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!

[Londonista1975]

There's no tube in Barnes but some overground trains. Richmond is beautiful with wonderful amenities and apart from the traffic, I can't fault it. It's also close to Heathrow, if that helps, but not the easiest of commutes to Mayfair - I think getting the train to Waterloo then getting the tube to Green Park would be the quickest option, which would be too much for me as I hate changing, plus I can be terribly lazy

[Devora]

Oh, and how about Pimlico? Central, some lovely houses, you could walk into Mayfair from there. Not sure how familyish it is, though.

[legalalien]

This made me laugh

news.efinancialcareers.com/21911/guest-comment-acceptable-addresses-for-the-investment-banker-in-london/

I think you probably need to be in west london tbh.

[RTchoke]

If your DH is working in Mayfair, you want to live in a family area near other stay at home mums, and you want easy access to the city nut want £2-3m to buy significant space I would advise Chiswick. If you lived in Vedford apart area you would be in a lively, v Britsh conservation zone inhabited almost entirely by families like yours (incl various Anericans). There are so many mother and baby activities it's ridiculous, great shops on your doorstep, 25 mind to work on the tube for yr DH.

The decor of this house isn't great but it gives you an idea of what you could afford m.rightmove.co.uk/quickPage.html?page=8&cc=html5%2Fhomepage.html%3Fgoto%3DHOMEPAGE#gallery

[RTchoke]

Oops "Vedford apart" should read "Bedford Park".

[Sleepwhenidie]

I would put Chiswick in the same category as Richmond and Wimbledon village, lovely but quite self contained and not central enough for lily3 imo.

[BrandyAlexander]

Agree with sleepwhenidie. That article that someone linked to is funny but it's also very true. Dh works in Mayfair and he is the only one of the senior folks who does not live in Notting Hill/S Ken/Chelsea etc.

[EverybodysSpookyEyed]

I'm going to vote for belsize park/st johns wood/little Venice/maida vale again!

The community isn't that transitory and there are lots of sahm's that seem to hang around together!

Lots of choice for schools in easy reach and the American school (although this is very hard to get into)

Commute of 20mins on the bus to Mayfair. If he travels a lot the heathrow express is a 5 min cab ride away. Eurostar also quick to get to. If your dh is anything like mine he will be coming home later than the trains run, don't underestimate how helpful being a 10 min cab ride from the office can be! You won't get that in Richmond!

Central London is really close and easy to get to for nights out.

[NotQuintAtAllOhNo]

Lily, Richmond is a borough, and Barnes and East Sheen are in this borough.
But you also have Richmond Villlage (often referred to as Richmond Proper so as not to confuse it with the borough), which is also in Richmond Borough.

You dont need to live in Richmond to benefit from all the shops and restaurants, you may equally well live in Barnes or East Sheen, or Putney. If you are in either of these places, the other ones are in easy reach, both by car and public transport.

I live in Putney, the most eastern. It is just 10 minutes to East Sheen and Barnes from here, 15 to Kew, 20 minutes to Richmond. I spent a year living in East Sheen, and loved it. Being "10 minutes down the road" have not changed my life much.

From Richmond to Marble Arch, The London Journey planner calculates around 45 minutes, I would say an hour at most.
From Richmond to Green park, 35 minutes, so would say 45 minutes.

From Barnes Bridge to Green Park, 40 minutes
From Barnes Bridge to Marble Arch, 46 minutes
From Barnes to Green Park 32 minutes
From Barnes to Marble Arch, varies between 39-48 minutes.

But not direct lines, train and then tube/bus.

London Journey Planner

Shorter journey times if you go from Putney. There is even a bus direct to Park Lane.

A few examples of homes in Putney:

5 bed house 2.5 mil

another 5 bed - bigger garden, but less "period" which means it is a modern build

3 mil can buy you another bedroom...But do you need six?

But look at this 7 bed beauty!

And in North Barnes, where your husband can take the bus to Hammersmith station (10 minutes), tube is only 15 minute to Green park.

And you have this beauty: 6 bedroom, fab garden

But this 5 bed house has a fantastic location overlooking the park at Barnes Pond - My top choice! I love the area, bang smack in Barnes village, cute quaint shops, small art gallery, lovely florists, some good restaurants, and by the river. Either Bus to Hammersmith, or equal distance to both Barnes and Barnes Bridge (maybe Barnes is a little closer)

Honestly, you are spoilt for choice.

We are all biased as to the different areas, as we are all (mostly) promoting areas where we live, or know very well, and therefore love.

But, south of the river you get much more for your money. You get more open landscapes, you get the river. Much better air quality.

Personally, having grown up by the sea, I would feel totally boxed in without living in proximity of the river....

[lily3]

NotQuintAtAllOhNo Wow thank you for all that information as well as the links! Super helpful.

And thanks everyone else for the added information! DH and I now have lots to go on, I think I have 5 pages of notes!

[lalalonglegs]

Good luck lily3 - don't go on LLL, the presenters are twats and the houses they find are generally rank . Are either of you coming to London before your husband's job starts? You can't beat pounding the pavements and getting a feel for the area that way. There's also an American Women of London Club here so, if you want some advice from expats, they might be able to give you some help.

[ScaredySquirrel]

you need to be in Hampstead. that's all.

[ScaredySquirrel]

here is one just north of Hampstead here is one in the centre of Hampstead

Lots of people in the same set up as you there, lots of private schools. near the Heath, easy to get into town, chi chi boutiques, coffee shops, safe, etc.

[ScaredySquirrel]

although this is the house I would buy if I had won Euromillions last night - not sure its the area for you, but I would live there like a shot rather than Holloway

[emanuela]

I vote for Hampstead as well. As far as commute is concerned, you walk ten minutes to finchley road and you are on the jubilee line. Plenty of sahm, green spaces, great schools. Gayton road is American central (you should have gone there at Halloween). Please do go and have a look you will fall in love with the area

[poopnscoop]

I live on the border of Wimbledon Village and Southfields... 2 mins away from Wimbledon Common... Few more from Wimbledon Park, a few more from Richmond Park...

Horse riding, child friendly, family focusses, lots to do, good schools locally, excellent public transport, village feel, half an hour into Central London.

I'm biased of course as I have my own childcare business which is outstanding in every way - I love what I do! And the little children thrive. We are out and about in the local community a lot and it's a really nice place to bring children up in.

You also get far better value for money when spending that kind of money for a house here than a house in for eg: Barnes (where my sister lives)... Where houses that are over £1/2million k have street parking.... if I was spending that kind of money I'd want a gorgeous house with a garage (or two) and perhaps even a pool

SW London gets the thumbs up from me for sure!

[EverybodysSpookyEyed]

Scaredy - I like the central hampstead house but that hallway really needs new wallpaper!!

It comes down to size vs location. You need I decide where you want to compromise

[Londonista1975]

Hampstead is fabulous, but a ten minute walk to Finchley Road tube station is stretching it, unless you live in the Frognal part.

[emanuela]

Londonista, I used to live in Fitzjohns Avenue and it took me 7 minutes to walk down to Finchley Road. Having said that, I walk very fast. I guess from the house in Willoughby Road, you could jump on the 46 or 268 and go to Swiss Cottage/Finchley Road.

[ScaredySquirrel]

tube is relatively easy to mayfair too from hampstead itself.

Loads of Americans in Hampstead, and bankers (and their wives). Lots for children to do too - Heath gorgeous.

[Levantine]

I agree hampstead would definitely suit

[achillea]

I think the Finchley Road / Fitzjohns side of Hampstead is a good idea, especially if you want to get to Heathrow frequently. The HR express goes from Paddington and it's that bit easier. Never underestimate traffic and transport issues in London.

You need to decide what kind of house you want - modern and spacious or olde worlde London. Most central London homes are old, pokey and drafty, even the £3M ones. If you want big open US style you will need to go to one of the suburbs like Hertfordshire where you can get what you want.

Also decide on the type of community you want. Wealthy areas (like Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill may have the most coffee shops but they can be the least friendly. If community is your priority you need to live somewhere slightly less urban but still wealthy like Muswell Hill, Richmond or Dulwich. Hampstead is a law unto itself and has a bit of both.

London is more micro-mixed if you like, you will live very close to a poor area wherever you choose to base yourself. It really is down to where your local shop is, what the walk to the station or park is like, so before deciding on a property, consider this. Estate agents never do.

Beware of areas where there are a high number of reasonably expensive flats - it usually means that there are two parents working and very few SAHMs.

[achillea]

This is my favourite

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36152797.html

[lalalonglegs]

Ooooh, that's gorgeous. Sadly I can only afford one floor of it .

[Matsikula]

Ha, the Financial News piece is funny.

Lots of good suggestions here, but I think we are missing another important question here, which is addressed by the Financial News reference to arty-ness and hipsterdom.

Most of the places mentioned above are glossy rather than cool - either Euro glossy or home counties British glossy.

If, on the other hand, you like museums, go for somewhere like Hampstead, Highgate or some of the Islington fringes. If you like a mean flat white served by an Antipodean barista with a severe fringe and statement glasses, go for Fitzrovia or Bloomsbury (where there is also a great children's playground called Coram's Fields).

If you like a mix, Herne Hill is actually not a bad choice - some lovely houses for your budget, lots of parks and kids activities, good private schools, plus Brixton down the road, which has a burgeoning new restaurant scene (small lo-fi places, on the whole). It would also be a surprisingly quick commute - 10 minutes to Victoria by overland train and then another 10 minutes to change to the underground and get to Green Park. Not many people have heard of it though.