Nice areas to move (SW London, within zone 6) ?

Noelia1 · 2022-02-07T16:33:34+00:00

Hello! We have finally had an offer accepted on our flat and can start looking at a house. We are thinking of south west as we have friends around there, and not too awful drive to the midlands where we have family. Commute into central for work is still important unfortunately, starting to think that what we want doesn’t exist! We are open to up to 800k house, with a garden, good schools around and at least a nice pub for a Sunday meal. Would love something with a village feel but not so quiet that we have nothing to ever do. Eg: would love teddington but it’s too expensive .. any thoughts ?

Rollercoaster1920 · 07/02/2022 17:12

Ham? Walk across Teddington Lock to Teddington for life, train etc.

Starseeking · 07/02/2022 21:24

Hampton is nice, and you should get something decent for your money, but it's probably outside zone 6, I think.

This one is not too far from the station, plus there are good schools around:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117981257

Original poster

Noelia1 · 07/02/2022 21:35

thank you, that;s super useful. We have looked at Hampton but it;s just a bit too difficult with commuting into work; and it;s very very residential. We don;t need a big shopping street or anything, but would like to have a few local restaurants/pubs and a supermarket walking distance.

OP posts:

Original poster

Noelia1 · 07/02/2022 21:39

Given our budget (up to 800k) - We were considering a nicer/bigger place in Carshalton with decent garden (or SouthEast Sutton); or a smaller not as nice place with smaller garden around Strawberry Hill in Twickenham.
Another area we were looking at is Whitton (again close to Twickenham).

Do you know any of these, what would you recommend?

OP posts:

TrueBuys · 07/02/2022 21:42

North Kingston? Near Richmond Park or Canbury Gardens.

otherlineeyes · 07/02/2022 21:44

Look at Hanwell- west rather than sw, but ticks all the boxes for the things you list. Good schools, villagy vibe, easy transport i to town - tube and cross rail, less than ten minutes to the m40 so easy for getting to the midlands... and you can get a three bed for less than 800k

Starseeking · 07/02/2022 21:47

Hanwell is nice, although I don't think it's as villages as OP is looking for if Teddington was her first thought. Hanwell is either zone 4 or maybe even 3, so much more busy.

Starseeking · 07/02/2022 21:48

Here's a thread from last week about Whitton to save having to type it all again:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4472018-Whitton-anyone-knows-much-about-it

gegs73 · 07/02/2022 21:52

I don't know Carshalton, but Twickenham is very nice. Lots to do, good rail links and an easy bus journey (or nice walk) to Richmond if you need the tube. I prefer Twickenham to Whitton but it is very nice with a decent high street and trains to Waterloo. You get bigger houses for your money but it seems quite separate from the rest of Richmond borough as it's cut apart by the A316.

I would say secondary schools are probably better in Twickenham than Whitton, but with Turing House opening in the area, RTS which Whitton children can get into and Twickenham School improving they are getting to be on a par.

The area has great parks, Marble Hill and Kneller Gardens in Twickenham. Richmond Park and Bushy close by as well.

Starseeking · 07/02/2022 22:07

Unless OP can stretch much beyond £800k, and nearer to £1.2m, I'm afraid that budget wouldn't touch Twickenham.

Anything that claims to be Twickenham at £800k is likely to actually be one/all of:

in Whitton
on top of the A316
a half hour walk/no direct bus to station

Whosaysyoucanthaveitall · 07/02/2022 22:09

Try Hampton Hill rather than Hampton. Hampton is that bit further away for a commute, Hampton Hill (Fulwell station) is actually a faster commute than teddington. It’s right next to Teddington so you can still walk down to Teddington high street.

rattlemehearties · 07/02/2022 22:10

You could afford London proper with that budget eg Streatham or maybe bordering Mitcham Eastfields.

gegs73 · 07/02/2022 22:24

@Starseeking

Unless OP can stretch much beyond £800k, and nearer to £1.2m, I'm afraid that budget wouldn't touch Twickenham.

Anything that claims to be Twickenham at £800k is likely to actually be one/all of:

in Whitton
on top of the A316
a half hour walk/no direct bus to station

If you look around the Lincoln Avenue area of Twickenham there are decent sized family houses with gardens available at that price point and below (when they are up for sale). Similar around Fulwell Park Avenue and the Rosebine estate. All nice family areas with good schools.

mobear · 07/02/2022 22:59

Isleworth? Not far from Richmond/ Twickenham and preferential to Whitton I think. Zone 4 too.

Original poster

Noelia1 · 07/02/2022 23:06

@Starseeking

Unless OP can stretch much beyond £800k, and nearer to £1.2m, I'm afraid that budget wouldn't touch Twickenham.

Anything that claims to be Twickenham at £800k is likely to actually be one/all of:

in Whitton
on top of the A316
a half hour walk/no direct bus to station

This is correct - and I guess where we are struggling. WE saw a few places in Old Isleworth but the 20 min to neareast station and the very loud noise from planes right above made us discount the area. We didn't seem to hear the planes as much in Whitton or Strawberry Hill (around the first - fifth cross road area). Realistically with the budget (after the crazy inflated prices in the past year we could afford :

a nice 3-4 bed in Whitton (looking around Crane Way area)
a 2 bed not as nice in Twickenham around the third cross road area
or a cheaper 3+ bed in Carshalton/South Sutton

does Whitton have any nice pubs/restaurants or is it the 25 min walk to Twickenham?..

OP posts:

RNBrie · 07/02/2022 23:12

A good friend of mine has just moved from a small flat in Twickenham to a decent size house with big garden in Whitton. She's very happy there and is delighted to have moved.

She does drive her kids to primary school in Twickenham though...primary schools in Twickenham are a long way off full at the moment and the richmond birth rate has been very low so you stand a good chance of getting in to any primary you like which widens your search for a house considerably. I've no idea about secondary though so depends on the ages of your dc!

RNBrie · 07/02/2022 23:15

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111036656?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

This is the sort of thing you'll get for your money in Twickenham. Its not central Twickenham but its near schools, decent coffee and a 15 min walk to the station.

sarahb083 · 08/02/2022 09:29

Are you set on SW London? It's very expensive and not particularly well-connected for commuting into central London. Where SW are your friends? We looked at buying in SW London but ended up getting much, much more for our money by going slightly east into South London.

I'd have a look at Epsom, Carshalton, Streatham, Sanderstead.

Original poster

Noelia1 · 08/02/2022 09:47

@sarahb083

Are you set on SW London? It's very expensive and not particularly well-connected for commuting into central London. Where SW are your friends? We looked at buying in SW London but ended up getting much, much more for our money by going slightly east into South London.

I'd have a look at Epsom, Carshalton, Streatham, Sanderstead.

We are currently in Hither Green. It;s lovely but the drive to the midlands is becoming a lot longer, and we feel quite disconnected to our friends.

We have been looking at Carshalton - what are your thoughts on the area?

Where did you end up buying in the end?

OP posts:

hentheeighth · 08/02/2022 09:56

We're in Carshalton and like it - lots of green space, decent schools (although our DD is still too young for that!), direct train to Victoria. Our budget was much lower than yours for a small 2 bed so I'm sure you could find something plenty spacious on the nicer end of town, over towards Carshalton Beeches is nice. We can vouch for the pubs too...

Depending how old DCs are most of the good secondaries are grammars though - so there's that to consider!

Talipesmum · 08/02/2022 10:17

Have you considered Surrey villages with good train lines? Horsell in Woking is great, v fast train line and nice village feel with plenty of good pubs, cafes, nice local shops etc. But it’s within a short walk of Woking which (while it’s not the most beautiful or exciting town) is a really handy town centre, great cinema, leisure centre and parks, huge library, etc. And there are great state schools in Horsell. Loads of ex SW London types move here.

Some of these are sold in the last year, but shows you the kind of thing.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/116581196#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111296495#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112675835#/?channel=RES_BUY

ChristopherTracy · 08/02/2022 10:30

Carshalton is very nice and Cheam Village too. Cheam Village better located for schools as well.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119593904#/?channel=RES_BUY

sarahb083 · 08/02/2022 10:43

@Noelia1 We liked Carshalton, but didn't find the right house there. We're in Kenley, near Caterham. We're very happy here, but I'm not sure it fits your criteria - it's lovely and green with lots of parks and woodlands, and it's a quick train into London, but there's not many restaurants or pubs unfortunately.

If you want to get to the midlands easily, I think proximity to the M25 is more important than being in SW London. We're 10 mins from the M25 so it's quick to get out of London.

Have you looked at Coulsdon? It's got great transport links to central London (Thameslink, which goes right through central London), very close to the M25 for getting to the midlands, and has some really nice cafes and pubs.

This house on the new estate in Coulsdon looks lovely - www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/115470905#/?channel=RES_BUY

Seeline · 08/02/2022 10:59

@hentheeighth

We're in Carshalton and like it - lots of green space, decent schools (although our DD is still too young for that!), direct train to Victoria. Our budget was much lower than yours for a small 2 bed so I'm sure you could find something plenty spacious on the nicer end of town, over towards Carshalton Beeches is nice. We can vouch for the pubs too...

Depending how old DCs are most of the good secondaries are grammars though - so there's that to consider!

No pubs in Carshalton Beeches, you have to go into Carshalton village for those.

Beeches is a lovely area though - decent schools. Train from Beeches station is a stopper but normally serves London Bridge and Victoria (Southern service is not good at the moment!!)

Carshalton Village has a small high street with shops, and there are pubs, cafes etc. Lovely parks. Carshalton station has a better service.

SollaSollew · 08/02/2022 12:56

I honestly think that if you'd be prepared to settle for a 2 bed in Twickenham you'd be much better with a 3 bed in Hampton Hill/Teddington. Other than the faster trains everything else (in my opinion!) is nicer in Teddington.

This is in Hampton Hill just off the High Street (which does have lots of coffee shops, pubs etc.)

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/118959800#/?channel=RES_BUY

These are more the Hampton Hill/Fulwell side of Teddington but in your budget and 3 beds.

this is £700k

[https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114706598#/?channel=RES_BUY £725k decor not great but size and garden is good]]

or on the same road but done up and more expensive

I've lived round the area for 20+ years so if you have any questions about specific roads in the area then am happy to answer them.