Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

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

113 replies

zurich09 · 17/05/2019 11:32

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
zurich09 · 19/05/2019 17:31

yep tried to do my research and realised that on a small budget going further out of london and paying for two rail tickets is basically the savings we make from not living in the city.crazy isnt it....

OP posts:
SarfE4sticated · 19/05/2019 17:36

have you looked to see how much you can afford OP? You might be able to get more that you know.

flowersinthebedroom · 19/05/2019 17:48

Have you looked at Little Chalfont? 2 beds for 450k, 3k for season tickets though.

small2018 · 19/05/2019 18:48

I second @randomsabreuse's suggestion of areas around Watford / on the Metropolitan Line.

BIWI · 19/05/2019 18:49

I've used the Northern Line for the last 5 years, and it's not really that bad - certainly not as bad as it used to be! In rush hour, there are trains every 2 minutes.

BlackPrism · 19/05/2019 18:53

I'm in SW zone 2 but am not sure you'd get a nice flat for that here.
Have you tried Tooting or Streatham?

Original poster
zurich09 · 19/05/2019 20:26

OH just came back with a list that a few of his friends gave him - walthamstow, forest hill/honor oak, north finchley/southgate or somewhere like pinner.......a two-bed flat as definitely cant afford a house....would anyone have any opinions on those? sort of commutable and i guess have ok-ish schools, right?

OP posts:
Original poster
zurich09 · 19/05/2019 21:00

@BlackPrism - would love to live in Tooting but everything I've seen is way out of our budget. Used to live in Tooting Broadway in the early 2000s....cant believe for expensive it has become.

OP posts:
TheRedBarrows · 19/05/2019 21:12

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-81835538.html

Streatham Hill. 2 beds, little garden. Choice if 3 really excellent primaries ( Hitherfield, Streatham Wells, Dunraven) and an outstanding Secondary. Nice little park across the road. Bus to Brixton for the Victoria line to Euston. 8 mins walk to Streatham Hill or Tulse Hill stations for trains to Balham Northern Line, Victoria, or Thameslink to London Bridge etc. Streatham is much better than it used to be and this is in a v family friendly cluster of roads. Search other places in Streatham Hill in Rightmove.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 19/05/2019 21:18

Btw for 500k you could afford a house around Chingford/Higham Park, but then you're not on the tube. Depends whether you want a house enough for a longer commute.

SarfE4sticated · 19/05/2019 21:45

Forest hill and Honor Oak are just up road from Brockley v.nice but not cheap. You could look at Corbett estate in catford- lovely houses and catford is going through a bit of a refurb. Train stations Catford and hither green.

TheRedBarrows · 19/05/2019 21:48

Beckenham is a good call.

It had excellent transport links now, a lovely town centre....,

Tavannach · 19/05/2019 22:01

£500k should get you a house in Walthamstow. Some examples -

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67799695.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61943226.html

Lots of young families and on the Victoria line to Euston.

small2018 · 19/05/2019 22:07

Pinner is lovely with excellent schools.

Smiler88 · 19/05/2019 22:11

Abbey Wood in south east london is soon to get crossrail and has direct trains to kings cross and farringdon. You can currently get a 3 bed house with garden for less than 500k. Its a very family friendly area.

wildhairdontcare · 19/05/2019 22:24

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62194980.html

Decent flat moments from transport and zoned for Wren Academy.

wildhairdontcare · 19/05/2019 22:27

Ps. 20min or so to Euston.

DonnatellaLyman · 19/05/2019 22:33

Bounds Green/Bowes park is where everyone priced out of Muswell Hill seems to be moving. Better transport links (Piccadilly and overground), excellent primaries/secondaries and strong community spirit

Original poster
zurich09 · 19/05/2019 22:36

oh wow - so many suggestions! you guys are amazing!!!!!!!!

what are places like walthamstow/streatham like...?

hadnt realised that woodside park is actually that close to Euston - what is it like as an area??

will research the other areas as well....lots to do :-)

OP posts:
wildhairdontcare · 19/05/2019 22:45

Crouch end is also worth a look. www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71399839.html

JQBased · 19/05/2019 22:48

If I had 500k I'd get as far away from this dump as I could. I hate living and working in London.

cestlavielife · 19/05/2019 22:53

I know people swear by latymer state selective grammar in Edmonton for theor ds and made sure to live in a relevant postcode in n London or beyond.... Have a look at the entry criteria and postcodes in the website

Original poster
zurich09 · 19/05/2019 22:56

@JWBased....honestly apparently i got my 'dream' job.....so cant really not take it though I've been on a massive downer about it.Its like London has had the life squeezed out of it in the last decade or so...here's hoping to rediscover what i used to love about it ...right now am only thinking that its too big and too expensive

OP posts:
Poppyfields21 · 19/05/2019 22:56

Beckenham you’ll get a two bed terrace