Leaving London - recommendations?

[MovingOutofZone2]

DH and I currently live in a flat in London. We’re planning on moving out, in search of a decent sized garden and an actual house. The thirty something dream.

We’re in our early thirties, no kids, but currently TTC. He works in the City, so needs decent links into Liverpool Street (or London Bridge). I mostly wfh.

We’re an interracial couple (he’s white and I’m black), so would like somewhere reasonably diverse. (Recommendations from POC are especially welcome). Good schools, access to the countryside, and decent restaurants/bars/pubs.

Budget is up to £850K. If you were us, where would you move? We have no real links to anywhere other than London (neither of us is English), so pretty open minded. Probably staying South East, as a super long commute would make DH miserable + we still want to be able to see our friends.

ok, so how’s about
Guildford into. Waterloo
Harpenden or Berkhampstead into KC, Blackfriars
Brookman Park into KC

Pressed too soon.
people I know who left ldn went to
Canterbury a Uni town too
Seven oaks
Rye
Deal

@Zone2NorthLondon Excellent. Thank you!

The harpenden, Berkhampsted line is really well connected from N to S London
i believe Seven oak schools are good (so I’m told)
out of London is not as diverse as being in London obviously but hey you already know that!

I know seven oaks and Guildford and they’re nice enough, good restaurants etc

Sevenoaks has come up before, so definitely having a look there.

Beckenham, Petts Wood and Bromley have also been recommended. Guildford, Harpenden and Berkhampsted are entirely new to us, so doing some research. 😊

I kinda think of Beckenham as London, I know it and is actually nice

Chichester or somewhere along the West Sussex coast. South Downs, Festival Theatre, Portsmouth, Southampton, New Forest, train links to London.

Harpenden and Berkhamsted are on 2 different train lines. The Berkhamsted train terminates at Euston. The trains from Harpenden (and St Albans) go through London calling at St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, blackfriars, London Bridge.
I don't think they are especially diverse though. ST albans is probably more so

Bromley North / Sundridge Park would be a better commute than Beckenham. I'd also look at Hither Green if that's not too London-ish.

I'd stay in London tbh.

Penge, Sydenham, beckenham all nice areas with easy access to LB or Liverpool st.

There are nice areas in SE London where you could get a house and garden for £850k - are you looking more for a country location or would that work? Eg Crystal Palace, Forest Hill etc.

Beckenham is lovely with an easy commute to London Bridge.

Purley
Old Coulsdon
Coulsdon
Kenley
Chipstead

All within 25-30 mins to London Bridge on the train with good spacious houses and gardens for your budget.

Thank you, everyone. Super helpful.

I would also stay in London with that budget.

But if you didn't want to, you could check out Hove.

Why would you leave?

You could live in nice parts of Zone 3/4 south london on that budget? And have a house and a garden?

Hither Green? Crystal Palace? Sydenham?
More east, some parts of charlton on the blackheath side.

You’d still be on the TfL network and have sensible commutes.

Agree with @beavertowers recommendations, we live in one of those areas and it's very diverse. My husband is Indian and grew up near Winchester as one of only two non-white children in his primary school, and felt very 'different' as a result. He feels that he fits in much more here. Though I would recommend visiting before moving, as it's a lovely, green area, but there aren't a huge amount of amenities locally. Purley and Coulsdon South are especially good as they're on Thameslink, so very quick to London Bridge. The schools are generally good as well.

Don't go too far. We moved out of London and really regret it. The phaff of commuting a long way into the city really affects family life and has really harmed my career (needing to be around for DC & school especially when covid was rife and wraparound care was cancelled etc!)

A PP mentioned Bromley and I actually loved living in Bromley. I regret moving!! Ideal for city workers too.

We're currently trying to move back or I have to find a new, more flexible career to support DHs ridiculous commute!

Some friends moved further out and are coping fine. But she's a SAHM so she's able to be available for the kids

Another vote for Beckenham, but where did you end up buying OP?

Go for somewhere on the Moorgate or Liverpool St line. You don’t want the faff of having to get a tube after a train journey. Broxbourne (but you won’t get a lot for your budget there, but good schools), Hertford is a nice town, or you could go out to Essex. The Moorgate train goes through Southgate and to Hatfield and Welwyn or through Enfield and Stevenage.

Stay! House and garden perfectly possible in zone 3 south east London. We’re a mixed race family and v happy there. Look at Honor Oak, Crofton Park, Ladywell, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Penge…

North Herts ?

Oxford's lovely to live in, also diverse population and plenty to do. Fast links to London - an hour via parkway station to Marylebone or central station to Paddington

Orpington / Chelsfield.

Or Borough Green & Wrotham

Sevenoaks is very overpriced for what you get

Maidstone might work