Where to buy a house? SW London Zone 1-2, maybe 3 with good public transport.

[SW1XMother]

We moved back from NYC to London a few months ago and live in our flat in SW1 at the moment with our nanny and two children. Flat is large enough but we all dream of a house and a garden, so that we can possibly have a dog. Eldest daughter is just over two now and we need to think about pre-schools but also if we want to stay in the area. We would like to buy a house but buying a house that we like in SW1 is despite our high income nearly impossible.

Can anybody recommend a lovely part in SW London Zone 1-2, possibly 3 if there are good transport links to the City that has an excellent school?

What's your budget? Are you thinking about private or state education for your children?

Peterborough Estate in Parson's Green has big family houses, although they're usually around the 2.5/3 mill mark. Wandsworth Common (of which I know little) is another popular choice for families. Do you own your flat? If so, I'd stick with it for now as prices are rocketing at a far greater rate in Prime Central London than the other zones.

There's lots of nice areas - Barnes, Wimbledon, Putney - all green and pleasant, near the river, good links to Waterloo etc, very family-oriented. It really depends on what sort of school you want I think, as that is the main restriction.

Earls Court. Which is really western South Kensington these days.

We own the flat (mortgage free) and it is currently on the market for just under 6m. Budget should be around the same too but we are flexible for the right property. Before people have the face, the flat is in the family for ages so it is not like we paid so much for it.

We were thinking of going ptivate but I am open to good state schools too. Wimbledon would be too far out. We were thinking of the Fulham/Parson's Green area before as it is still close to King's Road. Does anybody live in the area and can suggest good schools etc.?

Chiswick is nice, I really like Barnes, it has a great village feel train straight to Waterloo

I love this, under budget too!

Notting Hill?

That certainly opens up your choices - you could get a really lovely house in the Between the Commons area, probably overlooking either Clapham Common or Wandsworth Common for half that amount. You would probably be eligible for Honeywell or Belleville schools (my children go to one of them and there are lots of Americans working in finance there - I was at an event yesterday and out of 13 parents, there were two Americans, an Italian and four French so pretty international...). But there are also several private schools including Thomas's, Newton Prep, Broomwood Hall and Eaton Lodge (I think I have the names right). Depending on what part of the BTC area you live in, you'll either use Clapham Jcn train station to Waterloo or Clapham South underground straight into the City.

If you want to be closer to Chelsea, then there are some beautiful houses around Battersea Park - I don't know so much about the schools around there but there are several private options I believe.

If you want to research the area, search SW11 - Northcote Road is the main shopping street for BTC with a lot of boutiques, gift shops, cafes etc. Good luck.

LaVitaBellissima
I just looked at the same house in SW6 too. House in Notting Hill is too modern. We like traditional houses.

That house in Fulham is gorgeous - they either planned their sale well in advance and took photos last spring or it's been on the market a while... wisteria?

Lalalonglegs Thanks. We lived in London before, but always in Sloane Street and I don't know other areas so well that I could decide to live there, especially how good it is for children with schools etc.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-26349267.html

I like this house, was already in touch with the estate agent but haven't heard back from him despite asking for a viewing a week ago.

Ideally the house has seperate accommodation for our nanny, for example an en-suite bedroom on the lower ground floor/basement.

*separate not seperate

I like traditional too, I think it definitely warrants a visit in person. Looks fabulous and the garden is huge for central London.

I would love to live in Barnes though maybe too many modern touches but mixed with a period exterior

Clapham is good for the City via the Northern Line, chiswick or barnes would be a PITA. State or private schools?

And what about Greenwich? Too eastern?

I think you can find somewhere with a much bigger garden though, although the house is nice.

Barnes you can be in Waterloo in 20mins

I can help with streets/areas around Chelsea, South Ken, Fulham and Knightsbridge but useless on schools. Actually, what about Kensington High Street area? Would you consider communal gardens (although they don't allow dogs) which would open up the garden squares as an option?

Ellerby has nice houses but not many shops near it. You're better off looking on Peterborough Estate, IMO, as the roads are off New King's Road. Ellerby is off Fulham Palace, which isn't the best, despite the park nearby. Fulham Park Gdns HAS been on market for ages - can be a little dodgy there too. The problem with Fulham is that it varies enormously from street to street in terms of crime/safety.

I'm actually in love with the Barnes house, sadly out of my budget or I'd be snapping it up!

So it's not SW but my vote with your budget would be for Maida Vale. Zone 2 and, I think, one of the nicest parts of London you could get this for your money as an example.

LaVita
Wow. Looks fantastic. We can't live in a too modern house, we have lots o antiques and like the 'old look'.

LadyIsabellaWrotham
Greenwich is too far from our friends.

BlameItOnTheBogey
Wow. Does the house come with the furniture too?