Where to live in London with a good budget? West, South West, North London?

[ElleElleElle]

I would really appreciate if you talk to me and help with your opinions as my head is exploding already.

We are trying to decide where will be the best place for us to buy house.

I am completely city girl and love London with all my passion. My husband is a country boy, grew up with aches of land, huge country house and horses so a compromise needed :)

We both do not need to commute every day to work as I am a freelancer and hubby either has meetings all over the world or in central London very occasionally. But we both love theaters, museums and just general going out in the center of London. I also have a hobby in central London which I would like no to give up and it involves that I am coming back home on a last train about 1 am.

Originally we were thinking maybe some nice area outside London in the countryside with good and quick connection links to the city. We were considering Cross Rail links and places around Maidenhead, Reading, etc. as husband could have a big country house with land over there and I could get easily into Central London.

Now we decided that would be nice to stay within London but we can not decide absolutely anything about areas.

In North London we like Hadley Wood, Monken Hadley and some places between High Barnet and Stanmore but it seems so far to get to the center from there.

We also went through the stage where husband agreed to buy something right in the center like Westminster, Victoria, Kensington but I do not think he will be happy there as he loves to be near some sort of greenery, live in a house rather then a flat, have a garage and garden.

Then we were considering Ealing as there are some roads with very big houses over there (though many converted into flats) but I read about schools and released (maybe I am wrong) that schools could be much better. And I also think we would have one of the best houses in the area which is not ideal (as a saying goes it is better to have a worst house o the best street rather then a best house in the worst street). Apart from that we love the area.

Now we look at South West London. Start looking for houses in Richmond but around the station (15 mins walk) I can not find pretty much any detached houses.

What would you say, who live maybe close by, about Sheen, St.Margarets, Mortlake,Barnes ect. I am a bit scared about commute from there. The same about Ham. But soooo nice around there everywhere.

And noise from planes also is not very appealing. But neighborhood is very pleasant, affluent, huge park near by where we can walk, cycle, etc. and schools are fantastic!!

Closer to Kingston there are lots of suitable houses but I think it's too far and too villigy for us.

Then I came to Wimbledon. Wimbledon Village seems very nice area with very good transport links but I read village itself is very very small and lots of parts are very noisy. And what about Tooting nearby and some other not very pleasant parts?

Seen some houses not far from Putney as well (not close to the station though)

And again looking at the prices of the houses and what you get for that..... maybe it's better to go back to Cross Rail links...... or maybe not......

Please talk to me. Where would you go and why? Thank you for reading.

Surbiton is nicer than Kingston IMO, and trains are 16 minutes to Waterloo. Nice houses in the Southborough area in particular.

Why don't you arrange for a property finder - surely that makes the most sense for your budget.

ScoutandAtticus, the thing is I can not find any on recommendation and without reccommendation had a bad experience in the past.

I also need to tell them atleast roughly the area and need to decide what we want.

Also lots of them (maybemost) just do Internet search for you. I do not need it, I can search myself without any problem. I need them to have access to properties off the market that Ican not find.

So it is not as easy as it sound.

ignore the playground jealousy, OP. Their problem, not yours.

this is like playing fantasy F1 :-) I also wonder whether you might buy a very central pied-a-terre; there seem to be lots of new blocks going up near Tower Bridge and on the riverfront. Then also an out of town place too. Has anyone mentioned the Hampton CourtThames Ditton area? Beautiful spot, not affected by too much plane noise, and if you are in walking distance of the station (Waterloo 40 mins) the traffic isn't an issue. Not too far to Heathrow either.

just one example:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-34951260.html

I think I'd go for Dulwich, although admittedly I don't know Hampsted etc well.

Someone else suggested Stoke Newington ages ago - that is not green? I know it's uber trendy but I think it's a bit grim there.

Ps I am jealous! Best of luck!

If you want 'London' countryside, you need to be next to or in the southwest London patch that includes Barnes common, the Thames as it meanders from Putney to Hampton court, Wimbledon common, Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and Bushy Park.

I would choose Barnes or Kew, but I'm not bothered about plane noise - to me it's no worse than other urban noise, although clearly people experience noise differently.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-34727124.html

If money no object this is a nice country house in London. (East sheen).

Another point about plane noise is that some flight path areas are otherwise very quiet e.g. Fife road in east sheen is next to a great big massive park and is a relatively quiet road. Plane noise is not constant but traffic and street noise usually is.

what about highgate? although admittedly I think you'd have to go over budget to get exactly what you want

I look at these massive houses and lovely as they are, I can't help thinking they look like a massive PITA to furnish and maintain (even if you do have the funds to pay others to do it). I'd much rather no more than 2000 sq ft (still big) and a super duper location.

Totteridge? Hadley Wood?
I would rather stick pins in my eyes... The idea of spending that sort of money to live somewhere like that makes me weep.

Op you may have an enormous (by most people's standards) budget but perhaps not much idea of what you really like / what is important to you / what your 'style' is. There is a world of difference between choosing to live in Totteridge and choosing to live in Primrose Hill, a yawning gulf between Richmond and St John's Wood.

It's very fortunate for the OP and her budget that neither some periods of maternity leave impacting on her freelance income nor her husband's serious illness of over 2 years duration has affected their ability to buy a £7 million house.

ah. So it is fantasy F1?

not worried, still fun!

If anybody still interested as it was so many useful and genuine helpful comments we decided to look in Ealing. After careful consideration you definitely can not beat connections that Ealing can offer.

With a new crossrail it will be absolutely unique as you can be in central London Bond Street in only 10!! mins, in the same in Liverpool Street in 18 mins and in heathrow in 15 mins.

It's very green, lots of parks, good schools and no air plane noise!!

Do not think we will find something soon as there are such a small amount of big detached houses left in the area. most of them converted into flats due to pricey area.

Possibly will buy something for now and carry on looking for a better one.

Big family detached houses will be in a huge demand for sure in a area as the forecast is lots of people will be moving from central London areas and you still will be able to get into centre for 10-15 mins, have bigger family place and possibly without morgage in exchange.

All major player in real estate opening their offices due to this reasons and forecasts.

So it seems a good options for us.