London zone 3 and beyond living

[BacktoBrisbane]

Hi, I am looking for real world opinions of living in outer zones of London for young families. My DH and DC1 are looking to move from our cramped central flat to a 3-4 bed which is spacious. We would need access to decent nature / parks / woods or green spaces, plus excellent transport into the City, and West End.

We have previously rented in or looked around Kentish Town, Blackheath, Chiswick and so on. All of these would be right up our street, but we can't get room to swing a cat in those areas for our budget! (750-850).

We are both very tall and appreciate large proportions in properties!

So we are reluctantly looking to further out zones but we really don't enjoy the suburban vibe, so want it to still feel like London! We've never lived outside of central so don't want to feel too far out of that makes sense. Does anyone live in a place like this or have you made this move? Where can 750-850 get you a spacious 3 or 4 bed?

Have you looked at areas like Leyton/Leytonstone on the Central Line? Good access to the City and Central London, and easy access to Wanstead Flats, Hollow Ponds and from there up into Epping Forest.

For your budget you should get a reasonable sized Victorian terrace with nice high ceilings.

West on the Elizabeth line. You’d just get this in some parts of Hanwell.

Thanks @Bluegrass
I only went to Leytonstone once for a house party and it seemed a bit rough - no offence intended? There was a mugging on the street outside the tube as I was arriving which might have tainted my view though...

@superram ah yes Hanwell has cropped up in my searches! It looked quiet but I guess the Lizzy Line will bring stuff with it. Thank you I'll check it out.

I am the wrong person to be on this thread, as I'm of the opinion if you are going further out than zone 3, you might as well leave London and be on a quick train in. You'll be too far out to get the benefit of being in London but still paying London prices.

Which main station do you need for work?

We were in a similar position. Ended up moving from Greenwich to Eltham. We chose the Heights area as it had better school catchments. We are very pleased. We have a big garden and a lovely house. We can still get to Charing Cross, London Bridge and Victoria very quickly and it is a nice family area.

Sydenham/penge/Catford. Penge you would get something good sized for that budget, loads of green space and 20 mins to Victoria, the east London line or change at herne Hill onto Thames link. It's also very near beckenham place park which is wonderful and has a swimming lake and crystal palace park is in penge really!

Mottingham? www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84847678#/

You could get somewhere in that budget in Walthamstow. On the Victoria line and dependant where you are close to Epping Forest. Alternatively a couple of stops from the stow, on the line into Liverpool Street, Wood Street or Highams Park but HP definitely has a more suburban feel and with that more green space, right beside the forest, large park and lake.

Have you considered parts of Lee?
This house is on the Lee/Blackheath borders (ie 10 min walk into Blackheath)
Taunton Road, Lee, SE12
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/85091371

Sydenham/ Forest Hill get my vote, but depends where you need to get to for work.

Wanstead, Snaresbrook, South Woodford, Woodford.
20 mins to Liverpool street, 25-30 to the West End.

You could definitely get a nice 3 bedroom house in those areas and could also get a 4 depending on how near to the station you want to be. Woodford gets you most for your money but it's the furthest out.

@MargosKaftan 🤦🏻‍♀️ a massive part of me completely agrees with you! We really dont want to live in Guildford / Sutton / St Albans or wherever though. I don't know if what I'm seeking just doesn't exist without a higher budget, and perhaps we should just be saving up as hard as we can for Tufnell Park or Blackheath!

Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, Wimbledon, Earlsfied

Chislehurst is nice. Plenty of transport too. Nice village, woods and ponds. Good schools nearby.

OP check this out

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/56169301/

(Also near Sydenham Hill woods and the Horniman Museum).

Friends of mine live on this road, and it’s a lovely street:
Brightfield Road, Lee
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/104283356

Lol at Leytonstone being too rough. Your budget isn’t very high for Zone 3, so you’re already priced out of a lot of the best larger properties in the area, but maybe you can find somewhere where you get more for your money, which feels like proper London, but which doesn’t have any crime. Will watch options with interest.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-90117700.html/

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-104818166.html/

About 8 min walk to Blackheath Village

Meadowcourt Road, London, SE3
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/96074852

Putney?
Carslake Road, London
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/78489327

You can get houses in Balham but not sure how much space for cat swinging...

Oh and the areas I mentioned are great for families and there is loads of green space (Epping Forest, Highams Park etc.) close by.

[quote tigerbear]About 8 min walk to Blackheath Village

Meadowcourt Road, London, SE3
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/96074852[/quote]
This is AMAZING !!

@Bluegrass

Lol at Leytonstone being too rough. Your budget isn’t very high for Zone 3, so you’re already priced out of a lot of the best larger properties in the area, but maybe you can find somewhere where you get more for your money, which feels like proper London, but which doesn’t have any crime. Will watch options with interest.

Yes I suspected I might get that response!