From Canary Wharf to where in London - help a renter?

[WFHMom]

Hi mums.

We're currently living in CW with our 15 month old but mainly work from home, so we're looking for somewhere with a village feel, greenery and better value for money. But we're a bit lost on where to look.
Our budget is up to £1800/month for a 2-3 bedroom flat with a big modern kitchen. A garden would be nice but not required. I'd still need to get to CW once a week but don't mind a longish commute (45 min) if it's simple (up to 1 change). Finally, schools don't really matter because we expect to move again in 2 years, but we do want somewhere that has activities for babies, a high street with cafes and independent shops, and a few options for daycare. Oh, DH demands a Waitrose!
We're currently considering Blackheath Village and Putney/Sheen/Richmond and possibly further out such as Henley and Salisbury. I've heard good things about Wimbledon too but DH doesn't know it. We don't like Maritime Greenwich but haven't explored other areas of Greenwich. Any suggestions are hugely appreciated!

If you don't fancy Greenwich proper (what is WRONG with you?) then Blackheath or East Greenwich/Maze Hill/Westcombe Park, definitely. All the loveliness there when you want it but it's much less touristy.

We're paying £1600/month for our two-bed Victorian terrace house in Maze Hill. Waitrose is 10 minutes away on the bus; CW about 15 minutes away by bus then tube. Lots of nice pubs, cafés etc, although restaurants are that great.

No DC so can't comment of childcare or activities but there are loads of young families about. We both work mostly from home too.

This would work for you maybe www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-52155722.html

Ignore me - just seen you want a flat. Flats in Greenwich are mostly modern, grim and overpriced. Blackheath/Lewisham might work better for you - some lovely Georgian conversions with gardens.

Actually, it doesn't have to be a flat. A house would be amazing. And we'd love Maritime Greenwich if 70% of the people traffic disappeared...

The flat you linked to is lovely! Definitely our style. I'm sending it to hubby to check out...

We moved to New Eltham from Canary Wharf about a year ago. Rented a 3 bed house with garden for the same price as the 2-bed no garden we had in CW (£1300). Schools are good if you stick around long enough for them. Some nice playgrounds too.

Closest Waitrose is in Bromley, though. This appears to be Sainsburys' area. But Waitrose deliver and it's a PITA to take the DC to the shop anyway.

Here's another one around the corner
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-49892089.html
and this one with a v decent size garden equidistant between two parks
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-34691367.html

There's stacks of stuff for your budget both period and modern. If you don't have a car/drive then you could live in the new river front development in Greenwich that has it's own Waitrose. www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-50759825.html
But then Ocado delivers everywhere ...
Traffic in Blackheath is grim too btw, and as for the traffic wardens...

These are great, thanks! So far Greenwich is definitely getting more votes - where are all the SWers?

They saw "occasionally works in Canary Wharf" and ran away.
It's a sod of a commute from Richmond.
There's some nice stuff available in Blackheath Village, one pending pics on the Cator Estate which is v central and quiet. Odd housing style "Span" but spacious and lovely leafy roads right off the centre of the village.

Dulwich Village might be worth a wander around or you could head out to somewhere like Tunbridge Wells. Doesnt get much more chi chi than TW
This is fab but sadly unfurnished. I'd move straight in if I could ditch the husband and kids :)
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-48881146.html
Three beds with your very own sunlit sanctuary
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-29074558.html?premiumA=true
Ginormous flat
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-52470179.html
House
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-34694247.html

Putney/Sheen/Richmond all take longer than 45 mins to commute from, the interchange at Waterloo is a bastard.

You really need to figure out how much you want to spend on commuting into CW as a day return intermittently from Kent/Essex/Herts could seriously add up over a year.
You [or rather your husband] don't really sound like you want to leave London though? Just fancy living somewhere a bit leafier but with the West End within 30 mins?

I have some bad news for you - if you are considering private school you will need to put your son's name down for a school now, and will be too late in many schools depending on their entry processes. Most schools take entry at nursery which brings you forward to him starting school in another 15 months or thereabouts depending on his birth month.

If state schools then you will need to be settled somewhere [for address purposes with a long term lease] with all your research done before the end of December in the year before he will start reception. Applications go in, in mid January I believe, and places are notified just after Easter.

I'd look anywhere along the East London line. Brockley, honor oak, forest hill, and out to crystal palace. Easy commute to Canary Wharf.

Telegraph hill/brockley are nice, lots of big Victorian conversion flats.

Waitroses are fairly thin on the ground, but there's always delivery :)

Haha!

Well, now it seems the search (aka hubby) is fixated on the Richmond area and riverside living. So the saga continues!

I was going to suggest the East London line too. I moved to Brockley from CW a few years ago. The commute to CW is really easy from there.

I used to commute from St Margaret's to CW each day and it was impossible to do under 1 hour 20 mins, but it is lovely there, I would love to live there again

I love sw London, Richmond, Putney, Balham, Clapham all very lovely. Clapham end a lot more expensive though.