Somewhere to rent in SE/E - less than 1hr commute into SE London?

[ImpyCelyn]

DH works in Abbey Wood, so he needs to be able to get there.

Other than that our restricting factor is that we have a small budget, about 600-800 pcm.

We need two bedrooms, but don't mind whether it's a flat or a house. A bit of outside space would be nice, but if we can find somewhere with a park then that can go too.

Can anyone recommend anywhere nice please? I just don't know where to start.

Oh yes, and DH is looking to change jobs next year, so an area with lots of schools would be great.

Scrap that. We've been saying for ages that when DH looks for a new job we should just leave London completely, so I think that's what we'll do.

If you do stay, West Thamesmead isn't too bad as these things go (nothing at all like Abbey Wood or central Thamesmead) and you could certainly get a 2-3 bed terrace house with garden for that rental range. There's a small park at Broadwater Green, and lovely walks along the Thames path. There's several trains an hour from nearby Plumstead (zone 4) for the 3 minute journey to Abbey Wood, or six buses an hour.

Nearby Woolwich is an area apparently on the "up" thanks to the new DLR, Olympics, Crossrail and the major redevelopment work but personally I would not want to live there right now - West Thamesmead and parts of Plumstead (especially up near the Common) are a lot nicer.

I wouldn't live in Abbey Wood or the surrounding area tbh, my Ex's family all live there/around so I know it fairly well. There are a few nice parts but better places a little further away.

I'm in Sidcup, which is nice (imo). Lots of green space, good transport links, however for your budget you would only get a flat, albeit with a garden. Example here

If you went further out, say towards Dartford however (not everyone's cup of tea, but some parts are nice, lots of shops and even a Waitrose) you could get a house like this

There are also some nice little villages going further out, but it depends whether you and/or your DH drive or have cars, because they're not brilliant if you don't.