family moving to london 500k budget .........where to?

[zurich09]

We are currently moving from abroad and have been shocked at just how expensive london has become in recent years. We are trying to find somewhere to buy - need a two-bed place close to good schools............Used to live in London, but have been completely priced out of everywhere. If you had to commute to Euston/Bloomsbury and were looking for a nice family area with good schools where would you look? Everyone seems to be raving about SELondon but got a bit scared that the commute is really long. Used to live in Muswell Hill but thats way out of our price range nowadays. Any advice would be very welcomed.

Oops sorry, link went wrong: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E746&minBedrooms=3&maxPrice=500000

never even thought about kingston - thought it would be too far, but you are right its actually possible.....we dont really need much space. there's only three of us though eventually i will end up with a massive teenage lad and then he might need a lot more room....

Kingston and surrounding areas have grammar schools if that is something that interests you.

Borehamwood. Brand new flats in Colindale with an outstanding School, twenty minutes to Kings Cross.

Have a play around with this tool. With your budget and commute, plus your need for a family-friendly area (schools, greenery), throws up [[https://bit.ly/2Q9vaol]] quite a few areas that you may not have considered. Rather than constrict your search to one area, it'll help you keep your options open until you find the 'right' place!

Oops - trying again since my last post completely failed!

Have a play around with this tool. With your budget and commute, plus your need for a family-friendly area (schools, greenery), throws up quite a few areas that you may not have considered. Rather than constrict your search to one area, it'll help you keep your options open until you find the 'right' place!

cheers! will check it out...not realised such things existed beyond rightmove

2 bedroomed maisonette in Colliers Wood

This isn't far from where I live, so I know the area. It's very close to Colliers Wood tube station, which is on the Northern line, to take you straight into Euston in about 35-45 minutes. It's close to good shops and also a lot of green spaces, the nicest of which is Morden Hall park. Not far from Wimbledon either which, along with Colliers Wood, has lots of good restaurants and bars. Colliers Wood is definitely up and coming and the council have lots of plans for improving the area.

to be honest, you just have to visit and get a feel for the place. We like Brockley primarily because it was quite cheap when we moved here, but then began to appreciate the parks, decent commute, and gems like the South London Gallery, the Horniman Museum and the ofsted oustanding junior school we'd accidentally moved over the road from! Everything just fell into place really, but I liked the fact that it was a down to earth area and lots of normal people lived here. Now it's more expensive and the people are all a bit posher, but luckily our friends are still here. Friends work in local government, museums, bbc, NHS, universities (including our local Goldsmiths).

Walthamstow maybe? Primary schools are good, don't know about secondaries. But it's well connected, upwardly mobile and pleasant.

I second Greenwich.
It’s Zone 2, which surprises a lot of people.
2 Bed flats for between £450-500 can be found. My old flat is on for £450k and is 5 min from the Heath and Greenwich Park. Some decent state schools here.

Or this one, pretty equidistant between Wimbledon and South Wimbledon

This one is right on the doorstep of Morden Hall Park, close to Deen City Farm and on the Merton Abbey Mills site, which has nice restaurants and shops

If you don't mind a council flat you can probably get something slightly north of King's Cross, which would be a 10 minute walk and no transport costs. You could also easily rent it out subsequently as there is a massive demand in Bloomsbury from UCL students etc.

Rock4please...we had considered it (once lived just off Oxford street as was cheaper than paying for the tube). but DH decided that now we have a son he is a bit concerned about living in a council estate around there....he's decided that safety is his first priority but a few people i know have done that but they dont have kids

@zurich09 you should look at South Woodford. Close to Walthamstow but nicer area in my opinion. Central line 30 mins to Oxford street

Cleveland Road, South Woodford, London
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61746387.html

Roads like Jerningham Road and Pepys Road in New Cross Gate have some lovely flats in converted Victorian villas in your budget.

Roads like Jerningham Road and Pepys Road in New Cross Gate have some lovely flats in converted Victorian villas in your budget.

Tube and overground and lots of buses right nearby.

Don't know why that posted twice!

Plumstead to Euston is a mission though? @plumrade

Elstree is relatively affordable and well connected.

Having done South of River to Liverpool St commute I'd avoid. Northern Line is fairly horrible unless you can avoid rush hour. Would look on train out towards Watford and beyond. Would also prefer a longer simple commute (Train then walk) over a bitty couple of stops, change, couple more stops type route.

No idea re schools in London but Bucks grammars are good.

I know it seems like a weird question - but where do people on public sector salaries live in london nowadays.....

Hello! We are here, living in Walthamstow, Chingford, Higham Park, Enfield, places like that. It's doable if you definitely want to live in London...if not, you can greatly improved your quality of life by avoiding London.

Btw Walthamstow to Euston is 20 mins, easy journey. But as for schools, if your children are boys you will struggle to find a good secondary here.

Whatever you do, don't underestimate the cost of actually commuting. Yes, property prices in (say) Milton Keynes are lower, but your season ticket our going to be £££££.