SW London - where to move?

[MNSavedMyLockdown]

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.

Thank you. Definitely secondaries are the priority, and hence SE is no good. We've done a lot of research into SE.
SW seems to have the balance of green space, access to town and some good secondaries.

Budget we don't know for sure yet but possibly 8-900k. A 3-bed with scope for 4 would be ideal.

Look at Wimbledon (rutlish for boys, Wimbledon college, Ricards lodge for mixed), tooting (graveny school), Kingston has tiffin girls and tiffin boys.., all you can get a 3/4 bed for under £900k. All lovely to live in with good, quick commutes and lots of green space etc. Wimbledon had a theatre, cinema etc as does Kingston..,

I wouldn’t bother with Richmond and surrounds personally - overpriced compared to others areas

Thanks. I've heard from a few people about Kingston but don't know much. What's it like as an area? Does it feel like London? I always thought of it as a suburban town outside London, but admittedly I've never been there!

Ideally secondary would be mixed rather than single sex.

I would consider Kingston more of a suburban town. I personally don’t like it. If you like Blackheath as an area, it’s nothing like Blackheath. It doesn’t have a village feel at all.

Kew, St Margarets, Richmond or Teddington will be more comparable to Blackheath.

Stick to places on the tube I reckon, Tooting as previously mentioned is great as is Furzedown. You'd get something good there for your budget and good schools. Stay in Wandsworth rather than Lambeth.

I wouldn’t bother with Richmond and surrounds personally - overpriced compared to others areas

Mind you, there is a whole lot of 'surrounds' to consider with some very different communities around Richmond and Kingston at all price points.

Easily achievable in Streatham or West Norwood catchment for Dunraven, or in Tooting - but the Graveney catchment is very tight, can be less than 400m.

But other schools are available.

You can definitely get something in Graveney or Dunraven catchment in that budget. Dunraven would be my choice for school I think, although I have friends who live in Furzedown (Graveney catchment) and its a lovely area, strong community, and Tooting (and its park) is just down the road which is great, and very London!

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So Graveny I've heard of, near Furzedown. Dunraven is more central Tooting?

With Furzedown, I need to visit, but does it have a 'centre' and convenience eg shops, restaurants etc or do you walk to Tooting for the above and for transport? It's where Sadiq Kahn lives I gather so must be alright!

Dunraven is east of Tooting - so further into Streatham and bordering West Norwood

Furzedown has a little run of indie cafes/shops, but yes for more buzz you go to tooting, which is 10 mins walk. Or you've got Streatham in the other direction, which is also good, and has an extremely long high street!

Where in east london are you moving from out of interest? Might help to know what sort of vibe you're after.

We are moving from Stratford, but that's not the vibe we're after! We moved here to get on the ladder and get plenty of space in our 2-bed before DC. There's nothing for families round here and before Covid we just got the tube into central for all our socialising. Now we are not using public transport.

The open expanse of Blackheath and Greenwich Park can't be matched by Tooting Bec can it? Richmond park or Bushey Park are more along those lines?

You live in Stratford - have you looked at Wanstead? Ticks many of your boxes and cheaper!

@MNSavedMyLockdown

Woking with fast train to london it’s like 24 mins !

I agree with @NoFishing, but accept I might be biased. Have you had much of a chance to spend time in these areas @MNSavedMyLockdown?

Also agree that Greenwich and Blackheath can't be matched by Tooting/Streatham but OP may struggle to find what she wants on her budget - in catchment for good state schools, family area, in London. Richmond is amazing but I expect out of budget? Wanstead is a good shout actually @CaramelWaferAndTea

Streatham Common where I live is nice - lots of green space and local amenities (leisure centre, pubs, cafes, 24 hour Tesco etc). Good location for the trains as there are 2 stations which take you into Victoria, London Bridge and central (Blackfriars, Kings Cross). Norbury down the road is where you'd get more for your money.

Slightly left field suggestion but you could get a great place in your budget, transport is good and schools are good I think - Beckenham? Beckenham Place Park is lovely, easy journey to more open space in Kent.

Kingston I've always found a bit grotty. Very studenty as well.

Surbiton, a bit further out, and more suburban, obviously, but fast trains to Waterloo (16 minutes for the fast ones), by the river, and close to Hampton court gardens, Bushy park, Richmond park, etc.. Close to Kingston for the shops and facilities.

Seems to have schools coming out of it's ears, but I don't know very much about them I'm afraid.

You can pick up a 3 bed in St Margarets for £850-£900k although it is becoming rarer as prices push closer to £1m. That might be due to the Covid-19 rush on properties though as they’ve been hovering around the £900k mark for a long while. It would take 15-20 minutes to walk into Richmond. There are also trains from St Margarets (1 stop) or the H37 bus (but this can take ages due to traffic congestion in East Twickenham and Richmond). It’s a lovely walk along the river though.

If you’re in Stratford look at Wanstead! It’s lush. Dulwich of the NE ;-)

Super family friendly and community. Lots of shops and restaurants on the high st. Great green space. Central line. Winner.