Moving back to London

[LilyRose89]

After 2 years spent in a nearby city, we've decided to move back to London with our 1 year old, and rent for 1-2 years before deciding where to settle definitely.

Therefore, we're looking for a London family friendly borough to settle in!

We've lived everywhere in flat shares around London but nowhere with a baby and we would like to find a place that is family friendly, safe, where we have plenty of access to shops, restaurants, cafes, and that is still relatively affordable - if we can call anything affordable in London. Highgate/Hampstead is my dream but unaffordable at the moment, let's bar Fulham, Chelsea, all of this.

Where do all the lovely MNetters live in London, and where would you recommend to settle with a young family?

The type of property we would look at is a 2 bedrooms with outside space.

Thank you!

What is your budget? Renting or buying? Will you need to commute to a particular part of the centre or City for work?

Sorry, you said you’d be renting. Question about budget and commuting still applies.

Yeah, you need to define 'affordable'

if you can nearly afford Hampstead, look to West Hampstead instead? v family friendly and good transport links to central London.

is there a location in central london that you need to commute to? if so, work out the best tube lines and then go from there.

The 'classic' family friendly areas of London are Dulwich, Putney, Primrose Hill, Highbury and Islington

Up and coming family areas are Walthamstow, Leytonstone, Forest Gate, Wanstead Flats - these have a trendier Hackney crowd.

Nicer but further out are Kingston, Barnes (beautiful but poor transport links)

Kingston/ham/ Teddington/hampton new Malden/South Wimbledon/surbiton - Lots of greenery , family friendly - lots to do and nice bars/cafes and good shopping.

Midweek Hill/ East Finchley

Muswell

Clapham and surrounding areas

Do you need to be N/S/E/W to get to work and/or to get out of London to family / friends regularly at weekends?

Thank you for the replies! It gives me some inspiration, never thought about West Hampstead for instance.

Our budget is £2,250-£2500 and we don't need access to the underground although it would be great to have easy transports to central London, I'm thinking any underground that could take us to central (Oxford Street, King's Cross etc) in less than 45mn.

Hanwell in Ealing. Affordable, family friendly and on the new Lizzy line, about 20 mins max to Bond St.

Ealing, great idea, thank you.

Tufnell Park / Dartmouth Park is close to parliament hill and Highgate?

What parts of London did you like before and which parts did you not like?

My son rents a lovely 2 bed 2 bath flat in good condition and lovely kitchen in a very nice leafy bit of Belsize Park and shares with another for £1725 . For that budget and only a 2 bedder you can rent nearly anywhere nice except obvious very central places like Kensington, Notting hill !!!! -

Richmond, Belsize, Ealing, Chiswick , Barnes, Putney, Wimbledon etc - all suitable

Thank you @Crikeyalmighty it's encouraging, although it seems the outside space is the sticky point for us, I don't see much on the market at that price point in Highgate/Hampstead with a garden. But just started my search and we would be moving in September so I have time.

We think to look further into Highgate area, and also look into Clapham/Balham/Putney.

Never lived South but heard it's a bit cheaper than North and as someone said a classic family friendly area.

Just want to make sure we're making the right choice as I want to move back permanently to London! So want DH to love it as much as I do :)

Do you need childcare?

Are you planning on staying in the area for schools?

Most of London is suitable for families as long as you use your common sense and avoid living on a busy road. However not all of London has nurseries and childminders available. Some areas have poor schools or the catchment areas for good schools are small.

Try Richmond, Chiswick, Teddington, East Dulwich. Everyone I know who raised children around Richmond/Teddington loved it.

My personal preference is for East London - Victoria Park Village would be my dream place to live but it's not quite Hampstead.

@DFOD without wanting to alienate anyone as I know each area really has pros and cons, so just comes to personal preference.

Listing where I lived:

• loved and would be great with a baby: highgate, hampstead


• loved but I would say more suited to my party years: whitechapel, hackney


• didn't like: archway


• Shepherd's Bush near Ravenscourt Park (DH says it's great, I've never been)


• Putney, Balham: some friends live there, never been myself


• Notting Hill: I love going to Portobello and would picture myself living there but don't know how it is outside of the picturesque market


• South Bank area: probably my favourite place in London, is there anything family friendly there? I heard Bermondsey could be quite good.

Thanks for all the replies so far, appreciate my ask is quite vague, would love some real testimonies from Londoners with a young family :)

Barnes?

Very good point @RedWingBoots , DS just started nursery so I feel I have a few more years before looking at school catchments but it's something to take into consideration. Better get somewhere with a good school catchment now if we decide to stay in London.

Oh Barnes! I like the idea! Maybe a contender there if we can afford it.

Walthamstow

Adding a vote for Walthamstow! Victoria line gets you central very quickly, plus overground to Liverpool street.