Cute Areas in or Near London?

[user1481480706]

Hi,

I've just moved to London with my husband (I'm 27 and he is 32). We are renting at the moment, but are looking to buy a house in the coming months. Our budget is 650,000-750,000 as we are looking to gut the interior and make it nice and modern inside! I am SO overwhelmed by the various areas around London, so I need suggestions on places to look! We have so far liked Blackheath Village, Hampstead, Walthamstow Village and Richmond. Unfortunately we can't afford a nice house in any of those areas though haha! Are there any areas in the East/North that:
*Have a nice, trendy village feel with lots of young professionals
*Will suit a budget of 650,000-750,000
*Are safe
*Are in London, or very close to it (we are willing to go as far as zone 6, as long as transport links are good)

Thanks so much for your help!

Surbition?

Seriously - house in Hampstead / Richmond / Blackheath for £650?! You wouldn't even get an ex council one in those places for that price!

You need to change expectations about area, or compromise and go for a flat.

m.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/property/surbiton/?beds_min=2&include_retirement_homes=false&include_shared_ownership=false&is_auction=false&new_homes=exclude&price_max=700000&q=Surbiton%2C%20London&results_sort=newest_listings&search_source=home#/for-sale/details/42349686?search_identifier=db4de6c97c5dc79510c753cd9eb22c88

You could look at Wanstead, but in is "gritty". Not like walking around at night in Richmond / Hampstead.

Where do you need to commute to for work?

BTW, if you're serious about Hampstead, there are decent, large ex-council flats available for your budget in and around NW3 and NW5 - but the building itself won't be very cute. Eg: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60818666.html

You can buy a house in Richmond are for that budget

650k m.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/houses/schools/primary/sheen-mount-primary-school/?beds_min=2&include_retirement_homes=false&include_shared_ownership=false&new_homes=exclude&price_max=700000&q=Sheen%20Mount%20Primary%20School%2C%20London%2C%20SW14&results_sort=newest_listings&search_source=home#/for-sale/details/42463650?search_identifier=e56524bc1371d460cdadf795668b05ad

£500k
m.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/houses/schools/primary/sheen-mount-primary-school/?beds_min=2&include_retirement_homes=false&include_shared_ownership=false&new_homes=exclude&price_max=700000&q=Sheen%20Mount%20Primary%20School%2C%20London%2C%20SW14&results_sort=newest_listings&search_source=home#/for-sale/details/42449932?search_identifier=e56524bc1371d460cdadf795668b05ad

Art - those houses are in Ham, not Richmond, which is a nice safe family friendly area, not exactly "trendy", tho traffic to Richmond station is a nightmare at rush hour!

West Norwood
Gypsy Hil maybe Crystal Palace.

Haha yes I know! I just like the areas so I listed them for context. I'm really looking for suggestions in other areas!

Is West Norwood cute?

Crystal Palace is nice

Where are you commuting to OP?

My vote in those (and most other) price points is Brockley, but if you need to be anywhere near west London that won't work.

Seriously - house in Hampstead / Richmond / Blackheath for £650?! You wouldn't even get an ex council one in those places for that price!

Yes, that's why she's posting - it says that in the OP.

How big is the house you want OP? How many bedrooms?

I work near Holborn and probably wouldn't want to commute more than 50 minutes, but I'm flexible!

Walthamstow prices have calmed down a bit.
This is expensive but within your budget and you wouldn't have to gut it.
There is a five bed on there for the same price but would need total refurb.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45464217.html

I'm pretty sure that's the first time West Norwood has ever been asssociated with the word 'cute'.

Forest Hill is getting overpopulated with delis and quaint independent coffee shops. Crystal Palace would also suit you. £650-750k should get you a bit of a 'fixer upper' in either area (assuming you have actual budget to spend on fixing up!)

We are looking mostly at terraced houses around 1,000 square feet (ideally more, but hopefully not much less!) We are looking for 3 bedrooms but would settle for a 2 bed if the rooms are spacious and note London "bedrooms" aka closets haha.

Seriously OP. There is more to Walthamstow than the Village. Its nice and all but its over priced and over rated.

Yes, I would move to Walthamstow. It's the only place I can think of within your criteria that has cutey villageness and is also quite trendy with young professionals.

Most villagey places in London are full of tedious 40 something parents.

Honor oak park

West Dulwich
Crystal Palace
Stoke newington
Ealing/Northfields/Hanwell

what is 'cute' in reference to localities???

You could live near Blackhorse Road (part of Walthamstow) for that money. I live here and virtually never go to the village as there's hardly anything there. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty, but limited.
At this end there's excellent transport links (Victoria line, overground to Gospel Oak or St James street which will take you to Liverpool Street or Hackney if you hop off before). There are pop up restaurants, new excellent coffee places and it's near Lloyd park or the Marshes. It's not as pretty as the village, but it's got a lot nicer in the year I've been here. The community is mixed, but there are certainly a fair few young professionals and young families.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44611416.html

Cosmic I have been on MN for years. Its only recently that I have noticed any other MNers who live in E17.
I felt like the token Eastender for ages