What are Dulwich, Blackheath, Herne Hill and Tulse Hill like for life with a young family?

[Laladot]

Currently living in Fulham/Putney and looking to buy first place in a safe and villagey feeling area. Totally unfamiliar with these places/SE but heard they may be good to check out. My budget won’t stretch to what I want where I live currently...

[quote ListeningQuietly]Option a
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85374181#/[/quote]

I think this house backs on to the A102 Blackwell Tunnel approach.

Sherington Road London SE7
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-102183167.html

This area is called The Standard. Walkable to Blackheath and good transports links and schools. Houses are in the £700-£850K range.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73247625#/

This year this is in the catchment for an outstanding school (first time I have seen the catchment this far though).

There's not much in Herne Hill in that price bracket but there are a few options:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100960331#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86884567#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77140524#/

www.onthemarket.com/details/9450669/

And.... bingo!

A 2 bed terrace right in the heart of Dulwich Village for your budget: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/70730190#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74254512#/

This is available in the Dulwich side of Forest Hill (If you were willing to consider FH):

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/69294258#/

Higher than your budget, but it's been on the market a while so I imagine they'd accept lower...

Alternatively, this one on Havelock Walk known as the "arty" street in Forest Hill, with pretty townhouses. This one is spread over 3 floors, though both properties linked are lacking outdoor space.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85312570#/

Blackheath Standard is a good area to live.

I would consider looking at Colliers Wood (lovely community once you scratch the surface, green space and some great schools), Hither Green (though some houses pricey there), and Charlton (particularly Charlton slopes). Or you could try to get a small terrace or a doer-upper in Southfields, though again not many smaller houses.

I'd suggest looking in Nunhead too.. cheaper than East Dulwich & a lovely village feel/good primary schools

Blackheath Village is very pricey but Blackheath Standard is a bit cheaper, just east of the heath. We absolutely love the area, it's so green! Great schools too.

Look a bit below Tulse Hill in West Norwood, its a bit quieter. I'd second Crystal Palace too.

4 bedroom on the heath

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100340558#/

VanbrughPark
Westcombe Park
St John's Park
Maze Hill
all the positives of Blackheath without the price
and YYY to consider BIG flats - as you have the Heath and dips and the park on your doorstep

Try Zone 4/5, with your money you can buy a detached house with huge space and garden.

Houses in Zone 3 and below feels cramp with very small footprint

@chukwe

Try Zone 4/5, with your money you can buy a detached house with huge space and garden.

Houses in Zone 3 and below feels cramp with very small footprint

Gosh I wish that London transport was the same as New York or Vienna

if you make public transport flat fare
then house prices flatten
then job opportunities rise

in Vienna a full year unlimited transport pass is EE365

In New York its the same price to ride the subway from JFK to Grand Central

as from Times Square to Grand Central

Zones are damaging to the regeneration London

Blackheath is lovely but very pricey - this one is on and very close to station, heath and shops / cafes:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77347707#/

Don't forget West Dulwich. Nicer than Easy Dulwich IMO. Wider streets and more relaxed

Yes, I agree. West Dulwich has a very nice feel, very calm and there’d be quite a bit in your budget too.

Honor Oak, Dulwich side of Forest Hill and Sydenham are all in your price range and have some lovely areas.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/76908264#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99798509#/
Doesn't look amazing from the outside but lovely from inside and decent garden, lovely road and area.

Sydenham Penge or possibly Crystal Palace you could get a lovely three bed terrace in your price range, very close to dulwich etc and all have great transport links, overground, good parks etc

@Foresthiller

Don't forget West Dulwich. Nicer than Easy Dulwich IMO. Wider streets and more relaxed

If by nice you mean boring...

At my age and stage of life, ‘edgy’ and ‘real’ aren’t the sort of vibe I’m seeking! The OP didn’t say she wanted to live in Hoxton or Shoreditch.

You will struggle to get a house in many of the areas mentioned for your budget & agree that Tulse Hill doesn't really have much going on. Find Herne Hill pretty overrated too tbh.
Would you consider moving further out? Personally this is what I would do if I was a FTB now as I think it's quite hard to build equity short term in many parts of London these days.

Try Zone 4/5, with your money you can buy a detached house with huge space and garden.

Agree & I think these houses/areas will see the growth in the next few yrs. We are in Balham but will be going further out in 3 yrs or so as I just want more space, garden. Pre covid we would have gone to a cheaper area of zone 3 but with more remote working etc, smaller high streets won't bother now.

Also while primary schools are excellent in London, secondary schools are more tricky.

I really like Herne Hill (great Sunday market - even though it's super crowded in these covid times), has good transport and as previous posters mentioned, West Dulwich is lovely too.
Dulwich Village is pretty, but expensive.
We once looked at a house there but I personally didn't like the neighbours - seemed very much all city people, very little diversity.
I have a real dislike for East Dulwich - to me it feels very smug.
Tulse Hill has some good housing stock, but is very different in feel to the other areas you listed. Feels very urban and dominated by the South Circular.
Obviously totally generalised and subjective opinion. Not intended to cause any offence!