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Original poster

SW London - where to move?

101 replies

MNSavedMyLockdown · 12/05/2021 21:05

Inspired by another thread on SW London but not wishing to derail that one...

We currently live in East London but we are wanting to move next 2 years or so before baby becomes school aged. Our area isn't very family friendly.

We love Blackheath but are slightly priced out - we would ideally want a 3-bed or scope for 4 bed. Also the secondary schools aren't amazing so I worry if we lived there we would either want to move again or be stuck worrying about DC schooling. I know secondary schools do change but it's a consistent theme people tell me about the area, that all the kids go private or ferry out to grammars further out.

I'm interested in SW London but have only ever lived in North or East so aside from day trips I know nothing much.

We love green space and want to send DC to state school (not Catholic). We also want good transport to the City.

As in the other SW London post, we know we could move further out but feel strongly about London living, diversity, energy etc and want our DC to grow up in London.

So with all that in mind, can anyone recommend areas in London?

I know nothing about Putney vs Wandsworth, vs Twickenham / St Margaret's / Kew / Kingston and so on. I know there are a few v good secondaries in Richmond but fear that might be too pricey for us. Looking for inspiration for any areas in SW.

OP posts:
WorriedMutha · 12/05/2021 21:36

Tonight's Location Location Location is set in SW London. Why don't you check it out on catch up.

Rollercoaster1920 · 12/05/2021 22:07

If Blackheath is too expensive then South West London might be a stretch.

Original poster
MNSavedMyLockdown · 12/05/2021 22:17

@WorriedMutha

Tonight's Location Location Location is set in SW London. Why don't you check it out on catch up.
Oh wow! I will!
OP posts:
Original poster
MNSavedMyLockdown · 12/05/2021 22:18

@Rollercoaster1920

If Blackheath is too expensive then South West London might be a stretch.
Really? Everywhere in SW??
OP posts:
Original poster
MNSavedMyLockdown · 12/05/2021 22:18

@Rollercoaster1920

If Blackheath is too expensive then South West London might be a stretch.
I've seen a few places we could afford in Twickenham, St Margaret's etc, but I don't know those areas.
OP posts:
Sadieeloise5687 · 12/05/2021 22:19

Look at tooting and colliers wood. Wimbledon for excellent state schools too.

mobear · 12/05/2021 22:21

It will depend enormously on your budget.

snowspider · 12/05/2021 22:22

Look at Feltham, the area including Cardinal Road, some good schools nice houses and a community feel around wanting local things going on eg the community garden and orchard near the station.

mobear · 12/05/2021 22:24

Between St Margarets and Twickenham I would personally choose St Margarets. It is a reasonably short walk to Richmond so you feel more as though you're in the centre of things and not too far from an Underground station. The local shops have a nice village feel and a little further along the walk into Richmond you have the East Twickenham parade of shops. Alternatively you can cross the river in St Margarets and walk along the Thames into Richmond. I do not like Twickenham High Street - or any high street with a wide road in the middle. I cannot comment on the schools though as I didn't have children when I lived there.

snowspider · 12/05/2021 22:29

Feltham is on the train to Waterloo 35 mins, via Richmond 10 mins. Less aircraft noise considerably than Richmond or Isleworth and Kew. Living in Cardinal road I found it minimal, compared with working in Richmond and the awfulness of previously living in Isleworth on the flight path.

Helleofabore · 12/05/2021 22:34

Orleans Park secondary is good and St mags, East Twickenham and Twickenham feed into that school. If you have girls, you could look at Whitton and the girls might get into Waldegrave for secondary. Or you could look at Ham and Greycourt School.

TuvoknotSpock · 12/05/2021 22:46

St Margrets is ££ for houses though. I don't think you could get one for Sub 900k

snowspider · 12/05/2021 22:49

It has a big tick for green space as lots of houses have nice gardens, former market garden and orchard area and the Crane River routes are near and Bedfont Lakes and of course the heath. Easily accessible to Richmond and Twickenham, and to Heathrow. It also ticks the diversity boxes. I always think it is bizarre it is never ever highlighted on property pages in ES and Metro, because there are some very nice roads and houses.

Thecazelets · 12/05/2021 22:50

Has no-one mentioned Teddington yet?! It always comes up on these threads. (It is genuinely lovely though. No downsides as far as I can see when we visit friends there, apart from being on the slow train line).

Some of the more affordable bits of Twickenham and St Margarets are very close to the A316, directly under the flightpath or close to the sewage works at Mogden, so you do need to be a bit careful with areas. I might be a bit out of date but I remember looking in St Mags 20 years ago; we gave up and looked elsewhere as we kept being shown houses that had one or more of the above issues and/or were in the catchment for Isleworth or Hounslow schools, which were not what we wanted at the time.

snowspider · 12/05/2021 22:56

I moved from Ealing to Isleworth and partner lived and worked in Teddington before we moved to Feltham, Feltham was a great place to buy and live, we were a few minutes from the station on Cardinal road in a fab house such better value than Twickenham for eg

DblEspresso · 12/05/2021 22:57

What's your budget ? That will decide the areas you could afford.

Southwestrunningmum · 12/05/2021 22:59

Isleworth is cheaper but you have to love planes and a flight path. TBH that is the case for most of the Richmond/st Margerts area.

friendlycat · 12/05/2021 23:05

I watched tonight’s Location Location and was familiar with all areas apart from Windsor. They showed good houses. But the crux is what is your budget?

Marbles321 · 13/05/2021 06:52

The above suggestions are lovely but imo maybe a bit far out if you're after the London feel (especially if coming from East)
I d second the previous pp on Tooting. I don't know Colliers Wood, but Tooting/Streatham and some Mitcham borders have great primaries, most of the Furezdown area is in Graveney (catchment), and you can get a 3/4 bed for 800k maybe less.

Look at area around Dunraven secondary in West Norwood as well.

Id also look more at SE London - Forest Hill, parts of Catford, Ladywell, Brockley, Sydenham, Penge, all great value, excellent primaries and community London feel.

Workingfromhomeishell · 13/05/2021 07:00

Balham / tooting

Multiple ofstead outstanding schools

3 parks within walking distance

15 mins on train to centre. Tube and overground

Workingfromhomeishell · 13/05/2021 07:00

Would aim to stay in wandsworth rather than lambeth as council tax lower and schools better

Lockdowndramaqueen · 13/05/2021 07:19

New malden side of Kingston - can get to Richmond park - have lots of trains passing through and bit more diverse than other areas locally. Good sense of community and great schools. Make sure you are not in a catchment dead zone though as all very over subscribed like all of London.

UpTheJunktion · 13/05/2021 09:13

Streatham (Lambeth) has brilliant primaries, and as mentioned by a pp Dunraven, which personally I would favour over the Wandsworth boot camp academies. Though Chestnut Grove and Graveney are good options.

The Norwood School in Lambeth is also improving in standards and popularity, and there is the lottery chance for Kingsdale.

Can you afford any areas around either of the Charter schools in East / North Dulwich?

We need to know budget.