Help me decide where to live (London)

[Anathu]

I posted this under the wrong topic before. Let's try again...

I'm quite new in London (and the UK) and I'm looking for some advise on where to live. We have lived in Woolwich (and the UK) for almost a year now and it's time to move in March, since the rental agreement ends then.

We are looking for an area which is "children friendly", safe, not just concrete and with good state primary schools (community ones, without too much religious influence). My kids are 2 and 3,5 years old.

Our budget for the rent is around 1200 a month and we are mainly looking for 2 beds, but we can squeeze in to a big one bedroom as well if the area is just right.

Other criteria:

1. Good health care. Both kids visit the hospital and health centre very frequently and we love the health care here. I don't want to switch to some crappy hospital, where nobody cares. This is the thing that scares me the most with moving somewhere else.

1. Max. 30 mins to Shoreditch, where my husband works. Right now it's just over 1 hour, sometimes even more and this is the main reason for us to move.

1. Since the eldest child is in nursery here in Woolwich and in the middle of learning English, we would like him to continue until he starts reception in September. Good connection to Woolwich is therefor quite important. I don't mind commuting with the kids for a few hours daily for a few months, but it would be easier if the connection clicked.

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Right now we are looking at Greenwich, which I like and which feels like the most easy choice since we would probably be able to keep our current hospital. The downside is that the commuting time might be a problem.

We are also looking at places closer to Shoreditch - Bow for example. This honestly scares the crap out of me, since I don't know anything about that area, especially the health care (see what I mean, I'm terrified!)

That's why I'm turning to you, more experienced parents. I don't want to miss out on a good area just because of my own fears and ignorance. Can someone help me?

Won't you need to apply for a primary school place more imminently than March ?

I like Bow, lots of families, but it isn't massively green. You'd be covered by the Royal London Hospital/Barts which is a large teaching hospital Trust.

Stoke Newington is lovely and super family-friendly but may be outside your price range. Other bits of Hackney are also nice and cheaper (eg Lower Clapton, London Fields), and your DH's commute would be very short. There are some lovely parks and green spaces.

In general though you do get much more for your money south of the river. I thought Greenwich was fairly pricey but don't know it well.

It sounds like your current location works really well for you.

Is renewing your rental agreement out of the question? Don't forget to factor in the costs of moving and the time/hassle factor in weighing up any rent increase.

Alternatively, put notes through local people's doors (if another tenant is moving out they can refer you to their landlord). Also try an "accommodation wanted" ad on Gumtree and put up a postcard in local shops, playgroups, doctors' surgeries etc with permission.

The hour long plus commute is standard for London, I'm afraid. One of the greatest luxuries you can buy in London is an address that allows you to walk to work.

Crouch End? Overland train from Hornsey to Old St. Loads of young famillies, parks, child friendly cafes, good library and swimming pool. Clinic on Park Rd and not far from Whittington hospital (easy bus). Loads of independent shops & restaurants.
www.thecrouchendproject.co.uk

Have a look at places like Sydenham andForest Hill which are on a direct line to Shoreditch High street or alternatively east London eg Wanstead or South Woodford on central line where you can access Woolwich by DLR via Stratford.

If you DCs have ongoing medial issues then you probably don't need to change hospitals but suggest you ask the hospital. If you need new referrals that may be more of a challenge. Frankly most London hospitals can be a bit hit and miss so depends on what specialism you need.

Honor Oak Park? Brockley or Forest Hill? Good schools, lots of green spaces and the best community feel of anywhere I've lived in London.

I lived in bow for 17 years. V good healthcare but not v good secondary schools.

I love London, I really do - I like its diversity, and the vast array of things to do, and the restaurants, and the parks, and the museums, and the theatre, and the atmosphere, and if I were a multimillionaire I would probably buy in Belsize Park or Notting Hill very quickly... But I can't help reading threads like this and wanting to tell people to try outside of London, in order to get far more for your money - and the commute won't necessarily be longer (I live about 40 miles north of London and the train takes 29 minutes, and the train fares are more than made up for by the massively lower house prices).

OP, it depends entirely on what is most important to you, and you might decide you definitely want to stay in London and that that is the place for you. But there are so many lovely areas that offer what you say you want for your children, if you don't mind being a little bit further out, and where you could get a 3-bed house (or bigger) for the rent you have available. PM me if you want some suggestions

Bow (and the whole of Tower Hamlets) has good primary care. The Bromley by Bow Centre is nationally renowned, for example.

Coco makes a good point and if he is close to Liverpool Street then look at the fast train lines to places like Shenfield. Won't be 30 mins but live close to the station and it could be 40 mins

Wherever you live on Jan 15 is where you will gave to apply to primary schools from. If you miss that application deadline, or move after it, you will go to the bottom of every waiting list and won't have a hope of a good school. If you live near a decent school now then I would not move.

ArtigeneAuberchoke, 16052013 and others who suggest staying where we are - I'm aware of that we need to apply before 15 of January. But we didn't pick this place - we just grabbed whatever flat was available since we moved in quite a hurry. Of course we have applied to schools in our current area. One of our plan B's is to move closer to the town centre here in Woolwich... I like it here, but I don't feel "it" here, if you know what I mean. There are plenty of nicer areas. Thanks for the tip on counting in all the moving costs! We have not thought about that... But even if this flat is not completely crap, it's over priced for what we get (water leaks, problems with heating, overly expensive heating etc).

CocoNutter and others, who suggest areas outside of London - Thanks! I don't mind living outside of London. But I really, really, really don't want to be alone with the kids more than 12 hours daily, so the commuting is a high priority (I will PM you though, Coco :) ). In a few years we plan to move to another town, maybe Oxford (haven't explored very much of England yet, but we loved Oxford when we went there). If we stay in the UK, that is. We have not decided 100% yet.

All of you - Thanks you so much! I will check every suggestion that has been made here. It means a lot to me, that you share

Yep, I'd go anywhere on London Overground south of the I er. Sydenham, forest hill and Anerley all good value for money! If you live in the southwark bit of Crystalalce you'll be in the Kings College hospital catchment area (plus CP has great restaurants nd cafe and a fab park).

Have a look at Bow and Bethnal Green. It's great.

We went to Bow this weekend. We walked around, looked at schools, the park and talked to a few people there. I would lie if I said I wouldn't want to live there :) We will look at a few other areas as well, but for now Bow (Old Ford in particular) is highest on our wish list!

Thanks for all input!