Battersea/Clapham, Chiswick or Wimbledon to live?

[Oscariana]

Hi All, We’re considering moving back to London after being in the US for 14 yrs. We last lived in Wimbledon but were both single then. We now have two young children and hence keen to know peoples thoughts on the following areas- Wimbledon Village is near perfect but may be out of our price range.. We need good state and private schools ( primary) access to green space but also for me some great shops ( boutiques) to browse, restaurants etc. I know Chiswick and Wimbledon FAIRLY well, although like I say not from a family viewpoint. Clapham not as much as I think its changed the most in the last 14 yrs. Would also possibly consider Putney… Thankyou all in advance

blanketg Ah come on. I'm not offended. Read my other post and you'll see that I'm not offended in the least... nor am I here for a bun fight. I am, however, here to convince the OP to move to Chiswick.
OP, your memory of Queens Park is absolutely correct. It was pretty grim years ago. I hadn't been there for years and I spent the day there last week and couldn't believe the change in the area. It is really lovely, with a bit more of an edge than say Chiswick or Wimbledon. Still, I'd be more inclined to live in Chiswick or Wimbledon.

OP, which part of the States are you moving from, by the way? Just curious (I'm American originally- been here a long time now).

Well I was confused as you apologised for being a jerk but then repeated yourself. Chiswick is lovely, all of these areas are it just depends exactly what the OP wants

Richmond and Kew are lovely.

You won't get much for your money in Wimbledon village (which is crazy) but there are lovely roads near Wimbledon Park tube station. The schools I'm Wimbledon are vg.

@PricklesTheHedgehog

Richmond and Kew are lovely.

They are but the planes!

Southfields? Beautiful houses, lovely w high street, st michaels school

Used to live in Clapham junction and loved it. Very yummy mummy. Couldn’t afford to buy there though.

Thank you everyone for all your help and comments. It’s given me food for thought. I appreciate it a lot.

Also consider the area around Dundonald school in Wimbledon. The state school is outstanding, it’s got a nice park, and it’s a stone’s throw to Wimbledon station.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/109299785#/floorplan?activePlan=1&channel=RES_BUY

Op, as you only need to go in London a couple of times a week for work, would you consider living out of the M25?
Somewhere like Sevenoaks might be worth looking at. Lots of green spaces, a selection of excellent prep schools, and state/private secondary. Commute to London is 25/30min.
£2m would get you a nice house with decent garden.

For £2m you could get a nice house in Wimbledon town, near the village it would be a small terrace. I just moved to Wimbledon, South Park grid. There are two outstanding primaries and several highly regarded private schools near by. Walk to Wimbledon tube and train.
Putney I feel is a bit more urban, the high street always clogged, but I like it on the west side. Chiswick I know less. Barnes is pricey and not good for transport.
I'd start checking out the schools first and have that help you make your decision.

They are all great areas.

Chiswick slightly out to the West for me
Putney High Street bad traffic and can be difficult to park
Clapham would want to be off Northcote Road between the Commons
Wimbledon Village the best of everything but the most expensive, though the Hill is cruel to walk up.

Clapham too urban for me. Traffic and fumes.

Putney lovely if you stick to the west side, ie not the Wandsworth side.

Chiswick nice (it is suburban but that doesn't mean it's not nice. All these places are suburban!)

Wimbledon nice, downside being it's a longer trek into town.

Barnes I'd rule out because of the bridge.

I'd go for Chiswick of the places you mention, but then I'm biased because I've lived in the borough all my life, and it's where I'd move to if I had the money!

I prefer the Grove Park side to the High Road side, but with the Grove Park side your simplest commute would be via Waterloo, as you'd need to get a bus across the A4 to get to the District Line, and that moves quite slowly going into town.

Your money would get you something like this:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/81540390#/?channel=RES_BUY

Also this would leave you with some change from your budget:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/115345625#/?channel=RES_BUY

Lived in Chiswick for 7 years. Loved the green spaces, the shops, cafes, restaurants, people, the district line was surprisingly not a nightmare, and fabulous in the summer with air conditioning. I have the best memories. HOWEVER. Since the council installed the double cycle lane along most part of Chiswick High Road is has literally become a nightmare overnight. I moved out and feel so sad for the area. People who don’t live there might not understand how terrible Chiswick high road has become, for pedestrians, drivers, people on the bus, shop& cafe owners. There is literally no space to park your car, you have to be SO SO careful not to hit a bicycle as they are coming from all sides and angles totally carelessly. It is busy, polluted (non stop gridlock traffic), chaotic and not pretty with the cycle lane plastic poles.

Northcote Road area between the Commons probably fits your description the closest - 2 large open green spaces, nice shops cafes etc on Northcote Road itself, overground from Clapham Junction and Northern Line from Clapahm South/Clapham Common, 2 good if over subscribed state primaries and quite a few private preps, possibility of a place at Graveney if do well in Wandsworth tests. Otherwise access to a reasonable number of private secondarys.

Also suggest Northcote Road. What about Balham?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/115209125#/?channel=RES_BUY

The better primary schools in Balham are the other side.

Hi Team!

Does anyone know of a great nanny in the Wimbledon area who might be free to start in about 6 months as a live in? Or where to find one?
Thanks so much
J

If state schools are a priority I would agree with @londonmummy1966 and @bravotango - Northcote Road to be nearer in to central London But as I remember from many years ago - the catchments for junior school are tiny so you need to be clear which house you can go for. ( near to green spaces but probably not a huge garden ) - but then you are probably reliant on Clapham Junction for commuting not tube ( tubes as I recall not very near the train station ) Northcote road is lovely.

Southfields grid ?