Where to live - SW London

[AlwaysaNortherner]

We're looking to move into London as both my DH and I commute at the moment and it is slowly destroying our will to live! We live in a lovely area and own our house, but we hardly see each other during the week and the trains seem to be getting less reliable.

I work in Battersea and DH near Borough (he currently walks from Waterloo and is happy to walk as part of his commute).

We'd like a 3 or 4 bedroom house, easy commute (as that's why we're moving!), walking distance to a supermarket and useful things like a bank, and preferably some green space nearby too. We'd be thinking about children in the next 5 years so things to do with children and primary schools are a consideration too.

We're very lucky to have some help from our parents so we're looking at around a £1.5 million budget. I'm aware of how incredibly lucky we are to have this but I'm also feeling the pressure of making good decisions with this money!

We've looked at Putney and Barnes so far. I like Putney but worried the trains will be totally crammed in rush hour (is that the case?) and DH wasn't a fan of how much traffic there is on the high street. So, any suggestions for other areas we should go and look round? It doesn't have to be SW London, that just seemed the logical place to start given where we both work.

Oooh, I know Hillside Road, it's a very sweet little street with a small park on one side. It's also in the catchment for Dunraven school (very oversubscribed secondary). I'd say it was nearer than 10 minutes to Tulse HIll station, five tops. However, that part of the road is a bit of a bottleneck as it has quite a lot of cars and a single-decker bus going down there to cut out the South Circular. But it is a super house and it's set far enough back not to have to worry about road noise. .

Although the layout looks slightly odd - there doesn't seem any way of getting from the ground floor to the back garden .

Earlsfield - eg. this will leave you with a bit of spending money too - 5 minutes walk from the train station, with trains leaving every 3 minutes at peak times and 12 mins from there to Waterloo. This is within catchment of (Outstanding) Earlsfield Primary, and with lots of very lovely shops, bars and restaurants on your doorstep.

I second the Wandsworth Town train issue - we used to walk to Clapham junction anyway when we lived there so there between the Commons may work better. Though it is full of Yummy Mummies. Don't get me wrong - Many of my closest friends are Yummy Mummies....

If I had that type of Budget I would look at Kew - think it has a lovely village feel and being so close to the River and Kew Gardens - walkable to Richmond and to Putney and Barnes along the river for weekend strolls.

Many advantages to being close enough to walk to work though - tube strikes etc. Putney and Clapham / Wandsworth give you that option. Plus trains and tubes and buses.

There was a suggestion of New Malden above - We lived there as our budget was much less than yours - and I'm sure you could get a lovely house for 1.5 mill- and schools are great - But we moved away as it felt very suburban and a long way out of town, both practically and in the mindset of our neighbours.

The place I would really love to live though it is SE so probably won't meet your needs - but there are trains to waterloo! - is Blackheath. Great village feel, lovely heath and Greenwich Park, you can walk through to Greenwich itself and the Market - and your transport options are pretty good - trains on two separate lines, buses, Tube at North Greenwich, DLR at Greenwich and Lewisham.

Or Dulwich!

Balham or Earlsfield. Or Northcote Road area, but be careful, the catchments are tiny and to be in catchment you usually need to be some distance from the tube. And you'll get more for your money in Balham or Earlsfield.

Wimbledon worth a look too. Southfields perhaps though I don't know the transport options very well.

If you want quiet and leafy then don't look at Stockwell or Vauxhall...

I don't know London that well but my inlaws have a flat in abbyville in Clapham which is lovely. It's right by the common and has a nice little high street with shops / restaurants and near the tube.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61976452.html

Putney is just 1 long through road of constant traffic, I went to school there so know. I really wouldn't live there. Barnes is too twee/old for me.

Richmond would gives you amazing (we made 35% in 3 years) return for your investment as well as being a totally idyllic place to live- amazing transport links (speedy trains into Waterloo/slower into Clapham J) fab pubs / restaurant/shops, beautiful walks- up Richmond hill taking in the view/Richmond park on your doorstep, AMAZING for young mums (friendly yummy mummy central) and brilliant range of schools. Any less than 1million you'd struggle but with your budget you could afford a gorgeous family home that wont fail to climb in value and give a wonderful quality of life- both as young couple pre kids and as a family. Also a bit further afield Esher is stunning too. Wimbledon is lovely also but sure you know this. I'd pick Richmond with your budget.

Wandsworth or Between The Commons

Something like this maybe? Road, Wandsworth, London, SW18
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61843162.html

Sorry not read full thread but I'd choose Putney. With that budget you'll get a nice 4 bed near the stations. State schools are some of the best in the Uk. Private schools are also fabulous. Putney Heath, Bishops Park and Richmond Park on your doorstep.

Go for Graveney/Burntwood/Ashcroft "catchments" in preference to Dunraven/St Martins, if that becomes the broad choice. Equally go for Wandsworth borough generally (for schools) over Lambeth.

I live here in Putney and love it and 1.5 will definitely get you what you want. As far as commuting goes yes the overland train and tubes can get a bit busy but if you choose to live near the river (like me) you can take the Thames Clipper boat service to work. It stops at both Battersea and London Bridge and is 100% the most pleasant commute poss in London. The boat are all new, run every 20 minutes at peak times and all have coffee bars and comfy seats. DM me if you want to know more about Putney...