East Sheen Mortlake Barnes Richmond

[NisekoWhistler]

Found out just recently that we are relocating to London. We have previously lived there but only as a couple renting. We now have a 5 month old and are in a position to buy. We think that Barnes, East Sheen, Mortlake and Richmond are areas we'd like to focus on. We plan to educate our children in state schools and have a budget of £950,000 for a house. We are looking for a 3 bed (minimum) period property within the catchment area of an outstanding primary school.

Which area do you think we are best to focus our search on?

Can't imagine you'd get much more than a 3 bed flat in Barnes or Richmond for 950k.

Look at senior schools too....waldegrave (girls) is good, as are the church schools but not a lot of good choice otherwise so watch the catchment areas!

Hmm, the budget is a bit tight for these leafy parts. If you would consider moving out to Teddington, which is lovely, budget still tight but at least there is a great choice of good primary and secondary schools, which will give you a bigger choice.

Would you consider a flat? A friend of mine bought a 3 bed 60s flat in Strawberry Hill and it was fantastic. Absolutely lovely place, beautiful gardens out of every window, loads of storage, light and spacious, good schools. I kicked myself that I hadn't considered a flat when I saw it. Mind, those flats aren't the bargain they were a few years ago, as the mid century look has become so fashionable lots of people want to live there now.

Teddington also has lots of flats overlooking the river.

Look at this one! OK, it's Hampton Court so far out... and schools might be a problem.... but still!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63743246.html

Or this one, which is in beautiful parkland right by Hampton Wick Station, trains every 15 minutes to Waterloo. There is an Outstanding primary school round the corner, and a very good secondary within five minutes walk.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44930859.html

Ooh, looky here - good schools close by:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-58974181.html

Consider Kingston. Still more affordable than Richmond etc but v nearby, just the other side of the park too.

Something like this: www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/65576534

Thank you so much for your help so far, all valid and useful points. We're pretty fixed on the rough area, as I would work up a few junctions west up the M4 and my other half has to be in the City for 7am

Having looked on rightmove there are 25 houses available in our price range, admittedly I haven't removed the no. Period property.

So perhaps my question should be, if there were 4 identical houses at 950k in these areas, which area would you buy in?

THere won't be 4 houses the same in those areas for the same price,
THe price order would go, I think
Richmond
Barnes
Mortlake/east sheen

I don't think you'd get a house in the first 2 for under a million.
I agree teddington is also very nice, but again many houses would be over a million...

I think all those areas are lovely, so for me it would come down to transport links/distance from high street/proximity to good schools.

I trust you are remember aircraft noise (and air pollution) which is going to get even worse if the government get their way with the LHR third runway.

I can not stress enough research re catchment areas. Friends moved to Clapham. Two outstanding big primaries. House was 700 metres from one, 300 metres from other. Neighbours children at houses in same terrace had been acccepted at both over the years but that was 6-8 years ago. Catchment area had shrunk over the years as more flats popping up and more people with kids moving into area because of the schools. They didn't get into either school.

And do check out flight paths. They switch every few days between set routes, so you can view a house and it feels quiet, but go back 3 days later and it's a nightmare. If you think I am joking sit in Kew Gardens: fly over every 2 minutes (or it was when we lived in Chiswick years ago). West London is fab but flipping expensive!