North finchley/ bounds green / Southgate

[Fredthefrog]

Hi currently live in a flat in north finchley and have a 6month old so would ideally like to move soon (if we manage to sell the flat but that is about thread). Would like to stay where we are as have been here a few years and got to know the area. There are good schools here however our budget of 650k is a struggle unless we are miles from the tube or tiny house. I've had bounds green suggested as well as Southgate. Don't know these areas and so though there are more houses in budget which are close to tube I just want some idea of what they are like to live in. Thoughts?

Look at north Chingford/highams park - great schools and for that budget you can have a gorgeous home.

Thanks. I will check the area out. How is the tube access/ ease of getting in to central London?. I have decided that if we can't get in easily we may as well move all the way out and start thinking train line.

You're on the orange overground line - under 30 mins to Liverpool st and it stops at Walthamstow Central where you can get on the Victoria line.

Looks good. Annoyingly a bit far East for my husband's work and mine. Thanks

Where are you commuting to?

We moved from crouch end to Blackhorse Road. Near tube and overground.

Where do you work?

I am commuting into Angel and my husband commutes by car on the north circular near Wembley.

If I was at the other end of upper street itnwpuld be ok for me but bus or walking would add so much time to my journey. I used to live in finsbury park and because it was one stop the upper street bit wasn't so bad but not keen on relying on busses and then on the tube

I socialise in Angel quite a lot, I usually take the Victoria line to Euston and then change for one stop to Angel. For 650 you could definitely afford Walthamstow.

Southgate is nice, with a village feel in parts if you ignore the traffic. Some huge and lovely parks. It is and feels quite far out of town, but you're on the Piccadilly which is a fast line.

Bounds Green is a little more gritty, although it has gentrified to an extent (not as much as it thinks it has though). As well as the tube, you've also got Bowes Park overground which will get you into Moorgate.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56172096.html

Use the money left to redecorate/extend. 10 min walk to vic line.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66267421.html

End up with this sort of thing

Price difference is massive but further east then we wanted for my husband's commute annoyingly.

Hi Fred. I live in the North Finchley area. Keep your eyes out for listings near the Totteridge station. A couple of my neighbours will be listing soon and the price range should be close to your budget. I bought a house recently within that range. Ignore the asking prices and register with all the estate agents serving the area.

This house has been on for a while. I am sure they are open to offers

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55825518.html

Thanks Newgate. We plan to keep looking here as we have some friends here and know the area now but quite a lot seemed out of our price range. Good to know some new bits are coming on the market though. Thanks.

I grew up in Southgate, and it's nice. Very suburban, very family-friendly, lots of decent schools. I'm not sure what you will get for your budget, but it's a good place to live. There are nice parks and you're close to the North Circ. Good luck!

Should have added, Bounds Green is not very nice, although Bowes School
is good-not enough to convince me to ever live there though!

Good luck Frog.

Have you thought about Whetstone? Good schools in the area and on the Northern line. You'd get more for your money there than either North Finchley or Southgate.

Hendon or Colindale? Still northern line for you, and much closer to Wembley.

See also Mill Hill

Palmers Green? Good commute and some lovely houses. V family friendly.

There are properties in all the areas but I wonder about schools and maybe the affordable houses are out of catchment. Hadn't looked over at hendon/colindale what are they like to live in psuedobadger? Also not thought about Pallets green at all. What are the schools like?