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Original poster

Greenwich vs Chiswick - Buying first home

29 replies

julia330 · 07/08/2019 23:05

Hi Everyone,

I have been flat hunting for a month now and got my eye on a 1 bedroom flat in Chiswick and a 1 bedroom flat in Greenwich. Both of my offers got accepted by real estate agents today and I am looking for some help in deciding which area to pick! The flats are pretty similar and it really is just a matter of which area is nicer to live in.

I would appreciate any advice, comments or feedback from people who have lived in/visited these areas, and maybe a general advice or considerations for someone who is buying their first home...

Thanks in advance for your help!

OP posts:
spinderella76 · 07/08/2019 23:07

Did you make formal offers on two properties at once?

lastqueenofscotland · 07/08/2019 23:08

Formal offers only really exist in Scotland...

Girlwhowearsglasses · 07/08/2019 23:13

I would go for Greenwich. Lovely park, lots to do, great travel connections.

Chiswick is nice in a much more upper middle class way, and quite family friendly (less ‘happening’). Also Chiswick has the Heathrow flight path- for me a deal breaker

Mostunexpected · 07/08/2019 23:16

Both are lovely but as mentioned travel is easier from Greenwich, depending where in Greenwich you'd be. But do you commute into central London for work? Where do you go out on evenings? Where do your friends and family live? That's basically the things we considered when we bought

Original poster
julia330 · 07/08/2019 23:19

I made price offers but have not yet signed anything so it really is informal or not legally binding until I make a payment or exchange contracts. Hope it makes sense! The next step is to submit a reservation form and pay a reservation fee (I am buying through Help to Buy in London).

OP posts:
Original poster
julia330 · 07/08/2019 23:24

@Girlwhowearsglasses @spinderella76

Thank you for the advice! I commute into central London and both areas have links to central London but the travel time is shorter from Greenwich. I guess this helps over longer term...I have only just moved to London so I am yet to make friends here Smile Which gives me flexibility I suppose!

I was wondering if there are any immediate benefits or red flags with any of these areas that people wanted to share - could be helpful.

OP posts:
ReasonedCamper · 07/08/2019 23:34

Greenwich!

Which area did you have a feel for when you viewed the flats?

Noise from road? Difference in ground rent / service charges?

Latest trains home especially at the weekend?

How did you hit on flats in places do far apart?

Shalom23 · 07/08/2019 23:35

Greenwich is a wonderful place to live. Park, services, good transport, walks, river pubs, cultured etc.

Kanga83 · 07/08/2019 23:42

Greenwich! I used to live there and loved it and miss it.

JoJoSM2 · 08/08/2019 05:19

I’d pick Chiswick out of the two. It’s a residential area whereas Greenwich is overrun with tourists. I also like that Chiswick is very close to other lovely areas whereas Greenwich is a bit on it's own.

Having said that, are the flats for pretty much the same price and same size etc? And are we talking Chiswick proper and Greenwich proper?

Legomadx2 · 08/08/2019 05:35

Very odd to offer on flats on opposite sides of town.

JoJoSM2 · 08/08/2019 08:24

Very odd to offer on flats on opposite sides of town.

They’re both affluent areas by the river. So I could see the same person considering both if they haven’t got family or friends in a particular area.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 08/08/2019 08:30

Greenwich is probably nicer, but unless your life is based around London, you will face a trek right across it to go anwyere. Chiswick is much handier for the rest of the country.

And the flight path is not necessarily an issue if you like planes

BlueBilledBeatboxingBird · 08/08/2019 08:46

OP, your use of the phrase ‘real estate agent’ makes me think you might not be from the U.K.

When you make an offer and it is accepted by the vendor you have entered a gentleman’s agreement to buy. Nothing is legally confirmed until you exchange contracts and people can and do pull out for many reasons but it is really not the done thing to make offers on multiple properties. The vendors of these flats have accepted your offers in good faith and if you have no intention of buying one of them then you need to notify them.

To answer your question, I would go for Greenwich over Chiswick.

pinkdelight · 08/08/2019 08:50

Surprised there's such a sway towards Greenwich. It's great and I've lived there, but given the choice on a one-bed flat I'd go Chiswick without a doubt. Greenwich may have good travel connections but it doesn't beat being on the tube. And as it's a one-bed then am assuming OP is young so being in west London feels more with it and closer to town whereas Greenwich is more of its own place, where you'd want to raise a family and stay local. Obviously Chiswick has lots of families too, but between the two, Chiswick feels better for a one-bed and Greenwich is better to visit for now. It does get a bit limited after a while too, whereas as a PP says, you're close to lots more places in Chiswick.

PaintingOwls · 08/08/2019 08:53

OP I think you need to show us the flats so that we can make an informed recommendation! Wink

BlueBilledBeatboxingBird · 08/08/2019 08:57

Greenwich may have good travel connections but it doesn't beat being on the tube.

It’s very likely in North Greenwich on the peninsular, which is on the Jubilee line.

pinkdelight · 08/08/2019 09:06

Oh of course, but then I'd definitely go for Chiswick. The nicer bit of Greenwich to me is the maritime area around the DLR. If it's North Greenwich vs Chiswick then the latter is more appealing, unless you're working in Canary Wharf.

BasiliskStare · 08/08/2019 09:06

I lived in Greenwich once when Adam was a lad - Greenwich and Blackheath are lovely -but would never live there again. I would go for Chiswick ( personally )

Blue5238 · 08/08/2019 13:24

Whereabouts in Greenwich and whereabouts in Chiswick? East Greenwich, West Greenwich, Greenwich peninsular are all quite different.

Disagree with poster above who said Chiswick is handier for rest of the country when Greenwich is right next to Blackwall tunnel and easy routes north.

HappyHammy · 08/08/2019 13:34

We do need to know what part of Greenwich. Can you post pics of both properties.

LoafofSellotape · 08/08/2019 13:50

Where in Greenwich makes a big difference.

swissmilk · 08/08/2019 17:53

Greenwich is cooler, more going on.
It completely depends on where you work, and socialise, use TFL journey planner or google maps to work out your commute.
If it is help to buy, then the op has pitched/bid to two developers, with competitors, so chill out those who think it's a private sale

breakfastpizza · 12/08/2019 22:13

Chiswick. I lived in Greenwich for several years and I found it hard work. The transport was always overcrowded and as per a PP, tourists always crowding the nice areas.

BubblesBuddy · 13/08/2019 00:12

Chiswick is the District Line and that can be unreliable. However Turnham Green has the Piccadilly Line too. If these are the Bollo Lane flats they are quite far out of Chiswick. No red flags in Chiswick but you might get more for your money in other areas with a shorter commute.