Clapham Common or Surbiton? Moving home

[estherhh]

Hi,

We are relocating to London. After a long time research, we’ve narrowed down Clapham Common and Surbiton but cannot decide which area to go for?

The reason I consider the above 2 areas is for independent schools. From a school point of view, the two areas are the same.

Both I and my husband work in Canary Wharf. Our budget is around 600-700k for a 2-bed room flat or house. We still cannot make a decision so would be grateful to hear different opinions.

I'd choose Clapham Common. One issue with the trains and you aren't getting home to Surbiton for several hours. And there are multiple places for your journey to be screwed up past Waterloo, compared to problem - catch a bus or Uber.

I agree that people really understate their commutes. Issues with trains, distance to station etc all make a massive impact, especially if you want to go out after work etc.

Different areas & with your budget I would go for Surbiton.

For raising children I'd go for Surbiton personally. It's a very safe, lively area with lots to do nearby and an easy run out into local countryside or huge parks (Richmond, Bushy, nearby Esher Common etc.) at the weekend. I don't think the trainlines to and from Surbiton are slower than the rickety old Northern line. Independent schools reachable from Surbiton are fantastic. I also think you'd get far more for your money in Surbiton. There's a 3 bed 2 bath house with garden near the station on at £660 here.

Clapham Common is lively too. I find the common itself a bit dull as the major green space but you'd be near Battersea Park which is gorgeous and not that far from the Wetlands. There's a freehold 2-bed flat with communal gardens overlooking the common itself on here at £500k. I want it myself!

Your budget won’t go far in Clapham Common. Even though I used to live in Clapham South and loved it, in your position and budget I would choose Surbiton. You will have more options property wise and if you are focusing on schools and family life Surbiton is ideal.

Yes the commute will be longer but it’s still fine. You’ve got the High Street, river, decent pubs and eateries, close to Kingston for more extensive shopping, A3 for easy access into countryside and coast etc.

I'd choose Surbiton over Clapham, especially with DC. You'll get a tiny property in CC with that budget, Surbiton will be so much better in terms of how far your money will go.

Hi, thank you for your reply. So which area near Clapham Common (more affordable) do you recommend? We found a school in Clapham Common, otherwise we are fine with our current place.

@Cowbells could you please share a link to the two properties you are referring to?

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Sorry that should be East Dulwich.

East Dulwich is lovely and has some of the bets parks in London. It's also good to commute to the City and to Canary Wharf when trains work.

The problems are:

1. when trains don't work properly, it's like being stranded outside the M25. Ask local residents how they handled the years of hell of the Southern rail strikes; there was one summer with one train per hour to London Bridge. Even when they do work, they are less frequent than in many parts of SW London (eg the Balham to Victoria or Wimbledon to Waterloo lines). I remember being an hour late when I had to take a train from Victoria to Peckham Rye, one train got cancelled, the next was 30 minutes later but got delayed by a lot. That was the equivalent of missing more than 6 trains in a row on the Victoria to Balham or Waterloo to Wimbledon lines.

2. There is really not much in East Dulwich, and not much nearby. The closest decent high street is probably Brixton, with only one bus, the 37, which is rare and takes forever. The great advantage of many places in the Wimbledon - Putney - Southfields - Clapham Junction - Northcote rd area is that you have many high streets within a 10-minute car journey or 1-2 train/tube stops.

Of course, don't expect residents to say anything other than "never been happier here", "never looked back", etc.

I like Surbiton...went to buy a camper van there some years ago and spent the day in the shops, good charity shops, cafes etc...i really liked it !...clapham is also nice...but a bit crowded and lots of annoying types with loud braying voices...also over priced.

[quote kkkkkkkcc]@Cowbells could you please share a link to the two properties you are referring to?[/quote]
I did. If you click on the highlighted word 'here' they should appear.

I wouldn't really count Surbiton as part of London. I live between the two areas and they are really quite different.

I'm sure you'll get a ton more for your money in Surbs. How about Wimbledon / Raynes Park as a compromise.

I like Surbiton too. It is misrepresented as dull commuterville. It has fabulous restaurants, cafes, bars. It's close to the river with a lovely marina cafe. 5 mins drive to Kingston for theatre, nightclubs, cinemas, comedy clubs, swimming baths. Surbiton has a farmer's market, a good children's playpark, a nice wooded park, a fab library, lots of independent shops, good housing stock. And it's 15 mins from central London with loads of trains every hour, as frequent and reliable as the Northern line imo. It's also in Zone 6, so accessible by oyster/travelcard.

@TrendingHistory

Neither. Your budget won’t go far in CC and you’ll be surrounded by 20 year olds. Surbiton is a very long way from Canary Wharf.

You have the benefit of both working in the same place so you don’t have to compromise on living somewhere you can both commute from. You would be much better off living in SE London. Somewhere like Dulwich or Greenwich.

@TrendingHistory The reason for moving home is for two schools in Surbiton and Clapham, otherwise I'm satisfied with my current place. I don't like Greenwich and was too late to register with Dulwich schools.

Is it primary or secondary? If latter you don’t need to live right in the area for child to attend school. I think the point previous posters are making about what 700k looks like in Clapham Common and whether that is a sustainable home environment for a decade, is a reasonable one. It seems strange logic to me to pay thousands for a child’s education but which then necessitates them living their entire childhood in a small flat.

Very different. Surbiton is kind of genteel surburbia where CC is London really.
Both are the wrong side for Canary Wharf really though from CC it's straightforward.
Personally I'd go for Greenwich for a Canary Wharf commute and a similar ambience.

You've been looking in the wrong parts of Greenwich if you don't like it - but do like CC and Surbiton.

I have lived in both. Lived in CC in my 20s, and now in Surbiton in my mid 30s with small kids. Surbiton great for family life. Plenty of public transport, lots of lovely outdoor space (I was never a fan of clapham common, it's so open and full of people). Surbiton on its own would get dull, but kingston on the doorstep has a lot going on. Think it really depends how much you like/want the hustle and bustle of london.

I live in Clapham Common area and have lived here for nearly 30 years. It has lots of families and lots live in flats. It’s a great area, though it has got increasingly chichi. Fabulous transport links - tube, train, bus. You don’t need a car. The common. Leisure centre and swimming pool. Library. Theatre. Cinema. Lots of restaurants and bars. Supermarket. Farmer’s market. It’s got a lot of history too. My DC grew up here and there was so much to do within just five minutes’ walk. Because it’s an easy place to live, children can be independent quite quickly. It’s very different from Surbiton. Your money will go much, much further there.

@MiddlesexGirl Plz tell me what do you like about Greenwich? Greenwich is nice but very small. It's surrounded by dodgy areas such as Lewisham, Charlton and Lee, etc.

I've lived in both. For the money you have to spend and as you have a family I'd pick Surbiton every time (or Thames Ditton which is next to Surbiton but has some lovely houses and you can walk to Surbiton station). Surrey is lovely. Clapham is good fun with great transport links but I wouldn't want to raise kids in London. I'd pick the suburbs every time.

If you go for Surbiton, the river roads off Maple Road are the most desirable places to live.

Good luck with the move

@GreenestValley Totally agree... top independent school and big house, I couldn't have it all at the current stage.

@Piptastic Surbiton riverside is the best place

Surbiton isn't London but equally it's not dull suburbia! It's genteel with a lively feel and lots of green spaces/river.

Also posters saying Clapham is home to people in early 20s - around Old Town possibly and Clapham Rise which is mostly flats, but around Northcote / towards wandsworth it's the nappy valley central As someone rightly said, many 'annoying braying loud voices' haha, cos it's posh. It's the most expensive part (between the commons).

The inbetween bit is Abbeville area on Clapham South side - which is not so braying and slightlly less expensive and has more of a suburban/quieter feel - but much less shopping and cafes on doorstep than Northcote rd.
I do agree that with a family, Surbiton is probably better if you value more space in the house / more greenery, but it's still quite busy around there as most commuter Surrey is, both with people and traffic.. Stlil not as busy as CC of course!