Greater London - SW

[kirinm]

We are hoping to put our place on the market shortly. We are based in SE London. We really aren't sure where to look. We may stay around where we are as we do really like it but we are considering moving further out. I'm not convinced we can buy something huge anywhere else but we need to look.

I am going to be working in the City again once WFH stops and so I don't want a massive commute. I guess a 30-45 minute journey to Waterloo wouldn't be too bad although it is far longer than I'd really want. I often work late (ish) and wouldn't get home to see my DD before bed if I worked any later than 6:30pm.

We will be looking for a family friendly area, somewhere with quiet roads (we live near a really busy road and hate it), good primary schools and a decent train line to the City. I think we will have around £750k. Ideally we would like a small house but I think we have to be realistic and be prepared for something smaller.

I'm thinking of places around Kingston. I like Surbiton but it is really expensive. Do not want to go as far as Hampton. I've no idea where to start even thinking about looking. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Why not stay in SE london. Trains will go into London Bridge so just a short walk or train connection into the City. If you looked in Bromley or Lewisham Borough you could find something in your budget.

We may stay in SE London but I wouldn't want to move further east. I live in the borough of Lewisham and really all not keen! One of the reasons we are considering SW is family / friends and how long it takes for us to go and see people.

Worcester Park
Cheam Village
Surbiton
Hayes Bromley
Just a few to look at

Twickenham!

North Kingston, Raynes Park, South Wimbledon.

Posted too soon - sorry. We moved to twickenham, from Brixton a year ago and just love it. 25 minutes in to Waterloo, great schools and lots of green space. Great road network with the m3 about ten minutes away and m25 within 20 mins. Twickenham green area you will get a decent 3 bed house for £750k

Teddington is nicer, but more expensive and trains are worse.

West Dulwich. Se21. West Norwood se27, Crystal Palace or Gypsy Hill. House should be do-able, commute will be easy. Petts Wood or Chislehurst or may be Beckenham if you want a more suburban feel, wouldn't go south West due to less house for money and worst commute.

Tooting? On the northern line and this is within budget

Links Road, London SW17
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-78827916.html

If you're noise sensitive do look at the Heathrow flight paths - some excellent maps available online.
Twickenham is great but there's nothing quite as annoying as being outside on a summer's day and having to pause your conversation every 3 minutes as the next A380 flies in....

SW London on a 750k budget for a house is likely to be away from the station, or near a station with slow trains. So the overall commute time could be long.

I'm 20min walk from a station, but that doesn't bother me because I usually cycle to work or the station if needed. You might need to catch a bus and then train. Does that bother you?

You might like the Dover House estate in Putney, near-ish Barnes station. Example house here: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89379943#/ should just be in the catchment for the excellent East Sheen primary. Otherwise a long hike to Putney Common or go to Sacred Heart on Roehampton Lane.

Surbiton is good but as you've found, houses are expensive.
Raynes Park and Worcester Park used to be good value.
Berrylands has the sewage works, so No.

Hersham is a lovely village, 30 mins to Waterloo.

I'd say you are priced out of Raynes Park, unless you go for roads near Kingston Rd which is always clogged so not what you want. Up your budget to £850k and your options open up.

Epsom .I've lived here twenty years ,my kids all at Wallace fields primary schools ,very good schools ,then Glyn and Rosebery High schools.Can get a three bed for under 500k.

@Midlifephoenix

I'd say you are priced out of Raynes Park, unless you go for roads near Kingston Rd which is always clogged so not what you want. Up your budget to £850k and your options open up.

Middle numbers of the apostles would be quiet. And well within budget. And 5-10 min walk of the train which is 20 mins. Battle area of s Wimbledon. Enough for a 2 bed then do a loft conversion. 10 mins walk to Wimbledon station - loads of trains! And zone 3/4!

New Malden also worth a look.

@titchy

New Malden also worth a look.

We are happy to buy something small and extend. It's what we did with our current place. I don't think there is any way I could persuade DP to buy something that needs no work anyway. I'm just trying to think of areas. I've never been to Raynes Park so will check that out. Epsom is too far out for me. I'm still very unsure about moving out of London full stop. (Currently in zone 2).

I can't recall which PP said to up our budget to £850k but if that was an option we wouldn't be questioning where to live. I think we are at least a house move away from that.

Do you really want to live in the SW and work in the City? The Drain is a horrible, horrible way to spend 40 mins of your day five days of the week.

I would look West on the Central line - you should be able to afford White City still - or East towards Wanstead.

@drainrat

Do you really want to live in the SW and work in the City? The Drain is a horrible, horrible way to spend 40 mins of your day five days of the week.

I would look West on the Central line - you should be able to afford White City still - or East towards Wanstead.

DP's friends and family are SW which is why we are considering it. It's already a total pain to try and cross London to visit them. I had briefly looked at West so we are at least the right side of London to see them but assumed it was out of our budget.

I lived in Wandsworth for six years and did that commute, which was still shorter than yours. It actually made me physically ill.

If you’re priced out of White City or it’s not your taste (it’s very urban and economically very polarised; people seem to be very rich or very poor), then just keep going along the Central line. White City works very well for you because of the Overground link to Clapham Junction, but I’m not on top of more recent changes.

Tooting - specifically Furzedown - has houses in budget on nice, quiet roads near good schools. You can cycle down the hill to Tooting Bec tube (Northern Line) in 10 mins, or a 20 minute walk.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/102986528#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/101596223#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78167724#/

How often are you actually going to see them though? Vs going to work most days?

Lewisham is really quite east so you'll get an improvement just going south, you don't need to go west/southwest.

Unless these are people you're spending every weekend & some weekdays with I would really prioritise my commute!

There are places available in Surbiton for your budget;

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/96513761#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/102276494#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77670195#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100148981#/

Obviously there may be a compromise on space, but there are plenty or quiet roads in the are.

“Just up your budget” is a stupid suggestion, if they had more money they wouldn’t have that budget would they?

I second tooting, furzedown or streatham. The Thameslink from tooting station goes straight to London Bridge in 25 mins. You’d get a big house for that budget

Earlsfield www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78232344#/ - trains to Waterloo take 12 minutes, and more good primary schools than you can shake a stick at.

or, as a PP has said, Furzedown which is also brilliant.

Don't consider Wandsworth Town as your station. In 'normal' rush hour times you can't physically get on the train there, and there is a LOT of new flats being built so the problem will get worse until the train schedules change to allow an empty-ish train to pick people up.