are fantastic and free. What's great is that we have met tonnes of folk who used to live in Camden/Islington who have moved here. Tubes; either Arnos Grove, Southgate or Wood Green plus bus.

As for Crouch End, Muswell Hill.....we found we just couldn't get a decent size house there, lovely though they are.

Thats the problem; getting a nice house (or even an actual house) with a nice highstreet. Like you SaID, can't afford crouch end. Looking at suggested areas like merton or raynes lane near Wimbledon, or suggestions near East Dulwich etc

We could afford a flat in these nice areas but we want a house with a garden for hoped for children and DP has reached an age where he wants "LAND"! (though I don't think he realises yet that he will be doing all the gardening!)

Hi notyet, agreeing with Peppapigsmum that the East End is worth a look (but quick before the house prices catch up with elsewhere - public transport is so good.) Peppapigsmum, maybe you didn't have time to enjoy the greenery when you lived round here, but Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park are beautiful and Epping Forest is also easily accessible. Wanstead has a fab high st, although prices are quite high and the public transport is not as good as from Leyton, Forest Gate etc. Depending on where you look, you should still be able to get something with a garden for 375K. Where else in London could you get that and central line, dlr, jubilee line, north london line, mainline trains, great buses and very soon Eurostar!

ps. I'm not suggesting that this area is better than the rest of London. tbh, I love the whole city - but it is still affordable - just.

Vindy, good luck with the baby, lots of people on this thread have assured me that you meet more people once pregnant/given birth than ever before. I do find that reasurring.

Interesting about east london. As someone who is relativly new to London I find it fascinating how differnt the areas are and how people really associate themselves with SE/NW etc London. DP has lived here for 20 years and it never seems to occure to him to look in different areas. Will definitly check out east london.

another vote for East Dulwich ..excellent village style atmosphere, great primaries, lots of activities for mums and kids, beautiful parks and woods .. good cafe culture ... 10 mins by train to the city, 20 mins to Waterloo

but if you're interested I'd hurry .. everything's going up by about 5K a month round here

Dogmum - forgot about Wanstead flats. don't know how as i have spent many happy days lazing about there.

i think people have the preconception that East London is rough and a grim place to live, but i actually found it to have a nice sense of community and felt quite safe walking around (as safe as you can be in a large city). and you're right about the transport links - rail and tube links are great and its also got the M11 close by - you can get out of London very quickly & easily by car as well.

think you can get a lot of house for your money in this area (with a garden too!) compared to other parts of London (ours was less than 5 mins to a tube stop), but as mentioned previously prices are starting to increase...

if the M11 isn't clogged up that is !!!

If you're going to look in East London I would stick to places like Wanstead/Snarebrook/Woodford. They are a bit more green and family-friendly. I live in Leytonstone and have felt quite isolated here since I've been a SAHM. There seems to be more going on in Wanstead - but it is more expensive as a result!

We are in the process of moving down south to Bromley - Shortlands to be precise. You could get a nice big 3-bed house for your budget down there. Really good schools and lots of other mummies. Doesn't have the chi-chi Crouch End style high street, but it's got all the high street chains, good library, sports centre, etc. I would love to live in Blackheath, but our budget doesn't stretch anywhere near that far!

Does any of the East London mums know about Lower Clapton? We have seen a nice flat there but I have a feeling that it is not great for families. I am a SAHM and would spend a lot of time in the local area......

I don't know the area well, but personally wouldn't move to Clapton. I think one of the roads there is known as "Murder Mile"?? (but I may just be very ill-informed and it is perfectly nice!)

sorry Booklover, don't know Clapton at all. dp's sister used to live quite close to Clapton station and it never felt as friendly as Leyton to me when we visited, but this could just have been because i didn't know the area very well. maybe someone else can help more...

Very interested about east london, as hadn't looked there before.
Also East Dulwich though it already seems expensive, and if its going up that fast!!

Raynes Park is a lovely place to live, low crime rate, and lots of nice parks to take children to. If you can afford to buy a house you will not find it hard to make mum friends.

Also, New Malden and Worcester Park are cheaper options but also have a nice suburban feel, with high streets with lots of good shops. And are not too far from good transport links like the A3 if you want to leave London in a hurry.

Looked at east dulwich on find a propert, (recommended earlier by another MNer) and really its 2 bed houses. But areas within walking distance have been recommended, so will check them out.

try dulwichvillageresidential and winkworths

there were a few 3 beds for around your budget

Looked at east dulwich on find a propert, (recommended earlier by another MNer) and really its 2 bed houses. But areas within walking distance have been recommended, so will check them out. Also Forest hill, not throught of that previously, what is the highstreet like Anniemac?

Thankyou twiglett, will try