Where to move to in or near London

[Pinkandwhite]

We have been living in America for the past 7 years but are finally returning to the UK. After so many years away and now with two children (1 year and 5 years) I can't work out where to look at living. DH will be working in London. I used to live in Streatham and really liked it when I was a young professional but have never lived in London with children. I'm now used to being surrounded by beautiful countryside so don't know how I'd find London life. Also I'm worried about making friends because I have such lovely friends here. Does anyone have any recommendations for a friendly area that is good for young children but also (thinking of the longer term) teenagers? Thanks

What's your budget and whereabouts will your DH need to commute to?

Budget is up to £1,000,000 and DH will be working near Bank.

Have you looked around Furzedown, Earlsfield and Balham? All good family areas with good transport links, good schools, and where your £1 mil will get you a decent sized sized 3/4 bed house. All near green spaces in the form of Wandsworth Common, Tooting Bec and others.

All Streatham-ish way but not so gritty.

I have wondered about that area Dragon. Do you think it would be easy to make friends there? Also, do you think it’s a decent area for teenagers? Having moved around a lot over the past few years I’m really keen to settle in one place for the long term if possible.

Furzedown is lovely and if you are clever and move to the right part of Furzedown you will be in the catchment of Graveney School which is a strange comprehensive that achieves very high results because it imports some super bright pupils from outside the usual catchment. I think they call it a grammar stream - all very odd. But if you live within 500m or so you will probably get a place anyway, without having to sit the ridiculous Graveney Test.

£1m would also buy you a fairly modest family house in Herne Hill (London SE24) which might be in catchment for The Charter School, another very high achieving school which happens to be slap bang in the middle of a wealthy area.

But really your question is absolutely enormous! Over 10% of the entire population of the UK lives in London, with many more living in the South East.

Have you narrowed down any other areas at all?

Blackheath/Westcombe Park/Maze Hill area. Loads of families. 15 mins on the train to Cannon Street which is two mins walk from Bank.
I moved here several years ago with a small baby, have 3 kids at school here now and still love it.
I work near Bank too and whilst I get the train a fair bit I live that I can cycle or run my commute too.

I think you would struggle to get a house for under a million in Herne Hill. Would think about Beckenham-train less than half an hour to London Bridge and walk for 10mins for DH-easy access to Kent and good local schools for primary and secondary. For your budget you could have a choice of property. Making friends is relatively easy with the ages of your children-I find people open to new friendships a bit more at transition points e.g starting school and nursery. Good luck!

Yes you can still get a house for less than a million in Herne Hill. It might not have 4 big bedrooms, an extended kitchen and a big garden, but you certainly can.

We were in a similar position of casting our net wide when we moved back from the Middle East two years ago. Totally left field compared to other suggestions, but we chose Folkestone as we wanted beautiful countryside with fast access to central London (less than an hour commute). Our kids love being so close to the sea and sail and row at the weekends. It has been very easy to make friends as so many families are moving out from London, taking advantage of the amazing high speed rail services, stunning scenery and amazing period properties you can pick up here for a tiny fraction of London prices. The is a strong arts scene and plenty of lovely restaurants and things to do at the weekend. Definitely the best move we ever made.

Yes bibbity, my question is enormous!

I'm going to take a look at Herne Hill because that sounds interesting.

I do actually own a small house in Streatham. I bought it back when houses there were really, really affordable and I used to live in it with housemates. It's a small 3 bedroom house but we could do a loft conversion and kitchen extension. It's not far from Graveney School actually but it's not the very closest school to the house so I doubt my 5 year old would get a space there now.

Thanks for that Lurksnolonger that's really interesting. I'll take a look at Folkestone. We have beautiful countryside where we live now so that really appeals. Its great to know it has been easy for you to make friends.

Greenwich and Blackheath are lovely, green and villagey but very easy journey to Bank - about 25 minutes BR Blackheath to Lewisham then DLR or straight on the DLR from Greenwich. He could even cycle through Greenwich Park and under the Thames via the foot tunnel. One million should get you a nice 3 bed near to Blackheath Standard or in the Maze Hill area right next to Greenwich Park. Primary schools are good, secondaries more mixed but children also attend neighbouring Borough Grammar Schools. Lots of good private school secondary options.

For a commute into the City, look along the Crossrail / Elizabeth Line route. Ealing is a lovely leafy area of west London with fantastic transport connections - when the Elizabeth Line is up and running it will be about 20 minutes from Ealing Broadway to Liverpool St & the City.
Good schools, lots of parks and activities... I love it

The Kent line is fantastic, we commute on the Tonbridge line from Hildenborough and the trains are 40 m to London Bridge, Cannon St, Waterloo East and Charing Cross (usually...) Some villages, like Leigh and Penshurst have a commuter bus which takes 5 m to get you to mainline station. The busses are a brilliant way to make friends, dead chatty! The countryside is utterly beautiful and the villages are friendly with lots going on, cricket, choirs, tennis, rugby, WI, pub shop etc. The community in Leigh is incredible and you'd be welcomed with open arms. Schools are amazing. Best of both worlds in my humble opinion, nights out in London are possible but you get the therapeutic effects of countryside too. For your budget you'd get a really nice house. There are cheaper areas for housing but lifestyle wise it's perfect.

You almost have to live opposite Graveney to get in & the houses that fall within catchment command a ridiculous premium (for what they are) I know children who got 100% on the entry test during certain years & still didn't get a place. Balham is nicer, bit twee now but great if you like brunch! Chestnut grove school gets pretty good results. 1 million won't go that far though.

Wanstead

You'll get a nice enough house for a mill.

Super easy to bank on the central line.

Lovely high street with independent shops and cafes.

Lots of mummy people to make friends with.

Very close to country side of epping forest and more.

I like the location and space of this, but appreciate you might want to tart it up a bit so could be a stretch to the budget.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70240843.html

Also worth looking at properties between snaresbrook and wanstead - as then you can get a train home on either branch line which does make a difference for the night tube.

Also East Dulwich is nice and in budget

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-78889199.html

*meant to say that from Dulwich you can easily get out of london southwards into the lovely hills

Do you want a massive house and be much further out/not in a chi chi area or are you happy with a small house in a much fancied area - thats the crux of it.

Although £1m budget and Folkestone.... you could live like a queen

Foooooking massive house with beaut garden a few min walk form Folkestone station.

Spend £150k modernising it.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67197649.html

I want.

If you don’t work, I strongly recommend Tonbridge. Around 35 mins to London, good primaries and excellent grammar secondaries. If your DH doesn’t mind 15mins more on the train, Tunbridge Wells is a great option.

Orpington is a brilliant option too. Excellent schools and shorter commute to London. Sevenoaks is also a pretty good option.

Although Croydon has a reputation, South Croydon, purley and surrounding areas are great.

£1m can get you 2000+ sft houses in all of those areas

West Wickham (Bromley side) is a fantastic option too. Check out park Langley area.

Wow mumsnetters, this is all incredibly helpful. Thank you. I’m looking at all the options suggested now and would love to hear any other opinions.