Where to live that's commutable to London?

[HeyyyMrNoodle]

I've recently started a new job that has an office in London, and they are happy for people to move to work out of that office instead of my local one.

Can anyone recommend some family friendly areas that are a commutable distance to London?

Criteria is:

• 3 bedroom minimum with a decent garden
• budget is £550k max (aware this may not be much for down south!)
• I'll need to commute to Waterloo 2x a week
• very occasionally my husband will need to get to Bristol (longer journey is fine as this is likely to only be once or twice a year)
• amenities such as cafes/restaurants/nice parks nearby with preferably some good shopping not too far away
• our family are in Manchester so maybe north or west of London would be best to occasionally drive back up? This is less important though
• we have one nursery aged child so in a couple of years will need to think about schools
• one important criteria is that my husband doesn't drive so need public transport, schools, nursery, etc to be easily accessible

I've wanted to move to/near London for years but for some reason never done it and now have the opportunity to. Our mortgage is up for renewal in just over a years time so it could be a good time to move. I've just realised since having my child that where we are doesnt offer as much opportunity for her as I would like as there isn't much around where we live, it's just a bland commuter town with not much going on!

I wouldn't chose Mitcham personally.

what age is your dd?

In terms of commuting, being within London and having more than one train line will give you more options and security - then you don't get stuck if your train line is impacted by delays, strikes etc.

Have a look in SE London around SE18/SE2 as you'd be on the Elizabeth line and also mainline (Southeastern). www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/128512661?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Look at

Surbiton
Berrylands
New Malden
Worcester Park
Ewell
Weybridge

As per PPs - SE London.
Beckenham is large area bordering Bromley in the south and London (Sydenham, Penge, Crystal Palace) in the north. Unsurprisingly, it is more of a suburban and less diverse feel in the former and more of a London vibe with the latter. However, you get much more for your money the further away from London you go.
Trains direct to London Bridge, Waterloo m, Charing X, Cannon St & Victoria take generally 20-30min and access to multiple train lines is really valuable in case of cancellations.
State, grammar & private school (incl the big 3 in Dulwich) are within easy reach.

Would also recommended the aforementioned Sydenham, Penge & Crystal Palace.

More great suggestions thank you - many more options within our budget than I thought there would be!

@bibbif - she's just about to turn 1

I don't live in Mitcham and have never had but know people who have lived there for years. It's the most affordable area of South/South West London with excellent transport connections and although certain parts are grim people are generally nice, hardworking and family oriented.

For a young family like OP who need a first home in the capital within commutable distance to work, good public transport, parks and local amenities within walking distance, it fits the bill.

Other places especially outside London will have limited local public transport (mainly one mainline train station to London and if you want to be within distances of the station then it's quite grim).

@HeyyyMrNoodle there are some excellent primaries in the areas I listed so wherever you settle check the catchments.

SE London would be a longer journey to Bristol

@igglo I would argue the lack of amenities is the downside to Mitcham, but yes you can travel to other areas for better ones but you can do that from most places.

The OP doesn't have to commute everyday which means she has more flexibility. This general trend will make gentrification of areas more difficult to predict

I think it will be grim in Greater London at that budget for a house if I'm honest . I would suggest Newbury , kidlington (oxford) , Abingdon , caversham, - if the Bristol bit not that important or Manchester- I would suggest Guildford , Godalming, Epsom or Dorking or Reigate - although would be tight budget wise )

Hi i would look at Orpington as mentioned before. I live in south east bit but from Manchester and journey back is fine. Actually someways maybes better as can easily avoid m1

Ah- I missed that you want to go out to London in evenings- caversham or nicer bits of Reading are well connected - it wouldn't be my top choice - but does tick your criteria , as does somewhere like Watford

Unlikely in Guildford/godalming for 3 beds garden, good school £550k unless having cash for refurbishment.

We used to live in Welwyn Garden City. We absolutely LOVED it. We would have bought there if we hadn't wanted to move to be closer to parents.

You will definitely get something in your budget with 3 bedrooms there.

The fast train to Kings Cross is half an hour then you can Tube or bus to Waterlo.

@theholidaymum yes I can see it would be tight-but I did see a few recently when I happened to look in agents windows about that level- did want a bit of a titling up though! Or ex council etc - but not bad

Try around Bedford. Few towns like ampthill, Flitwick, westoning where you'd get a nice house and Flitwick train goes to St Pancras in 45 minutes

If school is important factor then @HeyyyMrNoodle i would look for secondary schools then search around there. You will need to look further out in Surrey - Haslemere/Liphook/Witley/Milford etc. are lovely but you will need to drive to nearby stations for London commute or outings.

Kent might be a good option as trains go through Waterloo east. Otherwise Surrey/Hampshire go into Waterloo mainline. The better the train links the higher the price of property though!

Look at the towns on the line between reading and Waterloo, any in budget? Easy access to m25 to get to Manchester, and to get to Bristol by train via reading

Wokingham is coming up as in budget on the right train line but I don't know anything about it

I'd look at anywhere south-west of the m25 on the Waterloo line. The train is fast, better for getting to Bristol ny car, and the budget will go much further than anywhere thats more in 'London', plus less concerns like ULEZ expansion, crime etc. Woking/Farnborough/Fleet/Basingstoke etc.

Windsor?

Quick easy drive to London and trains to Waterloo.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchType=SALE&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1463&insId=1&radius=0.0&minPrice=500000&maxPrice=550000&minBedrooms=3&maxBedrooms=&displayPropertyType=&maxDaysSinceAdded=&_includeSSTC=on&sortByPriceDescending=&primaryDisplayPropertyType=&secondaryDisplayPropertyType=&oldDisplayPropertyType=&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=&newHome=&auction=false

Maidenhead

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Maidenhead.html

South Oxfordshire.

Wantage and surrounding villages.

40 mins train to Paddington. Crossrail now runs through Paddington. Easy to dr be west and north.

Milton Keynes. Very underrated city. Moved there 20 years ago from London. Never regretted it. Under 30 mins to London. Great outdoors spaces. Excellent transport links to rest of UK. Best place to raise young ones. Catchment area for Grammar schools in Buckinghamshire. My son attends grammar school in Aylesbury

You can easily buy in Thornton Heath at that price, south London. This is Victorian terrace is on at 475. Thornton Heath sometimes gets a bad press but I know a few people who live here very happily.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126770207#/?channel=RES_BUY