Where will you move to from North London?

[Confined123]

We live in Muswell Hill in North London. It's quite nice. And we love the community and the neighborhood in general. There are woods, lots of young families, great Broadway, outstanding state schools...However, we are renting a tiny place for very high rent. There is an increasing crime rate also in London in general which is worrying. We had a robbery at our place as well early this year and now here daily news of knife crimes.

With the entire Covid situation, my partner now can decide to permanently work from home. And I work part time from home as well. We won't need to commute to London for work.
So, we think moving out of London might be nice. Which cities/towns should we look at? We are still new to the country so don't really have much of an idea. We have two young kids - 5 and 1. So schools are important.
We don't think we will be happy in a rural setting. But a place with shops, coffee places etc will be good. We will also need excellent internet connection (I read in some thread here that rural areas don't have that). We don't have family in UK so we aren't tied to any location. Happy to rent for few years before deciding to settle down and buy a place.
We won't be going to London that often so maybe once in couple of months for a weekend, so don't really need high speed connectivity to London.
To summarize we will like a place -

1. With good schools (state), we will consider private if not as expensive as in London.
2. Grammar schools perhaps (for future?)
3. Ability to stay in a bigger house with garden. Not a lot bigger but not matchbox size.
4. Parks, playgrounds
5. Diversity is important
6. Excellent internet connection
7. Access to shops

Will appreciate your inputs. Thanks

By access to shops, I meant a thriving high street.

I recommend Horsham. My friend lives there and is very happy. Very good primary and secondary schools, good high street, cinema and leisure centre. Lots of parks. Lots of new housing, prices are reasonable.
No problems with internet connection.

Thanks @Lunar567, will check out Horsham. Hadn't even considered it.

Horsham is a popular town but I’m not sure you’ll find it diverse.

Is it a town you’re after or a city?

You could also move further out in London. You’ll get excellent schools including grammars, lower crime rates and lower rents. Eg boroughs of Barnet, Bromley, Bexley, Sutton and Kingston fit the bill.

I live in Sutton and know grammar schools too well. They are so competitive to get into. You will have to tutor your children for 2 years. And Millais school for girls in Horsham is just as good as Sutton grammars but don't need to do an exam to get in. My friend's daughter got excellent education there.

@jojosm2, towns and cities are both fine.
We could move out further in London, but we would like to explore further really.

We haven't really had an opportunity such as this, to be not dependent on office location so have always lived in major cities with high rents and small places.
So we will like to explore a slightly different lifestyle. Picturesque, bigger place, more space for kids to run and play, close knit community, not having to travel much everyday....But not different enough to be in rural settings.

We're looking at Woodbridge, but we're an older couple so no requirements for schools (it has a comp which seems to be popular, and a big private school, no grammar). Great high street, station with connection to London, lots going on, cinema, cafes, lovely surroundings, near coast, properties around half the price of our current location (Stoke Newington). Very little ethnic diversity though, and the local MP is a nightmare, but I'm hopeful of finding a range of reasonable political views!

Moved from London to Cambridge some years ago. Best decision we made.

Look at Essex - maybe Brentwood, Shenfield Billericay Chelmsford or Leigh-on-Sea? You have excellent state schools, thriving high streets, and (especially with Leigh) a more than fair opportunity for your child to gain a place at a grammar school. Commuting to London is also very easy if your circumstances change. Good luck!

We have a property near Horsham and would not say it’s diverse at all, though it is lovely. Brighton perhaps? Or Worthing? Newcastle if you’re up for the (cold) North?

Winchester
Stroud

Brighton or Hove? Not super cheap but meet your requirements

If you want picturesque, ie one of those cute towns, then you might struggle for diversity as they tend to be very English.

If you want somewhere with grammar schools, then Kent has a two-tier system. Somewhere like Tunbridge Wells might suit. Buckinghamshire also has grammar schools and some of the attractive towns include Beaconsfield or Berkhampstead as examples.

If you’re willing to look in a non-grammar area, then Horsham could be an option. Personally, I also like Reigate as it has quite a cool vibe and is vibrant but you can walk from the High St to the countryside in a few minutes.

Essex-way, you might like to consult police.co.uk as it’s generally tended to have higher crime rates than other sides of London.

But honestly, I think a more picturesque part of outer London would tick all your boxes (diverse, big houses and gardens, lots of greenery and the countryside, amenities, long term residents and community feel, great schools etc).

@Lunar567 Millais is on par with the non-selective Sutton schools. As might be expected, the grammars are in a different league lol
www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

I used to live in north London. Southgate, Barnet, Winchmore Hill if you want to stay in north London as they are fairly diverse. But I’m not sure what they are like now.

But honestly, I think a more picturesque part of outer London would tick all your boxes (diverse, big houses and gardens, lots of greenery and the countryside, amenities, long term residents and community feel, great schools etc).

Would this place somehow be Sutton?

This in Winchmore Hill is gorgeous with potential to extend eventually.

Park Drive, Winchmore Hill, N21 - Stunning Property with 310ft Garden and Bundles of potential
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-82688647.html

Also what about St Albans, Harpenden or Hitchin?

Try a quieter, leafy part of London in zone 3 or 4. Wanstead and South Woodford are lovely and so is Beckhenham.

Or a nearby towns like Hitchin, St Albans, Leigh on Sea or Tunbridge Well. Still fairly diverse.

There are hundreds of threads on Mumsnet on this subject op. Try doing an advanced search with London in the title from last July to today's date. You'll find all the threads and all the pointers you could ever hope for and they will all still be relevant.

Kurtain Would you care to explain your question?

@Confined123 what is your budget?

Nottingham? Lots going on, diverse, and good value for money. It varies massively depending on the area of course but this part is popular with up from Londoners
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-95239544.html

@JoJoSM2

Is the question confusing?

I don't know why several posters have suggested hugely expensive places (like Reigate or Barnet ) and link to 1mln houses, OP actually said they are not looking for a big house and never said they had a huge budget!

OP, Winchester is good, not cheap but not as expensive as many other suggestions if you are looking for a smaller house. Hertfordshire is nice, prices vary but easy to look on rightmove if you just put the county in the search as it's not huge.

What's your budget?
It might help people to know where to recommend.