Where in London to buy for 900K for an international family of four?

[internationalfamily]

Hi everyone,

Sorry for yet another where to buy thread, but we could really use your help and insights.

We are planning to buy a house for our family of four. We have been exploring some areas and viewing houses over the past few months, but really struggling to make our mind up..

Here are the key factors...

Budget:

• Ideally somewhere between 750K-850K, but we can stretch to 900K.

Location:

• Needs to be relatively easily accessible to City (to both London Bridge & Strand)
• Excellent primary schools for our DD (who will start reception in 2023).
• Safe
• International community: both my DH and I are Europeans, we would like an open-minded and welcoming community
• Access to green space
• We currently live and like SW, but are (especially DH is) open to move other parts of London.

House:

• Three bedrooms
• Ideally a house with some outdoor space (one of the areas we disagree with DH who prioritise location over house and is fine with a flat too)

Our shortlisted areas are: Wimbledon Town (esp. Dundonald/Chase areas), Balham (Hyde Farm/Nightingale Triangle), Colliers Wood, East Dulwich.

Where would you buy from if you were in our shoes? Are we missing some other suitable areas? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts/suggestions...

Some really nice properties here. I was preparing to scoff at Kentish Town on that budget but the house is lovely!

Ahhh the days of living close to hilly fields

Lovely area op
Some very fond menories there

@internationalfamily
As many have mentioned, around Tooting Bec or Furzedown (which is just Tooting) would work for you. The primary schools are okay, but the secondaries are better.

Collier's Wood doesn't really have much going on, but I think the primaries are okay, but everyone seems desperate to get their DC into secondaries outside the area.
If you don't mind a flat / apartment North London is a good shout.

Primrose Hill is full of expats and has some excellent primary schools. A lot opt for private / independent secondary schools.
Ditto Camden.
Crouch End (fast train from Finsbury Park to London Bridge), is good. All of the primary schools are very similarly good, but some are more international than others.
Kentish Town has good primary schools.
Highgate has good primary schools and access to Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Kentish Town secondaries.
Both Highbury and Islington are lovely areas, but the secondary schools leave a lot to be desired.

Late to this thread but if not already suggested have you looked at Surbiton?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124117970#/?channel=RES_BUY

if you’ve come from SW London and you like that vibe then you may like Blackheath. Properties are cheaper in Hither Green, the nicer houses (in my opinion) are on the Lee side of the tracks and that’s closer to Blackheath. Primary schools are very good there but check catchments for certain roads.
Secondary schools not so much…

Others mentioned you might like Herne Hill which I agree, though I’m not sure about cost of houses and also what schools are like…

Thanks all. In the meantime, following some of the earlier recommendations, we have also looked at Streatham Hill (around ABC roads). Really lovely housing stock, and it felt like the area is on the up and very diverse although we were not really fond of the high street. I wanted to ask about experiences of others living in the area? How is it safety/noise pollution/community wise? Is it a good area for young families like us or more for a younger (late 20s) crowd? Also your experience re Streatham Wells, Hitherfield and Henry Cavendish Streatham would be much appreciated.

I grew up in Streatham, it was much nicer in those days when there was a john lewis/waitrose. It's been a lot better in recent years although the high road is so congested/polluted which I can't ever see improving.

There is lovely housing stock, personally I much prefer the houses/area on the other side close to Balham & Tooting common, it's greener, more spacious & cleaner.

I'm in Balham & I know HC balham is very sought after, not sure re the Streatham site. The Balham one had tiny catchments eg 300 metres.

Do you need secondary schools? Dunraven has a good reputation but many chose to go private or move out for secondaries.

Crime is average I think, there was a women who was stabbed pushing her pram on one of the abc roads & there was a terrorist incident near Lidl. I think that says more about cuts to mental health services though.

It has a mix of young families & younger people because lots of flats.

Have you looked around Tooting Bec? How old are your dc? A lot of people are in flats to get their dc into the school they want & then they move into a house which is a little further from the school.

Looking at your OP I would say the ABC roads are similar to Colliers Wood but the high street is much better. However CW has the benefit of the tube & close to Wimbledon.

Streatham is lovely over by the common and the Rookery. No idea about schools though. I quite like the High Rd, buses and trains to everywhere and all the shops you'd need.

We are planning to move to Wimbledon next year, it's my favourite part of SW London. I don't think there is anything quite like it as it caters for young people, young families & older families. Lots of green spaces & buzz. If I won the lotto I would live in the village!

I had friends near Streatham common/rookery again lovely houses but amenity wise it's a walk to the station/ the main high road bits & no bus until you get to the high road. They all learned to drive much earlier than I did.

Thanks both. We have a baby and a 3.5 yo girl. Yes, indeed we like it around Tooting Bec (and Wimbledon too).

Here is where you can see furthest distance offers to give you an idea

www.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/NOD-Rec20-how-offers-were-made-community-schools..pdf

idea of catchments.

Tooting B & Wimbledon particularly Chase by are quite different to the ABC roads. Would you move again for secondary?

I've found in Balham the population is quite transitionary, so many dc have left my kids classes but I think covid has exacerbated it.

Also be mindful that some London primaries are suffering from lack of pupils which will impact funding & therefore education.

southwarknews.co.uk/news/education/three-weeks-of-silence-on-southwark-school-closures/

OP, don't know if you had a chance to look at this one. 10 minutes from Tooting Bec underground, also walking distance of Balham and Streatham. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84760416?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

The OP can do much better than that

What about this if you're not afraid of a bit of work:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117918623#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or this is top of your budget but a great location in Furzedown
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123665594#/?channel=RES_BUY