Kingston, Esher, Thames Ditton?

[goldpendant]

Long time Kingston/Richmond resident here....! Currently in North Kingston. Love it here in many ways but so busy, so so busy!

Craving a bit more space, driveway, something just a little less urban.

Would we be mad to leave catchment of outstanding school here (TKA) for Esher where the state secondary is only 'good'?

We love Thames Ditton but Hinchley Wood catchment is super tight. Don't think the bits of TD we like would get into HW.

Any insights much appreciated. Has anyone made a similar move? Budget is good but not indie school good....

Where else is there?

If you move further out to Surrey you will end up giving your kids lifts as they get older or they will have to learn to drive and get a car/moped, which is very expensive, as the amount of public transport is much more limited.

I would understand you moving if your kids were primary age but they are getting to the point where they need to get around independently.

Sorry, should have said, we don't need secondary school for a few years yet. I know schools change, we've become a bit obsessed with catchment areas (who doesn't in London??) and I'm losing perspective on what we actually want in a family home too. DH and I have to be happy too, surely?

Can you explain a bit more about what you want/want to get away from? I wouldn't have thought TD or Esher would not be noticeably less busy enough to bother with moving? If you were moving from zone two, then the difference would be more noticeable, for example.

How about Ham? Decent secondaries there I think. The only issue I can think of being distance from the tube/trains.

Or Hampton Wick? Villagey but walkable into Kingston for teenagers and walkable to the park or river now. Teddington school is definitely said to be improving again after a wobbly couple of years.

Love Ham but the houses we like there are over budget and very little in the way of stock.

Kingston; the town just feels a bit run down these days and everywhere feels so so busy again - I know that's probably post lockdown feeling, and a common problem of many high streets, but probably less noticeable in a village?

I feel like all the houses look into/onto eachother and I'm craving a bit more room around us. I don't want rural seclusion.... but a little more room to breathe I think.

I'd thought of Teddington but it feels a bit poncetastic for us.

For our rough budget there's this; Park Farm Road, Kingston Upon Thames
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112979912

Lovely house but no drive, quite compact actually, and small ish garden.

I'm after this; Percy Road, Hampton
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107619137

Or this; Hillbrow Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111194876

BUT the schoooools!

London school catchment, OFSTED reports and league table stuff is very over-rated. Especially as you're talking about generally affluent areas. The schools will be fine. And in any case - whatever you might judge it on now can change in a few years. Relax, and pick the right area to live.

I think that's what I'm starting to lean towards @SD25 - surely the schools aren't going to be bad, rough, or not go through the ups and downs as leadership changes etc....