Where to live in London

[astormgivenflesh]

Hey all

Really struggling to figure out where to live in London - we currently rent a 2 bed in south east for £1400 a month which is the top end of our budget tbh. Recently found out I'm pregnant and want to move somewhere bigger if possible. It's not a fantastic area yet flats around us are now going for £1800+ inc the one above us (converted Victorian house) so we couldn't afford to stay here

We've been looking around and everywhere seems to be min £1700 for a 2 bed, £1800 for 3. We've looked into moving further out to suburbs but the slightly cheaper rent is then off set by high travel costs for DH to get to work in central London. I'm really freaking out, there seems to be NOTHING at all, estate agents keep showing us 3/4 beds at £2400 a month and it's a toss up between crying or laughing. WHO can afford these??

Are there any hidden secret boroughs with decent rents and transport links worth looking at?? Any other suggestions?! Commuter towns such as high Wycombe/ St Albans seem great until monthly travel card is £450 plus tube and never seeing husband as he spends his life on the train! At the moment he cycles every day so that's free obv.

I'm panicking basically, I work from home so that's fine but DH has a great job he doesn't want to leave but how is £1800+ affordable for a couple??

For Liverpool Street I would look east on the central line. I think you would get something in budget in Leyton or Leytonstone, possibly Wanstead, Snaresbrook or South Woodford

Alternatively look at the main lines from Liverpool but not too far else the travel costs rise again. Perhaps Forest Gate or Chingford.

The amount of space you need is all relative.

We are in a 2 bed flat in SE London with no garden. The two of us, 1 baby and 2 cats.

There is plenty of space :)

From a quick search on rightmove it looks like 1400 would probably get you 3 beds in Leytonstone or Leyton and 2 beds in Wanstead or Stratford.

Central line from leytonstone is about 15 mins to Liverpool Street

You can get a 3 bed semi for around £1200/1400 PCM in Plumstead/Welling borders. Good transport links from Woolwich DLR and Welling rail station.
Plenty of open, green spaces, children's centres and nurseries.

You'd be lucky to get a two/three bed in Stratford for your budget. My husband recently sold a one bed flat in Stratford (Romford Rd so not the nicest part) after renting it out for £1100 PCM.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-44408379.html

3 bed in Ham. Don't often get them at this price so perhaps it needs some TLC. Ham is a great place to live though. My best friend lives here so I know it well. Great schools.

I'd second Chingford, if you go further from the station it's very cheap and there are buses all the time to Walthamstow in zone 3.

Ham? Lovely common and an easy cycle to Richmond for shopping and entertainment as well as being on river and Richmond park. This one is very near some excellent schools:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-61906805.html

One of my Uni friends grew up in Ham so I have been there alot. That flat is in a council block on a not nice estate. That is alot of money for an ex council.

Commuting from Ham with no tube or train will take over 90 minutes in one direction to Liverpool Street.

Chelmsford in Essex?

I took a quick look at the Enfield area on Rightmove - saw a few new properties there for around 1400 pcm...some just newly renovated..or indeed remodelling currently underway.
Enfield is half an hour on the Overground to London Liverpool Street. Also saw one or two fresh-looking ones in the Southgate area (on the Piccadilly line but your DH could change at Holborn for the Central line to Liverpool Street)
Some of the latest ones on Rightmove looked surprisingly appealing...ground floor, garden, bright new decor.

PM me for more of my prejudices on where's best to live in the outer reaches of North London!

Not sure how to PM people?!

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions, we are going to make a list and get searching! husband is hoping to be able to commute directly so only one train if poss, and I'd like some open spaces and chance of meeting other mums as this is my first baby so quite a few of the suggestions seem perfect!

Not sure how to PM people?!

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions, we are going to make a list and get searching! husband is hoping to be able to commute directly so only one train if poss, and I'd like some open spaces and chance of meeting other mums as this is my first baby so quite a few of the suggestions seem perfect!

Another vote for SE25 here. Lots for new mums here with a really great network of classes and groups which meet both in locally and in nearby Crystal Palace. My favourite thing about living here with kids is the number and variety of green spaces. I could walk to different parks every day on mat leave. We even have a boating lake with a lovely cafe. Come and join us!

Catford is really affordable, great transport links and nice park for walks with the pram. Lots of very useful shops too, although the centre is not a thing of beauty.

Enfield? Stations such as Enfield Chase/Turkey street/maybe Bush Hill Park?

Not sure how to PM people?!

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions, we are going to make a list and get searching! husband is hoping to be able to commute directly so only one train if poss, and I'd like some open spaces and chance of meeting other mums as this is my first baby so quite a few of the suggestions seem perfect!

Oh wonderful, kept saying it couldn't post my reply and now it's there 3 times! Sorry everyone xxx

If you only want one train to Liverpool Street I second Enfield or chingford. Not south east but good value and quick journey to the city.

Hither green. Google it!

V fast into London Bridge.

Highams Park, it's an area just south of Chingford. Flats and some houses to rent around your budget, on a direct line into Liverpool Street,zone 4, with trains every 15 mins and the second stop on the line so seats in the morning generally. It's full of families, good schools and the forest and Highams Park and lake on the doorstep. E4 postcode

Another vote for the SE25 area. It's great. Loads of brilliant parks (Crystal Palace Park, Norwood Lakes, South Norwood Country Park). Lots of young families as well. Really nice place to live