Nice areas on the outskirts of London?

[FrogFly]

We moved from London (Camden) to the Midlands a few years ago to be close to my husband’s work. It was quite the change of pace and we really missed our London life (friends, restaurants, theatre, bustle). Fast forward to 2020 and our circumstances have changed in that we can work from home and aren’t tied to our current city anymore. So we want to move back!

We have a 5yo son so we don’t want to move right into the city (plus we’d only be able to afford a shoebox in zones 1-3) but are looking for something on the outskirts of London but with good transport links into London. We’re on the hunt for a house with a garden and off-street parking, with proximity to good schools. I’m not fussed about ‘Outstanding’ rated schools, but more keen on schools with a focus on inclusiveness and pastoral care. Our budget is approx £750K. Is my wish list reasonable, or am I asking for the moon on a stick? I'd be grateful for your suggestions. A friend suggested Ruislip, what’s it like?

Yes, def more bustle in Ruislip. It’s all about the schools in pinner, to the point of madness. And everyone’s obsessed with the tiny bit of the high street thats picture postcard.... blah IMO!

North ruislip is probably the nicest and more expensive but certainly Ruislip Manor has some lovely roads

Beckenham
Hayes
West Wickham
These would be my choices

I used to live in Sutton, then Carshalton and went to school in Cheam. I hated the experience. My mum still lives in Sutton so visit frequently and my opinions haven't changed. There's a horrid townie vibe that still lingers.
I used to work in All Bar One when home from university, which was seen as high class at the time, and the male uniform was Ted Baker and Reebok! EVERYONE looked the same.
My brother couldn't walk down the high street wearing a football top otherwise he would get started on. It was insane.
I left in the 90s. You couldn't pay me to live there. I only go because my family are there otherwise I would avoid it forever.

Ewell West and Ewell East areas are nice. You have Epsom,Sutton and Kingston town centres near. Lots of gd schools. Transport links pretty reasonable

[quote FrogFly]@inkylines my friend was telling me that Ruislip and Ruislip Manor are nicer than Ruislip Gardens and West Ruislip, would you agree? Also do you know which parts of Ruislip will be affected by the HS2 route?[/quote]
HS2 will be running by Northolt, so just S of Ruislip (maps are available online). Look into Ickenham too which is right next to Ruislip

You can always rely on JoJoSM2 to bang on about Sutton!
She lives in an expensive part of it. Mostly it’s the pits especially the town centre. It’s nickname is Slutton.

Oh, and the high street is full of young women pushing buggies with feral-looking young men tagging along looking haunted at being tied to parenthood.

Teddingtondon't forget you may be under a flightpath. SuttonI was amazed to see so many people singing its praises. There isn't much diversity in Thames Ditton.

Beckenham

We're in Buckhurst Hill and it's a lovely area

[quote Linguaphile]Teddington is really lovely and the schools are great. It’s at the end of the train line but at least you get a seat! You could get a cute little 3 bed terrace for your budget. It’s a really lovely little community and very leafy, plus you have the river, Bushy park and great shopping in Kingston and Richmond right there. This little house is in the catchment of a great little school. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/82887226#/[/quote]
If you mean SMSP you'd need to be a church goer, already have a sibling there or live pretty much on the same street to get in I have heard. We used to live near there pre DC and I had friends who lived 5 mins walk away but only got into Stanley school.

OP Teddington is really lovely, but soo expensive. Hampton is much more affordable and has good primary schools.

Sorry, I don't know how to tag back OP

There are quite a few good bits around north of Ally Pally, some bargains to the east; Bounds Green, and even Tottenham near Downhills Park, lots of pubs and coffee shops - it's become a lot more 'gentrified' in the last few years, but still very diverse, and really easy to get to town, Hackney etc. Harringay gardens/ladder also nice but a bit more expensive. Basically everyone who is being priced out of Crouch End and Stoke Newington is moving east and north. Highams Park, Chingford and Epping all good shouts too.

You could definitely get what you need in Petts Wood, or other areas in the borough of Bromley like Hayes or West Wickham. Zone 5, very green and leafy, fantastic transport links and low crime. You could get a 3-4 bed for £750k.

Chorleywood?

Ealing - Hanwell is where most of teh secondary schools are bizarrely- its a typical london area in that theres nice bits and a bloody awful high street...
there are 3 good secondary schools and all the primaries are good...as in happy to send your child there rather than ofsted rated!
not many new houses- this is in a really nice bit not far from the park and station - crossrail (one day :) ) into tottenham court road in less than 20mins......
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85515901#/

def more urban than teddington which is quite bodenish/suburban - but i lived there pre dc so not sure if i'd appreciate it more now...just found it long way out (no tube/trains to waterloo only)

this needs some modernising but near tube and good primary/secondary school
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85334626#/

but off street parking very rare! the odd town house like this one ....
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85655305#/

Ruislip etc much prettier but def suburban - nothing like N London!

Ruislip and Pinner are lovely. Also the area around Moor park etc. Also Harrow-on-the-hill, not Harrow town which is awful but the hill itself up by the school. Super fast links to the city on the Met line and a gorgeous area. Would also fit your budget.

@SoosanCarter

Oh, and the high street is full of young women pushing buggies with feral-looking young men tagging along looking haunted at being tied to parenthood.

Hahahahaha this made me snort laugh. Thank you, I needed that today!

@DrDetriment, so the nice bit is away from Harrow-on-the-hill tube? Would I put the postcode of the school into Rightmove? When I put in Harrow-on-the-hill tube it came up with quite a mix of properties, some looking a bit gritty.

Ruislip is nice but some areas are a bit iffy. Try Eastcote and Pinner. You’ll get a three bed semi for your money. Hell, you can have mine!

You won’t get anything on the Hill for your money, but it is v nice up there

@averythinline ah yes, I know Ruislip will be nothing like North London but that’s okay. As long as there’s a decent high street - I’m not expecting anything super fancy, but I’d like more variety than mostly betting shops, pound shops and fried chicken shops.

Hoping for - independent cafes, a book shop, maybe some charity shops, a library, that kind of thing. I hope I’m not not coming off as hideously snobby, I like fried chicken as much as the next person :)

No the hill is max 10-15 minutes walk from the Met line. Postcode HA1. Some bits are only a few minutes from the tube. If looking on the map look at the green bit to the south of the tube surrounding Harrow School. It's not as far as it looks from the tube due to footpaths!

@recreationalcalpol ahhh, ‘tis always the way. I suspected the nice bit on the hill might be too pricey. I have Eastcote and Pinner on my radar, we’re driving down to have a look this weekend.

There’s a farmers market in Ruislip on the odd weekend, but not many independent cafes on the high street. Pinner has independent cafes a plenty, and a fabulous independent bookshop. We are falling over independent cafes in Eastcote but the high street is still up and coming, I’d say. Pinner has a beautiful high street.

These places are all so close together though, so there’s no reason you couldn’t jump in the car to visit pinner’s cafes if you lived in Ruislip, or vice versa