Moving to Lodon - where to live?

[lily3]

With a budget of £2-3 million and 2 toddlers in tow, what area of London would you live in? Looking for an area with parks and space, but close enough to venture into the city daily. We'd rather go out a bit farther to get more square footage as opposed to a tiny flat in Chelsea, for example. Thanks in advance!

[Sleepwhenidie]

Richmond is lovely and has lots to recommend it but has others have said, it isn't at all central. Yes, the train to Waterloo is fast but you still have to wait for it, unlike tubes, and a cab home from central London would cost several times more than if you live, for example, in NW8.

I do think you need to visit the different areas suggested most, they are so different and it depends what your priorities are.

[merryberry]

I've lived all over London. WIth that budget I would do Primrose Hill. Well, I lie, I would stay in Tufnell Park:) Theoretically I would go to Primrose Hill to be closer to the centre.

[merryberry]

South of the river, ah well. I lived in Wandsworth for a whole year . It was too bushy and suburban and not city enough:)

[lily3]

Thanks for all the added info. What is everyone's opinion of Notting Hill/Holland Park? We actually stayed in Holland Park one summer and loved it, especially the restaurants of NH and access to the Westfield Mall. I don't think we would get as much space for our money there, but do you think it might be worth the sacrifice? Are there much in the way of families there? Younger, older? Good schools?

[Londonista1975]

Shephard's Bush would be good on your budget, especally with a quick central line journey to and from the City.

I agree tat the good NW postcodes are reliable but I think are over budget for the O.P, especially Primrose Hill. Muswell Hill would be a good compromise - the key thing being how family friendly it is - but with no tube and no trais to central London, it's a bit of a faff getting to and from town.

[Devora]

I lived around Notting Hill/Holland Park for a long time and absolutely loved it - till I had children. Well, I would still love it if I had children and a good household income. I just got priced out of being able to participate in the community, tbh - I lived in a rabbit hutch, couldn't afford a garden (as most can't; Holland Park is packed shoulder to shoulder on hot days) and had problems accessing schools (the good state ones are nearly all faith, or have teeny tiny catchments). Plus the community is very transient - I met lots of nice women there, but they were all American or European, married to bankers, and came and went frequently.

When, however, I find and marry my millionaire, I'm definitely moving back there. For you, yes you should definitely consider it. Lots of good private schools. Just be aware that it is fiendishly expensive.

[takeonboard]

I live in Notting Hill and wouldn't live anywhere else in London. there is a huge selection of private schools and nurseries. As you already know great bars and restaurants, we are also spoilt for shops, parks and cinemas without including Westfield in nearby Shepherds Bush. And the transport links to the west end and City are great.
The only problem may be that there aren't many small houses in NH, the huge Stucco houses are 5+ bedrooms and over your budget, but a good estate agent (and there are loads here) will know where to look. Good luck!

[lily3]

takeonboard - Do you find it's a friendly area for young families? We don't know anyone in London so looking for a good social community. What are postcodes for NH? I am going to take a look to see whats out there.

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

If you want to have central London on your doorstep, with the hustle and bustle of a busy city, then East Sheen, Barnes and Putney wont be your cup of tea at all. It is quiet, and more green and "close to nature".

What does anyone think of Hammersmith/Brook Green? Easy transport links, a short bus ride/walk to all the shops of Kensington, easy reach of both Westfield and Notting Hill?


Disclaimer: I have never lived in Hammersmith. (I have however lived in Angel, Stockwell, Kennington, Tooting Bec, Kensington, Putney and East Sheen)

[mrsshackleton]

Notting Hill postcode is W11 and W2

You would be in a flat on that budget.

Notting Hill and Holland Park are virtually exclusively populated by rich expats, it is the place to live in London and has been for a while. It is very lovely but most Londoners I know wouldn't live there any more, even if they could afford it, because the vibe is so conspicuously wealthy and Euro/American. That's not a criticism, OP, it may suit you very well, you'd just need to be aware.

I don't think Hammersmith/Brook Green are right for the OP

[mrsshackleton]

PS - I stil lsay St John's Wood or Maida Vale would be best, v close to both West End and Notting Hill

[legosaurus]

I agree with Mrs Shackleton. NW London is great. I lived in Maida Vale for years and loved it. It is leafy, has a tube station, is close to Marble Arch but within walking distance to St. John's Wood, Little Venice, Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove, etc.

For those priced out of Notting Hill, recent years have seen the fast regeneration of Kensal Rise and Queen's Park. Both NW10 postcodes. If you have a generous budget like yours, you get a lot for your money in NW10. We moved there when it was still ''up-and-coming'' while the dodgy betting shops and derelict shop fronts became boutique florists and posh pubs.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39424745.html

The most sought-after houses are around the brilliant park in Queen's Park which is always full of children and has a couple of playgrounds and a café. The area is wildly popular with young families and media-types. The tube stations of Kensal Rise and Queen's Park offer Bakerloo line in to Oxford Circus or an overground link that can get you to Euston in 10 minutes.

We moved abroad years ago but if we were ever to move back, I would definitely head back to NW London in a heartbeat.

[fedupwithdeployment]

There has been a lot of talk of Hammersmith where I work - and I wouldn't think it would be great for OP. But nearby Barnes, might well be good. Budget wise, you will get something there.

I live in SW London and really like it. Great for families, great for children. We are Balham (more Streatham Hill), but it is not far from Wandsworth, and I suspect that Ww would suit you very well. Prices change significantly over very short distances. My house in Wandsworth would probably cost about 3x the price it is here - nice road, v close to common. you need to find out what is important to you.

You really need to come and visit to get an idea for yourself. When we were relocating from rented house in north London to our own house, we looked everywhere. Some people rave about an area, but it won't be for you. Trust your own feeling.

[MrClaypole]

The areas here are all so so different you really need to come over and have a look round.

I've been in London 20 years and lived all over the place. For a nice family home and somewhere you can make friends I'd recommend:

Richmond
Chiswick
Barnes
Maida Vale
Queens Park
Hampstead

Don't go for Notting Hill, full of young, trendy childless folk and tends to be transient as peopel stay a year or so then move on.

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

Loving the property porn aspect to this thread.

I disagree people rarely make the move across the river, I know a lot of people when childless lived north then when they wanted a family but didn't want to move beyond zone 2/3 moved south instead as you tend to get more for your money. I think the cultural differences happen area to area rather than specifically north, south, east and west.

I grew up in Swiss cottage then Tufnell Park, went to school in Camden so knew that whole area well. Moved to Finsbury Park after uni then when DH and I were thinking of having a family we moved to Streatham.

OP I think Wandsworth really might be right up your street, compared to where you are in LA. North London equivalent maybe Muswell Hill (transport is a bit rubbish but you're coming from a city where it's non existent!) and as someone mentioned Queens Park would also be good.

London and LA are totally different beasts, actually I think LA is just different to everywhere else! It's taking me a lot of getting used to to be honest, better now I can drive!

We live on the border of Santa Monica, West LA and Brentwood - if you fancy getting together for a coffee to swap tips about our beloved cities let me know!

[lalalonglegs]

I'm amazed how many votes Wandsworth/Battersea is getting (and I live there). I'd definitely want to live more centrally if I had OP's budget, possibly Islington/Highbury (although I don't know about private schools there). Definitely SJW or MV if I had the money.

[kensingtonkat]

Lala I wanted to laugh when someone mentioned Shepherd's Bush. I live on the borders and would love to get the hell out on the 49 bus .

Wandsworth is extremely smart now. Big houses, big gardens, good schools. A house on the toast rack would cost over £4m though. Most ironic that Outnumbered - a teacher and a secretary - is set there.

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

I guess I'm comparing a little with LA and you get more house and garden for your money south of the river. I would personally rather forgoe space and live north but Americans have MASSIVE places compared to what we're used to!

[kensingtonkat]

Belsize Park?

Primrose Hill?

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

There are many places in Wandsworth I would not want to live, and most certainly not in Wandsworth town. Rather Battersea, Clapham, OR the Western fringes towards Richmond.

But, like I say, for me, now, it cant be anywhere else than Barnes, East Sheen or West Putney. MUST be near Richmond Park.

[kensingtonkat]

Aga in London!

Arts and Crafts goes bling

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

For sure - I lived in wandsworth borough but was between streatham common and tooting broadway, not at all the area I was suggesting for OP! Was thinking more Wandsworth Common and Nappy Valley

Dulwich is lovely too...

[Mintyy]

You have an enormous budget and don't know London at all so you really should consider using a buying agent. All areas of London have good and bad sides and are home to all sorts of people, there is less of the strict demarcation that you find in Los Angeles. Having said that you can ensure that you only rub shoulders with the extremely wealthy if you choose Chelsea, Kensington, Belgravia, Mayfair. You don't get all that many average people living in those areas.

All other areas of London, including the very expensive ones like St John's Wood and Wimbledon, will have plenty of everyday folk living in subsidised and council housing alongside their very wealthy neighbours. Its one of the things that makes London such a fabulous, tolerant and open-minded place to live in my opinion.

[legalalien]

Did someone say dolwichpreplondon .

Really depends what kind of person you are op

• are you going to have live in child care/ use babysitters a lot and spend lots of time in trendy restaurants?
  

• how would you dress to go to the local grocery shop / on the school run
  

• how much do you spend on holidays.?
  

• what kind of work do you and your dh do, what about your friends?
  

Once we know that we can make gross but potentially helpful generalisations about areas of London. :)

[legalalien]

That would be "Dulwich" - autocorrect at work - draw your own conclusions!