Moving out of London - but where?!

[MyUserName1234]

DP and I have been talking about moving, as it feels about time to leave our rented 1 bedroom place (near London bridge) and move somewhere where we can raise a family.
We both need to commute to the centre (near the city and waterloo). We love where we currently live, short commute and lovely vibrant area. Though primary schools are good in the area, it seems like secondary schools are only an option if you can afford to go private, which we are unable to do. Hence our primary aim is to move somewhere with:
1 good secondary schools. Ideally non religious.
2 a vibrant atmosphere, we definitely prefer a city/town to countryside.
3 ideally less than 30 mins on the train
4 prefer to be north of London as our families live in the Midlands, though we wouldn't discount other places that fill the above criteria.

I know that being somewhere with good schools and good transport links is going to be pricey. We'd like to spend around 650k, but at a push could look to spend 700k-750k. 3 bedrooms minimum and some outdoor space.

Due to go to St Albans on Sunday for a look around, any other advice for places and areas would be appreciated!

Harpenden eye-wateringly expensive. What about Baldock?

I like Royston (Herts), up and coming popular with professionals. Decent schools. 35 mins to Kings Cross. You could get a fantastic, large period detached house for £600k.

Or letchworth? Slightly closer to Kings Cross than Royston. More expensive but lovely garden city.

Surbiton is next door to Kingston but has its own community and has really improved in recent years in terms of getting a bit more buzzy/a bit less suburban feeling with some interesting bars/independent cafes/good restaurants and pubs. 16 minutes into Waterloo as it's on the mainline.

I'd go in catchment for Hinchley Wood secondary - one stop further on the train.

I've compiled all the places that we are considering with information such as commute time, commute cost, house prices distance to secondary schools etc.

A bit of a left field suggestion, but its been mentioned to me to consider chislehurst, petts wood, welling and Bexley or Sutton. Looking online the commute cost is significant cheaper than outside the m25, but also the house prices didn't seem to bad. It could be a case that I was looking in the bad areas, but any thoughts on these places would be appreciated!

Thanks!

St Albans, harpenden are both fab. Watford has a train direct to Euston in 20-5 minutes, northrrn line to Waterloo. It has the three excellent senior schools.

If you're looking at £600-750k you could afford Wimbledon if you wanted to stay in London but have good schools. It is on south west trains to Waterloo & quicker than Esher, Kingston, Surbiton.

Sutton is cheap but there is a reason. I'd happily live there but my DP (who is local) won't consider it at all!

What about Chingford? 25 mins into Liv St and on border of Epping Forest. Some lovely houses within walking distance of station.

Shenley & Radlett could work

You say out of London, but might it not be a bit of a shock moving right out after living in zone 1?

I'd consider the southernmost bits of the south London boroughs- Southwark, Lewisham, Lambeth maybe. Nice and leafy and best of both worlds?

Lunastarfish - what is wrong with Sutton?

MuddaOfSuburbia - we are happy to consider all areas and I know we'll have to compromise somewhere. It will come down to commute time and size of the property. If we find place that ticvs all the boxes within London, we'd take it in a heartbeat.

I woulddnt consider bexleyheath at all or orpingtom, try bromley or beckenham, petts wood ae all ok. Not much im petts wood though.

Yy Bromley Beckenham-also Crystal Palace, Streatham, Brockley, Herne hill/Dulwich and around (they are £££s but might fund something nearby-ish)

Sutton isn't 'quaint' like Esher/Claygate/Thames Ditton etc. I think it's fine, i'd live there. It has a big high street, thameslink and is cheap but my DP thinks it is rough. He is local (i'm from Herts originally) so I assume he knows more than me!

We are in Lambeth near Streatham high road. Schools are excellent, but it isn't cheap..however, if you can stretch to £750k there might be something that appeals. Transport links are fab.

It doesn't help you move out of London, but the commute is reasonable (train, bus, bike...)

Pancakes - any reason behind the negative view in bexleyheath or Orpington. I've never been so I'm open to ideas.

Muddha - we originally wanted to move to east dulwich, but its too pricey for us. I like Herne hill, but also v pricey. Will take a gander at right move.

Lunastarfish - really like Esher, beautiful neck of the woods. Though transport links in Sutton are really good

Trains in Sutton are definitely better than Esher (i live near to Esher and sometimes I do feel like i'm in the sticks). this is why I suggested Wimbledon (where I use to live) as it has south west trains to waterloo, thames link, district line and northern line.

you might be well aware of this, but, if you have a poke around and find schools you like the look of, you can put the exact school postcode into Rightmove, then do a half mile or mile search round it

handy for catchments

sorry if just stating the bleedin obvious

Ok - here's what you can get nearish to me for your budget.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49495238.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49182623.html
Both in catchment area of outstanding primary

This is a bargain but backs onto the A2 ....

[[http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50012357.html this might be worth a look. Quiet road, lots of naice neighbours in catchment area for outstanding primary. Short walk to Blackheath Standard Village [note not Blackheath Village] which has some v nice independent shops and cafes but other than M&S, no high street stuff.

Chislehurst and the borders of it into Orpington are v naice with a short 25 mins I think commute into London Bridge. Not sure where most of it's trains terminate though as that's an issue as Charing Cross trains not stopping in London bridge for the next 18 months..

Bexley is supposed to be nice, Bexleyheath not so much according to friends who live in the latter and aspire to move across the A2. No idea why though, bigger properties and the village I guess and the grammar schools are there I suppose.

Right move has definitely become a daily browse. With sold prices it gives us an idea of how over priced some places are.
My concern is actually secondary schools... It is not a requirement for a primary school to be outstanding.

The right move links are definitely interesting. It will be nice to go to the area and get a feeling for it. I'm actually surprised about the good value, and am wondering what the catch is!!

Sevenoaks is dullsville but has a few positives [fails to think of any apart from Knole Park] Anyway, it's a very naice place to live and the commute is blissfully short though I'm still bitter at how early you have to leave the Brixton Academy to get the last train back. I would think about Bromley but I don't know it well. I have an impression that it's a knock down drag out fight for a place at St Olaves but others will know more.

you don't say whether you have dcs yet-unless I've missed a bit?

if not, I'd be looking for somewhere interesting with lots for adults to do so not Bromley, which would also be nice for littluns

I wouldn't really be looking too hard at secondary schools for the reason that they can spin on sixpence at the mo, according to the whim of the education sec at the time. You could move somewhere with an outstanding school now that's in requires improvement in 11, 12 years' time. And vice versa. Also you have (free?) schools popping up (and disappearing) like whack a mole

I'd be looking in zone 2, 3 at a push, so you can get into town relatively easily, and then assume that you'll possibly/probably have to move again for secondaries

If I were you, with your fab budget, I'd look at Brockley, Herne Hill, Greenwich or Crystal Palace. Urban enough for fun, and friends to visit etc, but parks and primaries for when you do start a family. Otherwise you might end up somewhere dull as dust, feeling like you've been buried from the neck up, kicking your heels for years

The journey from sevenoaks to the midlands is awful.

reported, carlymartin, you cheeky old goose

If you're looking at South London, Plumstead is lovely too! Zone 4, about 30 minutes on the train to London Bridge. Good schools, lots of green space, a small (but growing) creative community, friendly people.