Where Is 'Leafy' in London? 800K Budget

[Cloud16]

Hi everyone,

DH & I are considering a move to London after the offer of a transfer from his work. My work have offices there and are happy to move me too so it all seems like it's falling into place nicely.

We've planned a week's holiday to London for early August. My question is...

What neighbourhoods should we check out? He is a remote worker, but I need to reach my offices in Covent Garden twice a week.

We quite like leafy, tree-lined streets and green spaces... budget 800k, happy with a flat. 2 beds is a must, 3 beds would be nice.

Thankful for any suggestions!

Loved living in Crouch End. Just check you don't mind the bus journey - same goes for Muswell Hill and Ally Pally.

If I was to live my youth again, I would probably opt for as central as possible near a royal park.

The one thing I would bear in mind is if having DC. is on the cards. If you are, would you move out of London for space? I guess it's deciding whether this is a 5 year home or longer.

I used to live in Muswell Hill , absolutely loved it and would go back if I relocated to London again

I agree with crikey about Belsize and Hampstead but omitted them from my list as I assumed out of budget. If you could afford something then Hampstead Village would be prime for everything you've asked for. Hampstead Heath is possibly the loveliest city park in the world. However I recommend the Holly Bush pub as an even better option than the Flask haha!

if you dont have kids and are happy with a flat - just find something in zone 1. If you have kids (and dont go private ) zone 1 can be a bit rubbish when it comes to secondaries in which case look at zone 2. Wimbledon, Richmond, Barnes, Ally Pally and even Muswell Hill are all lovely if you have kids but they are miles away from all the action so why bother. I have lived in all of them so not knocking them, just saying they are far away. No one has a crystal ball when it comes to future house prices so just get what you love

I think that it's because the initial question said leafy which has certain connotations. And they also said ideally a three bed, realistically you're going to be making a number of compromises on the property of it's in Hampstead village!

It's not like you can get a three bed house in Chiswick for 800 either... They are in the sort of spot where they can get a nice flat in a centralish location if it's not very leafy, a rubbish flat in a leafy area of centralish London, or a nice flat in a nice area that's slight further out. Or indeed a house with further compromises.

Part of Crouch End climbs up the hill to Highgate tube so there's an alternative to the bus ride to Finsbury Park.

It's very close to various different parks! And leafy streets. Morden Hall park in particular is glorious.

Actually London is the greenest city in the UK.

This report also shows the greenest boroughs in London:

Green

I second the idea of picking a favourite park and trying to live near that. Greenwich park is the best!

Agree with the approach but would pick Battersea Park for a city park. Richmond or Hampstead for something more open/countryside esque

I personally don't love Greenwich as much but obviously everyone is different

Depends how likely it is you’ll have children.
feels like there are two clear avenues

1. no children, buy a zones 1-2 flat
2. children, buy a zones 3-4 house if it doesnt feel clear yet id wait to buy until it does (or pick a lane and be prepared to switch?)

@NapTimeChill Oh my goodness- yes the lovely Hollybush!!! Takes me back!! The reason I checked a few out before posting that area was my sons rented flat(shared with another) in central Belsize was actually quite a bit cheaper than other areas he was looking at suprisingly. I too thought it out of his budget. Certainly Islington, Fulham, Clapham etc were actually more. It's a lovely 2 bed, 2 bath too

Belsize Park is very central and leafy, you could get a flat there for that. I had a friend who lived there for 7 years it’s lovely!

Ealing, Ravenscourt Park, Chiswick, Richmond

South Wimbledon/Morden.

For the former, there's a 'sweet spot' where you're within 10/15 minutes walk of both train/District line (from Wimbledon) and Northern line (from South Wimbledon). Plus lots of buses.

Ealing is not close to zone 1
Bus takes ages
Look for somewhere eadily taxiable or walk in an hour to hour and half so is closer
Like kentish town gospel oak belsuze park near hampstead heath
Clapham common for south

Covent gard3n to belsize park 3.5 miles one hour and a bit walk
40 minute bus
Covent garden to wimbledon 2.5 hours walk 8.5 miles
To ealing sMe as to wimbledon

A matter of taste - I rather like it, though certainly helps if you want to go all-in on the aesthetic like the current owners have.

But the main point was the highlight it as an incredibly green part of London - around Sydenham Hill trees dramatically outnumber houses. But I don’t think the OP is really looking for that kind of peaceful leafy oasis vibe, so much as a non-gritty part of inner London near a good park.

FWIW I have always (even pre-kids) lived in very leafy bits of SE London and find it balances out some of the more hectic elements of central London. Anecdotally I know very few people from SE London who have opted to leave London over the years, compared to people who were based more centrally who have seemed more likely to find London gets too much eventually and move to the commuter belt or beyond.

Going against the grain I would not want to live in Hampstead itself. I’ve spent a lot of time there over the last 15 years. It’s absolutely packed full of tourists, impossible to drive or park, and just generally crazy busy.

i much prefer West Hampstead, Queen’s Park, Belsize Park.

Regent's park is a pretty damn good park. OP could get primrose hill -ish on her budget.

Hi @Cloud16 I just caught up and saw your update with the flat near Maida Vale. It looks really nice. I know the area really well as I lived in Elgin Avenue for 6 years, and would say it's a lovely area to live in. In my opinion the area to the west of Bloomfield Rd / the canal is slightly preferable to the Harrow Rd side as it is quite busy and loud, but this flat appears to be in a small cul de sac so might be quiet.

Clifton Rd is amazing, as are the streets round Warwick Ave, Randolph Ave, and the avenues off Elgin Ave. Some wonderful old pubs like the Warrington. Paddington Recreation ground is a really great massive park with a running track, and along the canal you can walk or cycle to Camden past the zoo which is a lovely walk, then onto Angel / Hackney.

The other aspects that are really good are Sheldon Square / Paddington Basin which is a nice modern development nearby with great restaurants and gym etc, plus canal boats. St. John's Wood is easily walkable and Regents park. To reach Mayfair / Marble Arch / Hyde Park/ Oxford Street it's a 30 min walk down the Edgeware Rd, where you will find Lebanese places galore (recommend Beirut Express).

I used to go for Sunday brunch at a place on Clifton gardens, and dinner after work at Le Cochonnet on Lauderdale Road in Maida Vale. It's lovely round there.

I hope you can view the property and maybe look at more around the area. Good luck!

Can I be nosey and ask the general area you're moving from?

Very leafy, and not far from the tube

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124351502

With the mansion flat, how long's the lease?

@urbanbuddha That's a real goodie- shepherds hill is really nice. We lived in Highgate village OP for a couple of years- tiny rented flat but bang in the village. Lovely area and 10 minutes walk from this flat - Highgate too fits your criteria , handy for Hampstead and good bus links too. Metro is either at Archway or down near Queens woods,

@NapTimeChill ohhh thanks for the info on the area. It sounds lovely and I will definitely check out the pubs and the running track sounds great for DH (he is obsessed with running). I'm exciting to visit and thanks for giving me info about specific streets, that's so helpful.

We are massive foodies so the restaurants sound delightful!

Me too. I think we will try and book some viewings when we go down.

We are moving from Glasgow.

Also @urbanbuddha that flat is lovely! 😍