With this budget and these requirements, would you stay in London or find somewhere else?

[Londonorout]

Currently live in Hackney and love it for its amazing community, lots of parks, diversity, liberal-minded people, and buzz.

But our budget is £850k. For that (which we can’t have in Hackney), we want 3/4 bedrooms with a big(ish) garden (big enough for pets / a trampoline / growing veg). Don’t care if it’s a flat or house. Next to great schools and in the heart of a great community.

We’re wondering if we should leave london because we can’t afford what we want in the area we’re currently in - or stay and find a new neighbourhood in the city that works.

Friends have moved to Leyton / Walthamstow, but I’m not in love with those areas. Am I missing something?

Where else?

Or, like I said, maybe we should go and find somewhere else we’d like to live. We both have jobs that don’t tie us to the city.

What would you do?

For your budget you could go a little further out, bigger houses, gardens and Epping Forest on your doorstep in Highams Park or Woodford. Great primary and secondary schools. Good community feel in Highams Park and great transport links.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91104811#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/105775565#/

One of the things that grabs me about the properties linked here in London is that they're not white boxes full of spot lights and bi-folds, we were priced out of London but live in a seaside town with what DH would call a bit of a hipster vibe, but the properties are mainly Victorian and Edwardian like a lot of London, so big gardens, high ceilings, ceiling roses, picture rails, coving, fireplaces, good room sizes. We found the original internal doors underneath 70s laminate, excellent condition original floorboards under the dodgy carpets, I'd rather have a smaller house with those features, in an area with lots to do, than a mcmansion in suburbia.

On the secondaries in SE, there's also the (state) Sydenham girls which is supposed to be good, The Norwood School (also Kingsdale, although the admission system there leaves something to be desired). If you're happy with Harris Schools (and some kids and parents are, they like the approach) there are a lot, many of which get good results. Cator Park Girls for example.

Boys is more difficult. There is supposed to be a new secondary in Penge being built. Eden Park High is also popular but you need to live very near it which would take you too suburban I think.

London overall has excellent provision. Most parents I know get somewhere they're happy with.

@Meredusoleil

If you don't need to be in London for work and you're not bothered about having a multiculturally diverse area, then yes, I would definitely move out of London!

We considered it a few years ago. But decided against it due to the 2 main factors I mentioned above.

this is such crap.

London does not have the monopoly on diverse multicultural areas with a good vibe.

No, you are not going to find it in a home counties village, but there are other cities outside London you know....