Where would you buy in London area with great transport connections?

[nudnikit]

We live overseas. Have a house we rent out but in a bit of a remote area. Over the next couple of years, two of my kids will be going to uni in the UK. We want to sell our house and to buy a 1 or 2 bed flat/house in the London area where we have friends and family (all over, from North London through to Surrey). We have about 400k max and we want an area with excellent transport connections. We don't know yet where the DC will go to uni but we want them to have a base where they can leave their things, go at weekends and for us to have a base in the UK too (we have a younger child who would come with us too during holidays). We had always stayed with family during holidays but now that's not possible as the family member downsized and moved into sheltered accommodation so we also need somehwere to stay when we come.

While the flat is empty, we would consider Airbnb (aware that it's limited in London) or some other short term rental. Potentially only for one of the bedrooms if we do a 2 bed.

So my question is - what areas of London would you recommend for the money we have? As I mentioned, top priority is excellent public transport links. Then ability to generate some income (as we're losing the rental money).

Orpington and surrounds? Great train links to London, frequent services. You could get a nice 2 bed flat for that money.

I hadn't thought of around there! I was looking more at Harrow, Wembley, maybe Finsbury Park or W Hampstead (although expensive) and Watford. I don't know that area at all so am going to research (I know N London and Herts/Middx much better than S London/Kent/Surrey).

Have you considered Walthamstow? There are Warner (custom build Victorian) flats around Lloyd Park and St James Street in the 400k region. Wouldn't be a huge flat, but it's got good transport links (Victoria Line into Central London): www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131091518#/?channel=RES_BUY

Isle of Dogs has excellent transport links and would be easy to rent out.
Canary Wharf is really handy for things shops restaurants bars and it’s also a bit quieter on the streets as people don’t drive through on the way to anywhere. Handy for Greenwich.

And for £400k you could get a view of the river

Perhaps Purley or Coulsdon? Pretty far out but trains are very quick into central London. Might get a small house (just) or a good flat at that budget. Very good for driving connections too as they’re close to the M25.

It depends on where you need to travel - the Victoria Line is very good.

Penge. Train from Penge East and overground from Penge West and Anerley. Tram from Avenue Road and Elemers end. Also right next to Crystal Palace - voted best place to live in London.

Your budget should get you a flat in Stockwell - Victoria and Northern Lines getting you in to the West End and the City plus Overground/National Rail at Vauxhall and Clapham High Street and lots of bus routes. Walk up to the Thames in about 15 minutes It shouldn't be too difficult to airbnb either as it is reasonably central.

Slightly bigger and overbudget but there has been a lot of redevelopment in the area so flats aren't selling that well and might be open to an offer
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126900095#/?channel=RES_BUY

Very close to the Thames
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130209788#/?channel=RES_BUY

Finsbury Park is absolutely brilliant for transport so I’d go there if you can afford it- good 2 beds go for £600+ but a 1 bed may be doable.

I was going to come on and say Penge but someone above beat me to it.
down the road from Crystal Palace. Great transport links, we can get to London Bridge in 15 mins.

I'd go Finsbury Park, the transport links are great. You might struggle a bit with budget but for a two bed but you might find a one bed.

Looking on Rightmove now though I'd probably go for this one. It's Holloway road which still isn't bad as you've got the Piccadilly line and about a 20minute walk to the Victoria line and overground at H&i or can get a main line train from Drayton park.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129219950

The first place I thought of on reading your OP was Orpington, then I read the first comment :)

You could get a 1-bed flat in Wimbledon, which is a great place to live with excellent transport links.

And lots of letting potential during the tennis if you go for Wimbledon.

Stratford has excellent transport links and is now in Zone 2.

Lewisham has great transport, a number of trains converge there going to Victoria, Charring Cross and Cannon St and there is the DLR
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/128485694#/?channel=RES_BUY

South Norwood/Norwood Junction. 12 minutes into London Bridge, 31 minutes to London Victoria and 37 minutes to Gatwick.

Kennington, Oval, Clapham - Northern Line and a few stops into Waterloo and a million bus routes.

Brixton, Stockwell, Pimlico - a few stops to Victoria

Came to suggest the same!

But are any of these locations feasible with a £400k budget?!

Yes

Also came to suggest Penge lol

I’d love it if someone could please find me a 2 bedroom flat for sale in Pimlico for under £400,000! (Sorry to hi-jack op.)

Chiswick is a nice town and well connected. You should be able to get a 2-bed there for that price I think.