If you had £1.2 million to spend...

[Sengah]

On a house in London and two children 2 and under to be state schooled, where would you spend it? We've just been gazumped, and now the property market is so slow we are trying to be creative. Anyone with good advice to share?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Blackheath fits all of your requirements- gorgeous area, trains to Victoria/Charing Cross/Cannon Street every few minutes. I go from there every day and it’s really efficient.
VERY family area, loads of child centred activities and you can walk 5 minutes over the Heath to the top of Greenwich Park and walk down through it to the free museums.
Blackheath itself is all shops round a triangle - the Ivy Cafe has just opened - lots of restaurants and shops, good farmers market on a Sunday in the station car park.
I have lived in over 30 places in the UK, Blackheath is by far the best. This house is below your budget and about 2 minutes from the station. There are slightly bigger ones that come on in your budget in the surrounding streets too, just none right now.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62158678.html

[LaurieFairyCake]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/map.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E85278&numberOfPropertiesPerPage=299&viewType=MAP&viewport=1.44017E-4%2C0.0162373%2C51.4611%2C51.4717

Forget about this one actually ON the Heath. It’s lovely but I think it’s a tiny bit overpriced.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Oh they’ve brought the price down, was 1.2 mn, now 1075! Much better

[Mrsknackered]

If it were me I'd go for Camberwell Green. Or around Royal Hill in Greenwich (although Greenwich secondary schools aren't all that IMO) or Brockley/Ladywell

[Oblomov18]

Surbiton, Twickenham and Richmond are lovely. I'd move there in a jot if could afford it. Good schools.
But I wonder if OP would find them too quiet?

[arghh21]

As someone who grew up in SW London close to SE I would suggest:

NappyValley (I live here, good schools etc)
Wimbledon (I went to high school here & would love to live close to the Village. It’s got great shops & restaurants, my dream place.
Blackheath is nice too.
Kingston - good schools & shopping & more house for your money.

I personally think a lot of SE London is overrated. Yes it’s improved loads & Lordship Lane has a great buzz but a lot of it is a bit boring.

[Sengah]

Well, we did full days of viewing in Harpenden, and in Kingston. Harpenden was ok - just - we got stared at a lot and the houses we viewed were all decorated the same way (not sure how to describe it - a bit Next/footballers wives, all with the same kind of white shutters etc). There seemed to be v much a town 'style' which made me nervous about the prospect of fitting in. For those kind people who suggested kingston, can I ask what the draw is? It seemed super suburban with little outside the main town - so you either have to commit to going in (big shops busy streets) or not at all.town centre also seemed somewhat grim. Did I get the wrong end of the stick there? Thanks. Still looking at other suggestions too.

[Agirlworthfightingfor]

South East as PPs have suggested. Great schools, a lot more for your money South of the river and still a wonderful London vibe. Also great sense of community. I have made stacks of local friends since moving here.

[BrazzleDazzleDay]

Camberwell green or kingston

[viques]

Wanstead. Great schools, both primary and secondary. Green spaces within minutes. High street with independent shops. Very community minded. Terrific transport links, either directly or via Stratford , also close to Crossrail.

[Sengah]

Why kingston brazzledazzle?

[BellMcEnd]

How about Hayes in Kent? Excellent primary and secondary schools, station into Victoria. Lots of green open spaces. You’re near to Bromley shopping centre and there’s plenty going on for families.

[TheSeasonOfTheWitch]

I think you should be basing the potential houses on secondary schools to be honest. If you are not going to do private secondary then which schools do you want them to go to? I think if you can live in catchment of a grammar and good comp (assuming grammar is exam entry), that is also a family area and easily commutable to central London, then surely that's the jackpot?!!

[Westnorwood]

Herne Hill or Brockley.

[Sengah]

Thesessonofthewitch we've gone back and forth on planning for secondary in a serious way only because it seems crazy that we might be in one place for more than the next 10 years. This move is costing about £95k in stamp duty though, so I'm not keen to repeat it in a jiffy. So the majority of places we've been looking at cater for both stages of school. It really narrows the field.

[Lillylollylandy]

Another Blackheath fan here. Hither Green is also a good bet, lots of outstanding schools, and green spaces.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52535808.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63328573.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52245720.html

[Lillylollylandy]

Plus south of river gives you access to the Kent grammars.

[Linguaphile]

We used to live in Teddington and loved it. Used to do our shopping in Kingston but wouldn't live there. Had lovely family days out walking along Twickenham riverside to Richmond along the Thames Path. The Strawberry Hill bit, particularly along the river, is quite civilised and you've got easy the access to the quick train from Twickenham.

[Sengah]

Partikly like that middle house Lillylolly, thanks

[Lillylollylandy]

It's a lovely area @Sengah . Stones throw from Greenwich Park which is beautiful.

[TurquoiseDress]

How about Beckenham/Park Langley?
It's zone 5, Bromley borough

4 bedroom detached, the Langley schools are only a short walk away
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52812288.html

[TurquoiseDress]

or this one and then you'll have some cash left over!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51576807.html

[TurquoiseDress]

And another one!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50574204.html?premiumA=true

[Yvest]

East Finchley. Primary schools are good and Archervacademy is a great state secondary

[whitemarble]

Telegraph Hill (Se4/Se14), catchment for Haberdasher Askes, one of the most over subscribed and popular state secondary schools in London (according to the evening standard), lovely park and Brockley down the hill for shops etc.

Waller Rd SE14
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50781975.html