Home searching in London. Thoughts on these areas please!

[srah21]

I have posted a couple of times before and a huge thank you and apology for the lovely mums that respond. I haven’t posted quite enough information to get the help I need and really do appreciate your help. I will start again and give you abit of background.

We’re currently in a two bedroom house in east London and have two babies under two. We’re looking to move before my first born starts school but there’s a huge problem. We just don’t know what area to move to!

We’ve had a look at West Finchley, Finchley and it’s mostly over our budget but we also weren’t too keen on the area (high street mostly). We preferred Southgate and did go to view a house which was close to Ashmole academy, which I understand is supposed to be very good. We did like the area and high street and thought the houses/street looked nice and the high street was good too.

Our budget currently stands at £650k maximum and we are looking at other areas. So we would like a semi/terraced (semi preferred), garden, three bed with potential to extend, big enough rooms, to be close(ish) to a London Underground station, have good schools in the area, nice/upmarket high street.

We’ve seen some houses in the following areas;
East Finchley, Southend, Harrow, Perivale, Greenford, Hendon, Edgware, burnt oak, Pinner, Ruislip, Mill Hill, Colindale.

Please can I bother you for your opinions or thoughts on any of these areas if they are known to you? I would like to know if there is a good mix of people, does it feel safe, antisocial behaviour, are there lots to do with kids? Are the primary schools good? If so which ones? I have so many questions and my mind is all over the place!
TIA

@Bouncycastle12 two bed flats on Stockwell run for 500-700k and houses are 800 to 1.2m.

Not sure the OP should consider. Also there was a shooting two weeks ago in Brixton on my pals road.

but i would be surprised if you could get what you want for that price in the borough of barnet, except perhaps an ex-council house in burnt oak or colindale , also to be near enough to a station will put the price up.
many streets in these outer burbs are more than 30 mins walk to a station. quite a lot in cold winter rain.
why don't you consider south of the river, there are some nice areas and money goes further. maybe lee near lewisham, near manor park.

Yes, Mill East used to be Army and there are still some of the older properties there, also lots of new ones, but there is an issue in one area due to asbestos which, the last time I checked, had not been resolved. I think you can find details on the Mill Hill Residents site or Facebook page, it was a while ago but someone was looking into how it had been fudged over. I am not sure of all the details now (forgotten).

There are other parts of Mill Hill that you might be able to afford, they are in little corners off the expensive roads and you would need to know to look, a road off Uphill Road which you might discount because of the prices of Uphill Road for instance, and near Mill Hill County (I think) school, might be another school though, I get them mixed up.

There are parts of Golders Green that are actually in the Hendon postcode area that are cheaper than actual GG postcode, so search for NW4.

Cricklewood, is that any good?

Enfield?

Have you thought about Bromley? Fast train to Victoria from Bromley south is about 20 minutes. I’ve just looked on Rightmove (any excuse!) and there’s plenty of 3 beds in your budget.

I don’t/haven’t lived there but colleagues do, as does my best friend! I think there are decent schools too.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72383490.html
Penge is great for Victoria and also East London line. House linked to is lovely and in lovely conservation area. ( Hope it linked properly)

Sounds like Southgate and Pinner tick your boxes.

If that upmarket high street is a priority, then you could consider somewhere in/near Blackheath. It isn't on the tube but there are lots of trains, eg direct to Victoria and super quick links for your husband.

If you want a good high street, Beckenham is good and easy to get to Victoria. Prices are cheaper than further in. West Wickham also has a good high street and slightly house prices but further to travel.

Walthamstow. It’s on the Victoria line and the overland takes you to LIVERPOOL Street in 20 minutes. And you’ll get a house for your budget.

Look along the line in s London to Canary Wharf. No idea what prices are like now but zone 4 is quite a bit cheaper. Crystal Palace used to be nice

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/55933780?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fs-instant&utm_content=hero&t26=cons_6140_price_drop_alerts-price_drop&utm_medium=email&responsys_campaign_id=zoopla.2143382&responsys_riid=594312802&responsys_launch_id=1812302

this is a three-bed place in Southgate

If you are looking at Liverpool Street/Canary Wharf/Victoria areas, have you considered commuting in from Essex.

I heard somewhere that people have moved out to the Southend/Westcliffe areas from North London. Witham/Chelmsford/Kelvedon are traditional areas for those working in the City and more lately CanaryWharf. Essex still has grammar schools as well.

Look at Penge @srah21. 20 minutes to Victoria from Penge East, 20 minutes from Penge West - Canada Water then it's no time on the jubilee line to Canary Wharf.

Try South Woodford

Perivale and Greenford are pleasant. But a mile or two south from there is Hanwell, which will be on cross rail, which is worth considering too - lots of kids activities, green space, good schools. Your budget would get a decent 3 bed terrace or a gorgeous 3-4 bed flat/maisonette with garden. Mallard Close, Hanwell
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-83041123.html

Another vote for Isleworth too - very nice.

We’ve seen some houses in the following areas;
East Finchley, Lovely

Southend, - Southgate yes

Harrow - apart from the hill it’s not great

, Perivale, Greenford,-dont know

Hendon - yes v nice, v easy to get into central London.

Edgware - Yes, high street not nice but useful shops. Roads on the Broadfields estate are v desirable as are most of the roads off hale lane. Much cheaper than mill hill and excellent transport links but easy to get there

burnt oak, No

Pinner, lovely

Ruislip yes

, Mill Hill, V nice but expensive

Colindale. - no

Add Borehamwood / Elstree to your list. Really fantastic for families def on the up (with prices to show for it)

The one I'd go for out of your options is Mill Hill - nice but expensive.

If you were willing to commute from out Essex way you'd get a lot more house for your money. Around the Chelmsford villages for example 650k would give you a new 4 bed house with garden, trains run every half hour and it's 45 mins into Liverpool Street.

I think you need to be coming Sahf! We live in Crystal Palace and love it!

Agree with Blenheim orange, don’t disregard Hanwell - great schools (all the local primary’s are good/outstanding) , lovely parks and a really nice family atmosphere - lots of good size 1930s houses around your budget - search w7 in Rightmove

I’d second Walthamstow or looking at Essex. Finchley and Mill Hill are nice. I’d avoid Edgware, Burnt Oak and Colindale, not so nice. Also Colindale tube is due a massive regeneration which will involve closing the tube for a prolonged period, so bear that in mind if you need tube access.

Parts of Edgware are really nice, I wouldn’t avoid at all- anywhere off Broadfields, Edgwarebury lane and Stonegrove is very desirable and very nice, speak big houses and decent value for money. The area around the station and going towards Edgware Road isn’t particularly nice.

@Bouncycastle12

Look south - much more value for money! Kennington, Stockwell, Brixton etc.

A 3 bed terraced/semi in brixton for £650k....? You sure?

Walthamstow and also around there further out Highams Park & Chingford you get way more for your money - not directly on the tube but the overground goes to Liverpool Street & can change on to Victoria Line very easily.

Rightmove has a search where you put in places you need to get to with commute times and a budget and it highlights areas you can afford - have you used that?

Walthamstow ticks a lot of your boxes. Even Leytonstone which is getting a lot of the stow overflow. 650 would get you a lovely 3 bed with potential to extend.

Forgot to say 15 mins to liv st on the central line. Commute would be a doddle for your husband. Yours to Victoria would be longer.