Should I Move to London

[Ilovechorizo]

Hi all. I would really appreciate some honest thoughts, particularly from those of you that live or have lived in London.

My situation is that I work in London in a job I really enjoy and an employment area that really only exists in the capital.
I live out in rural Berkshire and my 3 little ones are well settled in school but all aged under 7.
I thought I could cope with the commute but after 3 years I am sick of wasting 4 hours of family time a day on the train.
If we moved to town I could get home for dinner with my wife and kids, help with the homework.
My budget is about £450K, is this enough to ge a decent 3 bed house in an area where I would be happy to move my family from. I realise that in London this does not go far at all. Its a result of having a public sector job I love and not giving in to the risk of selling out and getting back on the corporate city rat race. The thought of moving them from a Berkshire village life to London and London schools does scare me a little. Please tell me that my fears are just preconceived misconceptions.
Any thoughts gratefully received!

bringback I just about managed it. Used the combined tab at the top if I remember correctly.

But that fb thing is hugely annoying. I can understand them wanting promotion, but that's not the right way to do it imo.

Also, was not on a phone.

Someone else has mentioned the Bromley/Orpington area. Not everyone's cup of tea but imo a safe place to bring up kids.The house prices are still reasonable - you would find something for your budget. You can commute to Canary Wharf easily (about 40 mins). Has great schools, especially secondaries, if you choose your location carefully.

Would also suggest living along the Overground line. Forest Hill, Honor Oak and Brockley would be at the top end of your budget. Sydenham or Penge might be more affordable if you wanted a bigger house. The area around there are very green with loads of massive parks. Primary schools in Lewisham tend to be very good on the whole.

I can guess what public sector organisation you work for in Canary Wharf. I had friends that worked there ages ago.

I agree with others that SE London sounds good for your situation. It is very green and pleasant for the money. I've heard good things about Wanstead too. Walthamstow is also really popular as a reasonably priced and nice place to live

I live in north London (moved from south for family/friends) but to honest, 600k seems to be about the minimum here for a nice house unless you go really far up north, and anywhere chichi you could easily spend twice that.

Two hours is too much and I don't think anything is worth not seeing your kids every single evening. The countryside is lovely but only if you work fairly locally.

I did say Wanstead but NOT near the station. Friends live 15-20min bus ride from station and it's near a field and a forest with a distant view of Canary whard (nort sure if that's woodford?) and the prices aern't bed, they are in 2 bed flat with garden which is 250K, so yes you can get a 3bed house (but small) at 450! even a bit nearere to wansted station.

But transprt is better in Forest Hill and brockley, though you'd get less there for 450k. Maybe something needing work.

aren't bad

Sounds like Aldersbrook allaflutter.

Crofton park worth a look. About ten min walk to brockley or honor oak for east London line or walk to lewisham in 20 mins then hop on dlr for 15 min train to canary wharf.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-27015141.html

Area fine, lots of little independent trendy shops and cafe's. Schools good. Great local parks on your doorstep. Lovely museum ten minutes away. Easy to get to dulwich, Greenwich, central London etc

SE on the East London line, I agree. Based on what you're used to and what you want, Brockley and Forest Hill would be good areas to look at, both close to Duwich which I'm sure you and family would like to visit.

On that line, I wouldn't go further than Sydenham (I speak from experience). And avoid Catford.

Forest Hill - a very nice, desirable area which has taken off since the East London Line started up. About a year ago or so I could afford that area, but not now.

It also depends on where else you need to get to visit family - airport etc. Wanstead is super for central line into town, but also M11 to Stansted or for Herts or Essex. Wanstead is expensive, Snaresbrook end has some cheaper housing stock (new build smaller houses etc) Aldersbrook is much cheaper but then it's a longer walk to the station/ 5 mins in the car to the high street and parking is difficult on the high street. Also think about school catchments as someone already mentioned you need to live very close to schools. Redbridge has good reputation for schools.

I would not move from Berkshire to South East London.

If you do, please consider letting your home for a few years and rent, rather than buy, in case you change your minds a year or two down the line.

What about your wife, does she work?

You might want to consider her looking for a job too and buy a more substantial property in a few years if you decide London is for you.

Well some parts of South East London are actually quite nice and leafy. I walk to the station along beautifully tree lined streets and have several huge parks and nature reserves within walking distance of my house. There are several excellent schools within walking distance, albeit with tiny catchments.

Fair enough, the area doesn't resemble a small Berkshire village in any way but it is very nice for London.

depends on where in SE London. Coming from leafy Berkshire to my part of town (inner city rather than 'burbs) would definitely be a culture shock! Plus you wouldn't get fuck all for that money, rather ludicrously.

I think you will be doing the right thing for your family. What is the point of living in leafy whatever if you cannot have enough time with your children.

I think questeesentialolddear has given good advice. Before making the move permanent, rent in the area first.

Well, I think it is a difficult decision to weigh up.
Dad will be in work all day, so where he lives does not affect his day so much. A different situation for his wife, who has to now spend every day life in inner city London, with kids, going about her daily business, without her support network of the friends she is used to hang out with. And new school and new school gates and school mums to cope with.

For you OP, you will have less travel and more time at home. But your wife will have the same amount of time "at home" so her life will be very very different.

A different idea here, but could you work flexible to reduce the no of days on which you have to commute?

Eg compress your hours to 4x 10 hour days
Eg work from home 1 day a week
Eg do 9 days every fortnight for and take a 5% pay rise or shorter lunch breaks?

I have several friends who work in public sector and all of them have some flexible working arrangement. If you have a child under a certain age you have the right to request to work flexibly although you have to make a good business case!e

A different idea here, but could you work flexible to reduce the no of days on which you have to commute?

Eg compress your hours to 4x 10 hour days
Eg work from home 1 day a week
Eg do 9 days every fortnight for and take a 5% pay rise or shorter lunch breaks?

I have several friends who work in public sector and all of them have some flexible working arrangement. If you have a child under a certain age you have the right to request to work flexibly although you have to make a good business case!