Where to live

[vcfromhk]

Hi we are a family just moved from Hong Kong. We are in Gipsy hill area on a rental. Our DD has got offers from Sydenham high and Kingsdale foundation. We are looking for a house to buy. So far because of school we were limiting our search to Sydenham and Beckenham. Since we are new to london our friends are suggesting to live closer to central like West Hampstead, Putney, Clapham, Fulham and even Chiswick.

We have 2 daughters aged 7 and 11.

Can group recommend where to live, a place which has good schools, family eco system, opportunities to make friends with other working parents and a good high street around?

This will also means that if it's too far from present schools then we may have to change schools. I'm not sure how difficult it will be to change schools at later time.

We were considering Dulwich village and like it but price way too high and for that price it's not close to city.

Thanks

That's what we are thinking that we let her go to Kingsdale and buy ourselves time to look around. That way even if we leave Kingsdale later it's not that we are leaving behind the best. Also agree with your choice of locations. All sound lovely and on my list. Thank you!

If you have the finances to manage it I would rent for a bit longer as you can then look properly and slowly. It is expensive to get it wrong!

I think you should do that !! Stay put renting , have a really good look round and send her to state school although as previous poster said East dulwich is pretty ok at the posh end! I don't know your wife though and it may not be her bag-

she might prefer North or south west London if it's in budget.

Forgot to say Greenwich too- very easy for CW !!

Yes I agree with all suggestions. She likes all things posh but have to find the right balance of posh and budget :). Her favourite this part of town is Dulwich village :)

Yes , would be mine too although Wimbledon village very nice indeed!

Hi OP. I am local to the area. Totally get what your used to in HK but the only way to replicate this is in central London which I wouldn't recommend for other reasons and doesn't seem within budget.

I have know the schools - they are great schools. I would absolutely not recommend moving further out and then commuting back, if you and your DD want local friends that's a disaster.

I think you need to ask yourselves two questions:

1. Do you want to live near friends in NW London, if so start calling schools and researching house prices asap.

1. Do you want to do something different completely and live further out, in which case start looking along the cross rail line.

Outside of that, I would largely ignore all of your friends suggestions unless they live in those areas. They are simply the list of the 'classic' nappy valley locations south of the river. None of them are a great commute to Canary Wharf.

Have you looked at East Dulwich and Peckham Rye? Commute to both schools is good, you have Lordship Lane, bars and restaurants of aPeckham Rye and a lovely walk through Dulwich Park to Dulwich village.

I would especially look at the area N of Barry Road upto the Horniman as you can walk to Forest hill statio for easy access to the wharf.

Thanks. That's very good feedback
. I must say people in this platform are very helpful

travelling from Clapham, Balham to those schools seems a bit crazy.

I travelled a distance to school (in London) but it depends on the connections. Plus she may not live that close to any friends she makes.

Most people like Crystal Palace with all the restaurants and bars so if that is not good enough for your wife, you will be limited in area. Beckenham is good but it is further away from both those schools and central London. I would have thought East Dulwich is the best option with a good High Street, near Kingsdale but cheaper than Dulwich Village.
SW London would not be good for Kingsdale. Houses are nice (and expensive) but not sure which High Streets are better than Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace is nice enough but with the OPs budget they can afford other areas.

Most people like Crystal Palace with all the restaurants and bars so if that is not good enough for your wife, you will be limited in area.

This! I'm in SE19 and if your daughter goes to Kingsdale it doesn't make sense to move too far from that area. Your wife can go into town for all the shops, or indeed to Dulwich Village. The shopping 'high street' doesn't need to be as nearby as the school, where your DD will have to go everyday. I know people do come from an unusually wide area for Kingsdale because it has no geographical catchment, but that's still no reason to make your DD do a crazy commute. Keep renting where you are and investigate East and West Dulwich, Denmark Hill, Forest Hill, Sydenham, and all those Overground areas, but really Crystal Palace has you covered for school commute, commute to Canary Wharf, and access to shops there and elsewhere. I like Greenwich too but it's not so good for secondary schools, so it comes down to what your priorities are really. Seems like you're keen on the Kingsdale place so I wouldn't even bother with the friends' comments about random places that are too far away.

*Herne Hill is another place worth a look in that general area.

Thank you makes sense