Moving from outer London back into inner London? House back to flat?!

[SD25]

Has anyone moved from outer London - Zone 4/5 - back into Zone 2?
We have a house in Z4 but considering the move in order to have more on our doorstep in terms of entertainment, and within walking distance, quick travel distance. We love the space and being close to countryside where we are but realising we enjoy being closer to more going on. Anyone else been through similar? The main issue is going to be of course cost for the space as we're in a 3 bed house. So another issue would be considering going back to a flat or maisonette - same bedrooms but of course not a house. It may be that we don't have to compromise but possible. Obviously we could move now if we didn't mind being in a flat but we'd rather be in a house in a nice area, so of course requires some £££s... Anyone done any of this? Thoughts?

I haven’t done the move from outer London to inner (have always lived in zone 1/2), but I have moved from a (small) house to a (bigger) flat.

I don’t mind living in flats and think there are lots of upsides - but then neighbour noise wasn’t an issue in that flat.

Neighbour noise and leasehold (paying service charge etc) are probably the two downsides. It depends if those things will bother you?

Where are you now and where are you thinking of moving? I don't mind flats. If you have kids or are planning them, it's very handy to have outdoor space. Otherwise, though, I think flats can be as good as houses.

We have a garden so outside space almost certainly a must - and the smaller garden of many more central areas is obviously an issue. We almost certainly want to be buying another house really.

We're in Z4 SE London now and looking at moving closer to office and some of our friends in West/NW London. We're hoping with equity in our property and decent amount of savings, we could increase our borrowing (still manageable amount). But looking around the £1m mark so we're being guided by that, possibly Kensal Rise, White City... realistically somewhere on the border of where we'd really want to be!

Doing something similar at the moment - moving from south Z3/ 4 to north Z2… the reason is connected to a new job and commuting needs outside of London.

Are houses completely out of budget? Would you consider doing work or making any other compromises?

How about forget your friends and slook at zone 2 SE? A small house or an amazing flat would be possible for your budget.

I like the look of this place, for the location as much as anything - though perhaps too small for you, looks like it would work best for a childless couple:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121455746#/?channel=RES_BUY

You wont get much for £1m in Kensal Rise, what about somewhere like Mill Hill, you would get a house, garden, its quite leafy and has tubes and buses. I wouldnt move back to a flat after a house if I was young, do you have children or plan for them, leasehold charges are upwards of £2k a year.

Would you look at Shepherds Bush?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122146145