Moving from NYC....in desperate need of neighborhood recs!

[MauraMC]

My husband and I, and our two daughters (7.5 and 2) are moving from Brooklyn to London in the coming months (April/May). My husband will be working in fitzrovia and, despite having lots of cousins in London to offer advice, we are having quite a time narrowing down the neighborhood search. We are ideally looking for a commute that’s under 50 mins for my husband, great state schools for my daughter who will be starting year 3 in September, and a small house with 2-3 beds. We want all the things everyone wants I suppose - leafy, access to parks, bustling high street, safe. Trying to keep the rent under 2750. Any ideas? We’ve been all over the map, literally and figuratively, and I’m going to have to rely on my husband - who is moving over first - to ultimately make the decision.

Rentals aren't advertised very far in advance in the UK. Normally you can find somewhere to move within a few weeks. A month max. Would it be worth you coming over with the girls, staying in a hotel for a few days to visit areas and find a property and then go to stay with your family in Ireland for a few weeks until the property is ready?

I would recommend Enfield - depending what exactly your looking for Enfield town is a small town centre with everything you need and trains into Finsbury Park then change to Victoria and Warren Street, otherwise Southgate/Palmers Green are nice. It's the greenest borough and I am sure I am biased as I live in the borough but a real sense of community. Also some very good schools. Like PP have said Muswell hill and Crouch end are lovely but would get less for your money there.

Just to say again....

If you’re coming from NYC then definitely don’t move further out than zone 2. Your budget is big enough for a family house in zone 2 and if you’re here then why not naje the most of London’s museums, the theatre, the South Bank, all of that. If you are in the deep suburbs with small children then I can guarantee you will be less inclined to do that

I think you should seriously consider using the relocation agent - you’re getting a lot of people suggesting places that work for them on here - that doesn’t mean they will work for you. London is huge, you want to get the most out of it

Hi, long term poster. I am letting a house in Greenwich/Maze Hill, quiet street clse to Greenwich Park. A few hundred below your budget and not available till early March because I am putting in a new kitchen. Not the smartest property around but a reasonable size. Pm if your DH might want to view..

Blimey needmoresleep Did not realise you were from behind the Roan school too

Could you get a short term rental for the first couple of months while you look for somewhere? Even if it meant a couple of school moves rather than one, at least you'll be sure that the place you finally choose is in the right neighbourhood for you because you could get a proper feel for the different areas. With the timing of your move, you'd be arriving for the last few weeks of the school year anyway, and then could find a more permanent place before the start of the next term in September.

Jumping back to your (east) dulwich thoughts- I know fairlawn school well, and from therapia road you'd get an in year place within a few months I'd have thought. You'd also be well placed for Goodrich, and in with a shout at loads more. In London I reckon it's actually easier to get into the hard-to-get-into schools mid year than at the start of reception! People are forever moving to the Home Counties, or emigrating with work.
I know loads of people in your position round here- some at fairlawn, horniman, Goodrich, bellenden, ivydale etc etc.
It's a nice part of the world to live. Lordship Lane itself is getting a bit park slope-ish, but there are plenty of more low key places about.
Houses to let do tend to come up shorter notice though. Take a look at the East Dulwich forum- property to let comes up there, as well as lots of discussion boards.

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Sorry, I managed to erase my message which suggested sunny Richmond upon Thames. Largest enclosed park in Europe, the river and friendly, pretty centre. Both tube and main line trains direct into London

OPs budget wouldn’t go far in Richmond