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Original poster

Where to buy in South-East London?

118 replies

shouldwemovebacktolondon · 21/04/2014 20:58

Know I'm being daft, but I can't find the right place to post this... surely Msn full of people asking others where to live...

We think we would like to move back to London from Brighton. We need large 5 bed + house, large garden, South-East London, £800k, good schools, nice enough area.
Is this doable?
SO grateful for any advice. We feel completely out of the loop London-wise after leaving. Used to live in Marylebone, pre-children, and don't know South-East London very well - but it looks more affordable.
Our trouble is the size of house we need.
Thanx!

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StickyFloor · 22/04/2014 20:09

I live on the border of Petts Wood and Chislehurst.

We love everything about living here except the schools. Coast is an hour away, 20 mins on the train into London, lots of green spaces, shopping in Bromley and Bluewater. I think Bromley itself has been a bit ropey for a while but the new development planned in the South and the upgrade to Intu will be fabulous.

BUT for us the secondary schools situation is a real problem.

hotcrosshunny · 22/04/2014 20:15

Whys that Sticky? Don't you have the grammars plus a couple of others? (Darrick wood, although is that nearer Orpington?)

bigTillyMint · 22/04/2014 20:37

I was going to say exactly what Rhubarb said!

If you want to get away from provincial, you don't want further out than Streatham/Sydenham/CP/Penge
Infact, when we had friends in Brighton, I found it to be pretty similar to this corner of London. Have you come up to explore the areas in person? You may find that what you are looking for is on your doorstep. Although if you want easy access to central London, obviously zone 2/3 is nearer!

Also beware of putting all your eggs in one basket re grammar schools - if they were to not get in (and they are superselectves), you need to be happy with the alternatives.

HaplessHousewife · 22/04/2014 20:40

We're way out of Darrick Wood catchment in Petts Wood, the others are not where you would choose!

Sticky, do you have girls because we're touch and go for Buller's Wood where we are so would you not get in there?

HaplessHousewife · 22/04/2014 20:41

Exactly bigTillyMint, I love Petts Wood and the area around here precisely because it's still zone 5 but doesn't feel like London!

wilbur · 22/04/2014 23:17

Hello Blu! Haven't seen you for aaages (don't get out on the boards much these days).

Shouldwemove - found a couple more houses you might consider, although the large garden is going to be hard to find in the more urban areas, I think - it's a bit like Kirsty and Phil always say - something on the wish list usually has to be compromised, or you have to do a shed load of work on a house. These ones are all within a short walk of public green space though, except the last one. Another one on my favourite road or house a bit small, but big plot, could maybe extend. [[http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30044046.html Love this one, would move there myself or this one is clearly scary inside as they have no pictures, but it's another lovely rd. All of these are in the catchment of some great state school options at both primary and 2ndary, also close to good independent schools.

wilbur · 22/04/2014 23:20

Sorry, link fail -

Shouldwemove - found a couple more houses you might consider, although the large garden is going to be hard to find in the more urban areas, I think - it's a bit like Kirsty and Phil always say - something on the wish list usually has to be compromised, or you have to do a shed load of work on a house. These ones are all within a short walk of public green space though, except the last one. Another one on my favourite road or house a bit small, but big plot could maybe extend. Love this one, would move there myself or this one is clearly scary inside as they have no pictures, but it's another lovely rd. All of these are in the catchment of some great state school options at both primary and 2ndary, also close to good independent schools.

StickyFloor · 23/04/2014 12:30

Hapless we are also out of catchment for Darrick Wood and like you find most of the other schools in Bromley totally out of the question! (I have twins, one of each.)

I absolutely LOVED Bullers Wood but dd has a physical disability so they couldn't take her. If she doesn't pass Newstead I am hoping she will pass the Bexley 11+ and go to Townley or Kent 11+ and go to Wilmington or Tonbridge which are both so far away but there is nowhere else closer. We are also going to see if we can force her into Darrick Wood via her SEN statement but it isn't straightforward.

For DS it is St Olaves or else Dartford Grammar if he passes Kent 11+. I hated all the Bexley boys' schools, so the back up has to be private for him sadly.

HaplessHousewife · 23/04/2014 12:54

It's all so hard isn't it, and made more difficult by having one of each (I have one of each but different ages) because you can't plump for one school and make the decision to move there as so many of them are single sex.

You're obviously much closer to having to go through it than I am as I have DD in reception and DS who is only 3 but it's already on my mind. We moved a couple of years ago and did wonder if we should consider going somewhere for secondary then but so much can change in a few years that we could move near a good school only to find it go downhill, so we stayed in Petts Wood and are going to wait and see if they're likely to pass any of the 11+ exams.

I read the other day that we can take the Sutton test as well, do you know if that's true?

StickyFloor · 23/04/2014 13:29

AFAIK you can take any test you like BUT you need to check what they do with the test results as distance is still taken into account if you are out of Borough so there might not be any point. Each area seems to treat it differently based on score / catchment so you need to check them all.

I agree that things can change very quickly so it may turn around by the time your kids are in Y5 if you are lucky!

Moomachine · 23/04/2014 13:56

Another place to look is Charlton, particularly the Charlton slopes area. Not sure that you'll get a massive garden but you're not far away from the Heath at Blackheath or Greenwich Park. It also has the Sherington school which has recently become Outstanding. Secondary schools may be a problem, but they could improve by the time you need them. The slopes area is really close to Blackheath Standard where there is a lovely library for rhyme time and quite a large M&S food Wink

Original poster
shouldwemovebacktolondon · 23/04/2014 14:44

Hi all again,

I think I didn't realise how large Bromley was. With regard to Bromley Town itself (rather than Orpington, Petts Wood etc.), are there nice areas and good primary and secondary schools (apart from the grammars)? - any advice very gratefully received.

I do find Brighton too provincial - BUT it takes MUCH longer to get into central London than it would from Bromley. I can't get to the theatres in the evening etc. at the mo.

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Original poster
shouldwemovebacktolondon · 23/04/2014 14:59

wilbur, those are great houses. So West Norwood is a nice area?

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Original poster
shouldwemovebacktolondon · 23/04/2014 15:07

Sticky - where would you move for schools, if you were doing it over again?

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Original poster
shouldwemovebacktolondon · 23/04/2014 15:12

bigTillyMint - the REAL problem with Brighton is that all houses (with very few exceptions) have absolutely tiny gardens - due to all houses needing to be built near the sea, which is the point of Brighton. We've looked and looked here for houses with large gardens - but the very few period houses that do have them are unbelievably expensive.
With nearly 5 children, all of a similar age, I really really really really want a large garden. Also DH works from home part of the week and needs quiet. So we need space inside and out, and good schools. We could manage without primaries, as I'm home-educating them at the mo (the school my 5 year olds got into was dreadful) and am enjoying it and finding they're flying ahead. But would rather there were good primaries, and definitely good secondaries.

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oscarwilde · 23/04/2014 15:48

Slightly left field this as it's not London but the last trains for TW at 23.45 from Charing Cross will definitely give you plenty of time to go to the theatre. Great grammar schools in TW
This is HUGE, has a home annex office and a big ish garden.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-42484072.html?premiumA=true

bigTillyMint · 23/04/2014 16:02

It will be hard to find a property with a really big garden plus big house in an area with good schools near to the centre of London in your price range, but I'm sure it's possible.

Are you hoping to go into central London a lot - if it's only going to be once or twice a week, maybe somewhere further out that ticks the boxes would be better?

And you may of course find that the things that put you off the state school in Brighton are replicated here.

Original poster
shouldwemovebacktolondon · 23/04/2014 16:41

bigTilly do you think Bromley wouldn't be affordable then for £800k plus a bit? I can't tell from Rightmove/the Bromley schools admissions which houses are near a selection of good state and grammar secondaries, so you might be right, although it looks affordable. It's tricky when you don't really know what you're looking at on Rightmove.

The state primary here just couldn't meet my DDs' needs. My DDs could already read and write fluently, but were told they would just have to help the other children learn to read their letters! I think a problem here is that there aren't any high-achieving state secondary schools, so there's no motivation to stretch the children.

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Original poster
shouldwemovebacktolondon · 23/04/2014 16:43

oscarwilde - wow, that is huge.

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LondonGirl83 · 23/04/2014 17:16

If I were you on that budget I'd consider Charlton. My brother in law lives there and is quite happy. It feels like London and is very close to Blackheath and it's shops and amenities.

www.theguardian.com/money/2013/may/24/lets-move-charlton-south-east-london

LondonGirl83 · 23/04/2014 17:52

Here is a house

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43445062.html?premiumA=true

MomOrMum · 23/04/2014 20:27

This is a bit over budget but maybe they'd take an offer. Brilliant location between Forest Hill, Honor Oak and East Dulwich. Amazing garden! You could make a 5th bedroom in the loft or garage or divide one of the bigger rooms?

www.roybrooks.co.uk/property/4-bedroom-house-for-sale-on-westwood-park-in-forest-hill-se23/royb-008279/1

Original poster
shouldwemovebacktolondon · 23/04/2014 20:50

LondonGirl - it looks great. Someone left a comment under the article in the Guardian, and made it sound fantastic. That house is unbelievable!

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