Where to live: commute to Farringdon/Barbican

[Hforhappy]

We are in a terrace in Wimbledon, DH has a new job in Barbican and I work in St Paul's. We both take an hour to work door to door. We sometimes cycle to work as it is quicker.

We are looking for a detatched 4 bed in good state primary catchment, ideally with a good sized garden (for a trampoline! And our 2 under 2 to run around.) Priority is keeping DH's commute to under 1hr which is a real pain.

I can't seem to find anything suitable scouring the Thameslink line on rightmove. The most suggested to us is st albans, but detatched houses there are so far away from the station adding on so much time that it is not worthwhile. Or completely out of budget. Similar for bromley/chislehurst/Orpington/sevenoaks - using Google maps door to door commute times are all over an hour. Im not familar with north london, did look at harrow but didnt see amything nor did it feel right. Then there is surrey - Woking? Fast to Waterloo but not onwards to barbican. Any ideas, or should I accept that his commute is going to be over an hour to find such a house?

I live on the Seven Oaks line going through Farringdon. It is a stopping overground service which takes 40 mins to St. Paul's/Farringdon.It stops at Bromley South and the schools there are good. All the areas listed in your post are good but with Orpington make sure it's the area near the mainline station. South Orpington is better than north Orpington which is a bit rough.

Post your budget as it will help people to post relevant information.

Would you be open to a change of train? If you opted for somewhere coming into Liverpool St then you could both get to Barbican/St Paul's but it would open up a lot more options. If you didn't mind the short walk south from Barbican then trains into Marylebone, Kings X (not t-link) or even Paddington become an option?

I used to commute from Berkshire and now Oxfordshire and colleagues are amazed at how going far enough out to get a long distance train can actually make your journey significantly faster - in Berks I could do 45 mins door to door compared to others who were 'just' a few miles away.

There's a website, forgotten the name of it, where it will tell you.commute times from different stations as well as average house prices and commuting costs. Google it and it should pop up.

Have a look S Croydon/Purley. It's under 40 mins on Thameslink to Farringdon and then 2 mins to SC. you'd get a lot for your money there

Have you looked at Carshalton?

Beckenham? Definitely some detached close enough to the station given onwards travel would then be short(ish). Definitely depends on 1. Budget and 2. What feel you want. I.E suburban or not.

THis is the one:

www.commutefrom.com/

The Barbican? Has good communal gardens for residents.

thanks for the ideas! website is great although i think times are a bit optimistic - from my current station anyway.

Commute times with google maps to DH's workplace, assuming +10min from house to station:
sevenoaks 1h (southeastern via London Bridge)
purley 1h 5 (southern via London Bridge)
bromley south 55m (thameslink direct Farringdon)
Orpington 1h 5 (thameslink direct Farringdon)
Beckenham junction 45m (thameslink direct Farringdon) -> possibly! i saw a potential on rightmove.
Winchmore Hill 45m (thameslink direct Farringdon) -> DH's suggestion last night

budget around 1.1m - realistic? something above 2000 sq ft? detatched houses tend to be further from stations

we are happy suburbanites next to parks and green space, very kid friendly where we are. Short ride to pools/leisure centre and wimbledon town. Our priority is state pri (we go church regularly but don't mind faith sch or not) & DH's commute - and cricket for DH... we are not rural town or drive-everywhere village sorts.

Don't mind Oxfordshire/further afield with fast trains but don't know where i'd start!

Or Hertford - 45 minutes into Moorgate. County town, so a lot of character but prices cheaper than St. Albans (lovely) or Harpenden (less lovely, not much character). Or Hitchin?

wow, Hertford looks dreamy!

We lived in Mill Hill and DP commuted to Barbican area. It's a great place to live, but pricey.

1.1 would nearly get you a 4-bed tower flat in the Barbican and kids could go to the lovely Prior Weston primary. But appreciate urban living may not be your bag.

How about south on thameslink? Herne Hill, Tulse Hill, Streatham, should be something in budget down there? Streatham Hill area has lots of great primaries.

Ps saw you suggested Winchmore Hill. I know someone who moved out there recently and loves it!

4 bed tower now about 1.5k!

Bromley borough has loads of detached properties with lovely big gardens. You have to choose carefully to get near both a station and a school but if you're only worried about primary then most of them are good. Area around clock house / kenthouse gives great transport options including thameslink but perhaps not so many detached houses. If that's a critical factor then Shortlands might suit better.

Well, I did say nearly Moonlight! And there are a couple that have been on for absolutely ages, so might be open to an offer

Winchmore Hill is lovely.

What about out on the central line? Wanstead, Snaresbrook, woodford, Buckhurst Hill. All nice with good schools about. Would be the easiest journey in the world for you and we'll under an hour for your DH.