Considering moving out of St Albans and into London... are we insane?

[Chiqui87]

We've been living in St Albans for 3 years and we really like it here. I work from home and my husband used to drive to Dunstable for work, so this was ideal. He now changed his role within the same company and is working in London. We knew the train was expensive... we've taken it many times to go to London, but ugh... it's ridiculously expensive when you have to do it 4-5 days a week during peak. We can afford it, but it just hurts to think how much we could be saving in commuting if we lived in London...

We're looking to buy a property in the 550-650,000 range, and while we can get a decent 3 bedroom home here in St Albans we're very tempted to move to London to cut down on commuting costs.

More context: We have a 6-year-old son and a daughter in year 5. We know that secondary schools here are great and one of the main reasons why people move here... but I know London also has good schools, obviously.

Both my husband and I grew up in cities and kind of miss living in a big city... We'd love to buy a house but also wouldn't mind living in a flat with a small garden or a maisonette in a safe neighborhood with good schools, parks, etc. The question is: where?!

(Oh, and... are we crazy? should we just suck it re: train costs since we can afford it and move on with our lives?)

Chingford/Highams Park has properties in your budget and within easy reach of M25 for making return visits to St Albans to see friends. Commute into Liverpool St on overground. Most of the local primaries are great and secondaries on the up.

Example Chingford 4 bed

Are you more after zones 2-3 and a flat?

Or open to outer London? We're in Sutton (zone 5). There are 5 grammars for secondary but the comps are very good too. And so are primaries (It's one of the highest attaining LAs in the country). It's very green around here, not only parks but actual countryside too. Your budget would get you a house in Sutton, Carshalton or Cheam (the latter 2 more pleasant). The trains go into Victoria, London Bridge, Blackfriars, the City, Kings X so commuting to wherever works well.

If you'd rather live closer in, then you might struggle for a secondary as the state ones tend to be 'grittier' and behaviour isn't as good (speaking from experience of having worked in probably about 100 schools in London). Might be easier if you're Catholic or CofE or don't mind if the pupils are a very mixed bag.

Thanks for the suggestions! I think we’ll go on some day trips to these areas and look at sole properties.

We’re open to outer London. Wouldn’t mind something similar to St Albans bust just not on Thameslink!

Thameslink is expensive because 19 mins and you’re in St Panc. It’s a good commute for fringes. There are cheaper places closer in but they can take longer.

If you're open to outer London, then add Kingston to your list. Fab schools, very nice town centre by the river with great shops. Trains from Kingston station aren't the fastest but Surbiton and Norbiton are pretty useful. Not sure what your budget will stretch to, though.

If you come down to check my neck of the woods and like art, then a good event is coming up - Carshalton Artists' Open Studios. It's a good occasion to walk around the area, chat to locals and see/buy some art.
www.carshaltonartists.com

I live closer in and have a choice of 3 excellent comprehensives, Direct experience of two of them and whilst you might describe the overall school population as a ‘mixed bag’ children, mind included, do very well indeed in them.

Oh, I love this idea! Thank you.

TheRedBarrows: any suggestions for specific areas I should look into?

chiqui87 why are you trying to avoid Thameslink? I'm commuting daily and must say trains are very frequent in peak hour. My husband wfh and whenever he goes to work ( bit later after 9am, always get a seat in fast train). Also it's 22 mins from St Albans to London St Prancas . Stops in a lot of main stops for connection - West hampstead, St Prancas, Farringdon, City X, Blackfriars and London Bridge. A lot better than Southwest or Southern IMO, only stop at the main station. About the price, travel card zone 1-5 monthly costs £230.40 vs. Thameslink St Albans to London £346.80. Unless you are looking into Zone 2 tickets, then it will be half the price, but for £650K you probably can only get 3 flats in a decent zone 1&2 with good school or maybe not??? Also will Zone 5 travels to your workplace be faster than from St Albans?

Zchm, the train from St Albans is very quick.
However, there are also many advantages to living in London (zone 5 or elsewhere).
The annual ticket savings are enough to pay for a holiday.
DH likes cycling to work some days to keep fit.
In case of bad weather or delays, you don't get stuck as there are many routes incl a quick drive to the tube.
I feel that access to many part-time work opportunities is easier in London.
It's cheap to just pop into town or you can grab a late night Uber home. Equally access to the countryside is super quick and we can drive to the beach in an hour.
Finally, houses are cheaper too so you get to live in a lovely house without overstretching yourself (speaking of my bit of zone 5).

So I can see why being in London might appeal.

Also it's 22 mins from St Albans to London St Prancas it is.... clearly I’m in my own world for the last 3

Chiqui87, you'll find this tool rather helpful.

Drop in your budget, DH's work address, and maximum commute time. The tool will also ask how important lifestyle needs such as access to parks/good schools are to you. Should take 2mins and you'll see personalised matches for the areas that could suit your family well based on your criteria. It's quite a fun tool to use!