Okay, if you are considering 3 bed flats, I'll recommend Dulwich on that budget. As you can see by all the detail, this is my neck of the woods :)
You can get a 3 bed garden flat in East and West Dulwich for your budget easily. There aren't that many flats in Dulwich Village but in the bit of East Dulwich that borders Dulwich Village would work. West Dulwich is very nice but doesn't have that much going on (very residential). The Village / East Dulwich borders is the best of both worlds as you have the amenities of both East Dulwich and Dulwich Village on your door step.
East Dulwich is very oriented to families as there are tons of new parents about and lots of play groups etc. The Village has a slightly older family feel but also very family oriented. East Dulwich has changed a lot over the last few years and is unrecognizable to the place my husband lived in as a student in the late 90s. Here is the lowdown:
Transport:
11 min to London Bridge for North Dulwich and East Dulwich station
(both stations are in zone 2). However, neither station goes anywhere else which is why is one of the reasons the area is relatively cheap. To get to Victoria and Blackfriars you can take the bus (10 min) to Herne Hill or Denmark Hill. Denmark Hill also has the East London Line which is great for Shoreditch, Clapham, and changing to the West London Line to Notting Hill etc.
Schools:
If you focus your search to the West of Lordship Lane you'll be in the catchment of Dulwich Hamlet (outstanding school) and the Charter school (outstanding secondary). You need to be within 700m of Dulwich Hamlet and with 1.6 kilometers of the Charter to be comfortable you'll get a place.
There are many other good primary schools in East Dulwich (none you need to avoid) and a new secondary school is being opened by Haberdashers Askes near Dulwich Hospital which should be terrific but will only open next year so who knows. Heber primary is very popular as is Goodrich Primary. A new primary school is opening up on the intersection between Whately Road and Lordship Lane (they are demolishing the old police station that's there) next year to deal with the influx of young families.
The area also has 3 very old, very highly regarded private schools-- Dulwich College, James Allens Girl School and Alleyns (co-ed option)
Ammenities to check out if you visit: this is just a sample and the last 5 are more just so you know they are there :) rather than must see things
- Dulwich Park (listed Victorian park that is stunning)
- Dulwich Picture Gallery-- Hockney exhibit is on now
- Shops and Restaurants: Village is home to Gail's Bakery, Fired Earth, Pizza Express, Rocca, some clothing boutiques etc. Lordship Lane has got gastro pubs, wine bars, quirky restaurants and interior shops, coffee shops, organic butcher and green grocer, hair salons, vintage jewellery stores etc: my favourites are The Patch, The Palmerston, The Great Exhibition, the Bishop, Mrs Robinson (interiors and clothes store), The Flying Pig (BBQ), Oliver Bonas, ToastED (wine bar), Oddonos (great gelato place), Lucas (great brunch place), and the Actress does good pizza. Lots of others too but figured I would recommend some places.
- Visit Northcross Road and if you are there on a Saturday there is a local market selling great food, vintage furniture, clothes etc along that street which is fun. There are lots of shops on this parade including a great flower shop, cute bookstore, Hope and Greenwood (old fashioned candy store), Dr Boo (nice beauty store / treatment place) and lots of coffee shops etc
5.The Horniman Natural History Museum and Gardens (actually in Forest Hill near the border with Dulwich). Check out the Orangerie
- Gym on Crystal Palace Road but you might prefer Fusion at nearby Brockwell Park as it has an amazing Victorian Lido. Push Studios is a great yoga and pilates studio on Lordship Lane. They offer ballet sculpt and Zumba and pilates on the reformer machine now too which is great.
- Doesn't exist yet but a new Picture House indie cinema is opening on Lordship Lane in the old Church Hall accross from the ice-cream place.
8.Dulwich Woods (nature preserve in the southern tip of the area)
- Goose Green playground on East Dulwich Road near Goose Green
10. Bel Air park which is in West Dulwich and lovely and has the best local public tennis courts. There are half a dozen private clubs as well for tennis, squash etc. There are squash quartz on Dog Kennel Hill near the East Dulwich Sainsbury.