Teddington/Richmond/Barnes - which would you choose

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We currently live in Zone 2. The plan was always to move out of London and get a flat for DH during the week but we’ve decided we don’t want to split the family so are staying. But we need somewhere much greener and with good independent schools. Budget is good as we won’t now need to buy a flat. I like Richmond and Barnes but don’t know them well. Also like the sound of Teddington and Thames Ditton. Have discounted Kew because of the planes- are planes a significant issue in these areas too? Would be grateful for any views. Thanks.

I like Richmond and Barnes but don’t know them well. Also like the sound of Teddington and Thames Ditton. Have discounted Kew because of the planes- are planes a significant issue in these areas too?

I live round this way but not actually in any of the places mentioned due to DP's sensitivity to plane noise (exc Thames Ditton which I don't know well enough to give a view on).

It's highly personal so v difficult to judge by other's opinions - one person's unbearable is another's don't notice.

If it might be an issue - and the fact that you're thinking about it and have discounted Kew as a result suggests it could be - and you can wait I'd honestly try to put off committing to an area until regular flights have started again, to get an idea of reality.

In the meantime you can find a lot out online about flight paths and which areas in West London are less impacted vs others (Chiswick far better than Richmond for example). You say you're in zone 2 at the moment, are you under the flight path there, for comparison purposes?

If you can't wait, at least spend a chunk of day in each location so you can experience the odd plane going over as they are now, and think - OK would this be acceptable every 3-5 minutes?

Put it this way - if I was selling a house in Richmond, I'd be making damn sure it was on the market now and not next year! Richmond is utterly lovely at the moment and it's so easy to forget how blighted it is by the flight path normally. I think there will be some very unpleasant surprises when things go back to normal for people who have moved out this way during the pandemic.

You can find this map online but can't exactly remember where sorry! Gives an idea of where gets it and where doesn't

Richmond is lovely, but it can be a bit touristy in sunny weather, lots of people from the surrounding areas descend on it for picnics etc.
Teddington has a quieter, family feel.. Barnes is probably the loveliest. Thames Ditton won't have the best transport links and is very quiet.
Ham is cheaper, but it doesn't have a train station, it will have to be a bus journey to Richmond or Kingston. Buses are regular, but there is only one two lane road they can use, and if there happens to be roadworks then a 10/15 minute journey can take well over 30 minutes.

Don't worry about the planes, after a couple of weeks you barely notice.

Richmond is better for shops and travel, you have the underground and overground trains. Dulwich has many green parks, and blackheath has a huge heath and Greenwich park within walking distance.

I would say the nicest is Barnes but central Barnes, the bit I think they even call Barnes Village! That has the lovely small village type feel but within London. Though it is nowhere near the train station for commuting which could be a problem.

Chiswick is long and linear stretched out across a fair length. Lots of traffic along the main high road.

Thames Ditton is pretty and village like, much much smaller.

Richmond a real mixture. Some bits not as nice, others super dooper lovely but actually how nice is the main shopping high street now? (Disclaimer I haven't been for several years.) Lots of traffic.

Perhaps you should take a look at Dulwich Village as that is nice.

@Seasidemumma77

Out of the three I would choose Teddington. But if I was to move back to London I'd choose Isleworth or Whitton.

@Seasidemumma77: just curios why would you choose Isleworth or Whitton over Richmond?

We used to live in Teddington and it is lovely. It’s right between Richmond and Kingston for shopping which is handy. The biggest issue I’d say is that the trains aren’t as good as Richmond, but the positive of that is that you do always get a seat in the morning if you’re commuting in.

Another micro area you might consider is Strawberry Hill right near Radnor Gardens or Twickenham riverside/St Margaret’s near to Marble Hill House. You’ll get a little more for your money there but still have great access to Richmond for walks, etc.

One nice thing about Teddington is that you can enjoy both the walk along the river to Richmond as well as the walk through Bushy Park to Hampton Court. It’s got a lovely community feel to it.

Richmond has got fast trains to Waterloo. It may take over an hour to get from Teddington to City/Liverpool Street. Barnes is closer to the City so commute would be shorter.
Isleworth is ok to live near Piccadilly line stations that give you an option to commute to London if SW trains are delayed.
As far as I am aware people working in the City prefer to leave in Blackheath/Greenwich/Dulwich.

Have you considered East Molesey? Or Hampton? Transport links are adequate (not as good as Richmond), some good independent schools and lots of green space, plus Hampton Lido and Hampton Court. Plus you’re only 10 mins from Kingston on Thames which definitely feels like a place in its own right.

And Molesey has a nice little centre with shops/ cafes and loads to do on the river (it’s right by the station in case you don’t know it).

I live in Richmond, and transport links here are great. If you are applying to independent schools at 11, you need to have a range of viable options transport-wise. I have had 4 children go through 4 different independent schools. I think between them we applied to 10 or 11 different schools altogether (not all for the same child I might add!) - some all girls, some all boys, some co-Ed and all were easy travelling from Richmond. The same would not be true from either Barnes or Teddington.

Someone mentioned Sheen but it is a total traffic nightmare these days. I really would avoid for that reason. Barnes falls into the same category really with Hammersmith Bridge closed. Plane noise is everywhere but seriously it doesn't bother me. When weather is good planes are often taking off in the other direction (eg today) and then you would get more plane noise in Teddington than here.

It depends on what is most important to you.

If your DH commute is priority 1, Richmond wins hands down, as there's the District Line, the Overground and South West trains which gets to Waterloo in 20 minutes. From Barnes and Teddington, that journey is closer to an hour.

Of the 3 areas, plane noise is worst in Richmond, though as PP have mentioned, you get used to it quickly.

If a village feel is your most important criteria, I'd go for Barnes. It's so lovely there, though horrifically expensive. You'd have to travel to do decent town centre shopping though, probably to Kingston or Shepherds Bush Westfield. Hammersmith Bridge is closed until goodness knows when so Barnes is more cutoff from the rest of London than it used to be.

Teddington is the least lively of the 3, the High street is tiny, and a bit of a through road.

What would help people to advise you better (unless money is no object!), is to know:

• Budget
• Bedrooms
• Any other features you are keen on for the property

It's less than 30 mins from Barnes to Waterloo! And only about 35 from Barnes Bridge.

Fair point about the shopping centre though, however if you're in Barnes why wouldn't you go to Richmond before contemplating Kingston or Shepherd's Bush?

Agree it depends what's important and some good news is that Hammersmith Bridge is back open to pedestrians.

Of the options you’ve given Richmond followed by Barnes. Richmond has a better commute and better shops. Barnes is lovely but I’ve always thought it was over priced. I’d also add East Sheen and St Margarets to your list.

Richmond is utterly lovely at the moment and it's so easy to forget how blighted it is by the flight path normally
Yes! although some parts of Richmond seem to be better than others. Planes very bad jus around the train station area / towards the Green, but around Richmond park the noise is not so bad.
Traffif horrednous in the narrow High St - also the riverside heaving in normal times on weekends.
But Richmond is the largest and liveliest and closest to your ideal of a town in iself yet within London, OP.
Teddingtom feels more like a suburb - not much character or a vibe but very practical (traffic busy but not as chockablock as Richmond or Barnes).
Barnes doesn' feel like a town - more villagey and very small High St. Very green but river path heaving agagin on w.ends. Commute is quite good actually.
If you want lots of greenery but fewer crowds, than Teddington a bit better but really you need to be out of west London for that. Furher bit of Surrey or Hampshire (Winchester?)
Thames Ditton very nice bt a village, not a town by any stretch,

Teddington and Barnes both lovely!

Barnes no contest, best place I've lived. Also they've just opened Hammersmith Bridge to pedestrians which is a huge plus as transport then becomes less of an issue.

Richmond/Chiswick/Barnes are really London -just a greener bit- i don't think anyone living there considers that they've moved out- they are on the tube and still easy to get to- which is reflected in the price. Gorgeous though. Similar to say Wimbledon /Putney - or maybe Hampstead. The sort of places people move out from when they want a family/family grows etc
You need to decide really whether you want to stay in london or move out- budget is probably a big consideration.

Don't move to teddington, it's getting so crowded and us locals are being priced out! Seriously though it's a great place to live and if you have primary aged kids the schools are so good that you wouldn't need to go independent - that's the whole point of paying so much to live somewhere like that, if you want to go independent anyway I would go for a much cheaper area - unless money is no object for you :). If you can be in catchment for Collis or SMSP those are the best primaries in the area. Hampton Wick Infants used to be good but I've heard it has gone downhill a bit with long standing teachers leaving since the current head took over. The plane noise is something you get used to and I don't think it is as bad in Teddington as Richmond or Kew.

I used to live in Ealing and still pine for it. Good fast central and Piccadilly lines depending on where you live. Very green and leafy. Pitshanger if you want more of a village atmosphere or Brentham Garden Suburb. Excellent independent schools.

I moved to Thames Ditton earlier this year. It’s lovely - lots of character (& great pubs!) and community feel but much smaller & quieter than the other areas you are considering (it’s a village!) but walkable to Hampton Court and can get to Kingston, teddington & esher 10mins by car.

If your budget is only up to £1.5m then I’d recommend Thames Ditton above the other options as you’d be able to get a very nice detached house for that (4/5 bedroom with good garden). If your budget is >£1.5m then I’d go with Teddington or Barnes (Richmond just very busy/noisy - albeit is v nice!)

I’d definitely recommend East Moseley (Hampton court side) to your list of options. Chiswick also.

Richmond is very busy with tourists/visitors on the weekend and drinkers in the evening. But much more life than Teddington, which is more overgrown village feel. Transport a lot worse in Teddington, the slow train and not that reliable.
Really depends on what you want as they are quite different other than all being very middle class/white/middle aged.

Richmond all the way.
Barnes is nice but the parking is a pain, and trains aren't great.
Teddington is nice but slow train
Thames ditton very village but trains a PITA, surbiton is closer and you would get ama amazing house but it's not Richmond which is one of my fave places in London

If you go for Ham/ petersham / north kingston then get somewhere near a 65 bus route stop. Very quick route to Richmond station and is 24 hours

Know Teddington/ Richmond well, husband went to Teddington school ( secondary) and Stanley juniors, both great schools and he enjoyed growing up there. I prefer Teddington, it is lovely ( worked there for a few years) and would be my first choice.