Moving from London - where to?

[buntingandstarcharts]

Hi wise ones, I need some help. My husband and I have both grown up in south London and lived together in earlsfield for the past 10 years. We have a two year old and a baby on the way and finally realise that we can't live on our 2 bed flat forever. However, where do we go? We have a budget of £550k and need 3 bed, nice schools, community vibe, good train links to London, both our parents are in south London so we would want to stay south. We would welcome more countryside or open spaces. We realise that we won't get that anywhere near here so does anyone have any idea where might? We would definitely rather move to an area offering these things than to move 'not too far' to a cheaper inner London area - if that makes sense? Thank you so so much in advance, we are at a loss!

Banstead is within M25. It has more of a suburbia feel to it. Reigate is a market town with green around it, delienanting between the town and other nearby towns and villages. It is just outside the M25 (1.5 miles to the junction)

Look at a map and you will see the difference geographically.

Depends if you want to be closer in, which really means suburbia (Banstead is a nice suburb) or if you want to be further out and have more travel but feel like you can walk into green spaces, which are natural green spaces rather than just the local park.

Loads of people move out into suburbia - zone 5 or 6. They get bigger houses, the tube if they are north of the river, reasonable journeys into town. There are often nice parks and geeen spaces, but not things like the north downs or farmers fields on their doorsteps. It is the perfect compromise for lots of people who still want to say they live in London (Greater London) but to get the benefits of bigger homes without extremely long journeys. Others go that bit further or a lot further. There are various towns and villages which are outside the M25 which aren’t suburbia. They are that little bit further out, which means they are surrounded by green space and farms, even if there is sometimes only half a mile between 2 settlements. The journeys from these places vary wildly depending on the train line they are on. Some will have journey times as fast as the suburbs (these will be the pricey ones usually) and some have journey times that take much longer.

It’s the difference between say Surbiton (lovely area with good schools and very nice high street feel and very quick journey into Waterloo - 15-20 mins but certainly urban and not surrounded by green spaces) and maybe Guildford or Reigate or Dorking....towns in their own right, surrounded by green space, good schools, very commutable but the journey times are longer, and in both places your total journey time anywhere depends on your houses proximity to the station, or the roads you need to use to get to exactly where you need. Take your pick - both are regularly picked by those selling their expensive London flats now they have 1 or 2 kids and want a garden and more bedrooms.

Good friends of ours who used to live in London moved back to here, the vale of Belvoir and kept their jobs in London, with a once a week commute via the east coast line at Grantham which is 1 hour from Kings Cross.

A bit left field, but we have some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK, 3 large cities within 30 mins drive and also both public and grammar schools again, all within 20 mins.

Your budget would probably stretch to a 5 bed period property in a very nice village with outstanding primary schools (there are 5 within a 10 mile radius of our house)

Just saying..

I’m sure I’ve read people raving about Cheam on here, which is quite convenient for Wimbledon. I think there’s a villagey bit, or a particular bit that gets recommended. If you search it should come up!

Yes Cheam is definitely worth a look as well. Could be a great compromise.

Agree that if you want suburbs in outer London, rather than a town or village, Cheam could work well.

Again depends what the priority is in terms of distance and where you want to live.

Often it’s possible to get similar house prices and similar journey times from parts of outer London and from some of the town and villages in the Home Counties if they are on the fast train lines. You then take your pick on the lifestyle you want and dependant on budget.

Cheam is nice, especially the village bit, but your money probably won't go as far. It has more frequent trains and buses but I think Banstead has a (slightly) better range of shops etc on the high Street.

I don't know Reigate that well, apart from the lovely park. In the past I was a bit put off by the relatively busy ring road, but this may have changed. Banstead High Street has wide pavements and is quite pleasant to walk along. I would agree with Wombat about a suburban/commuter town distinction, but otherwise I think the vibes are fairly similar. Banstead is still surrounded by green and is fairly distinct from the 'proper' suburbs. For a drive to Wimbledon I would think Banstead would be preferable, as I wouldn't fancy M25/A3 and going by A217 would add a chunk to your journey.

For Banstead, you need to pick the village side (most of the amenities, buses) or the Nork side (train station). Primaries are generally great. I'm out of date on secondaries but you would be looking at the Beacon (comprehensive), the Sutton grammar schools or possibly some of the Epsom schools (Roseberry, Glyn etc).

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to comment on my thread and sooooo very helpful.

@BendingSpoons thanks for your really helpful post. Really great to know Banstead is still surrounded by countryside. I have looked at the map and it does look still nice and green, primaries look nice and it seems we would have to careful to ensure catchment for the secondaries. I shall have a look at the village side for sure.

Does anyone know anything about Ewell? Does that have a nice vibe?

@WombatChocolate @friendlycat @CityDweller
Cheam looks nice but very expensive and extremely near Sutton it seems? Which isn't preferable despite it being a town with excellent schools. Too busy I think and I'm not super keen on the town in general. But do prove me wrong - as you can see, I'm completely and utterly clueless!

Ewell is nice too. In comparison to Banstead, I would say it is better connected in terms of public transport, a bit smaller in terms of amenities (but near Epsom), possibly slightly busier in terms of traffic (near A24) but towards Horton is much more rural e.g. places like Horton Country Park.

For Cheam, I think you would need more money for the naice bits in the village. Your money would get you somewhere in North Cheam, but that is probably more suburban for your tastes.

I am fond of Sutton and use the High Street a lot. It has a good range of shops and has improved quite a lot. It is definitely not villagey though, like the other places mentioned! If you prefer rural fringe, you are best with Banstead, Ewell etc. Ashtead is another villagey place the other side of Epsom, probably more similar in size to Ewell. (I'm not that familiar).

If you need to go to Wimbledon for work I'd look at towns served by South West trains which are properly outside the M25 eg. Dorking or Godalming. I wouldn't drive to London for work from Surrey.

@SJaneS49 do you know much about St Mary's Platt? We have found a lovely house there- would be moving from South East London so would be a big change! I commute into London and have a 19 month old son. Any views welcome!

Tunbridge wells? Good grammar schools we hear?or come more south to etchingham, or Robertsbridge or Battle.. ultimately with children it’s schools will guide you.. Battle has trains 90 mins to London Victoria and good schools