Quitting my job to move to glorious SE London!

[FrenchforHappy22]

Name change for this one because I’m quitting my job!

Hubby and I live in Ladbroke Grove right now. Moving as soon as we can.

Hubby needs to be in Cannon Street, I’ll be moving to a job in East London. We’ve settled on somewhere with trains into London Bridge.

We have a little one so primary schools are a consideration. We’ll probably look for 2-3bed house, around £600k.

Open to going even further out, just don’t know anywhere. Help!

Has anyone mentioned Brockley yet? It's quiet, leafy, a family suburb.
There's this on for only £535k.

@FrenchforHappy22 commuters guide doesn’t seem to have been updated for a long time, the school guide is from 2011-12! And prices are inaccurate and way too low, but it looks like it’s still helpful in giving an idea of which areas are commutable, but obviously a lot has changed since that time and you should verify info. I only found it with a quick google so there are probably similar for London itself.

Hi @FrenchforHappy22

have you looked into Hither Green? Two massive draws:

• amazing connections to London Bridge and Cannon Street. Trains come very often and it is usually one stop from Hither Green to London Bridge. When you look into locations suggested, do check both travel duration as well as frequency of trains. Some stations will only have a train departing for central London once every 30 mins
• a number of ofsted-outstanding primaries

property prices aren’t as high as some surrounding areas such as ladywell and brockley! A real community feel and amenities are improving all the time.

www.darekandgosia.com/commuter-towns-near-london/

www.mylondon.news/news/property/ranked-londons-best-worst-commuter-23803168

www.struttandparker.com/knowledge-and-research/the-commuters-guide-to-buying-a-home-the-ten-best-places-for-a-smooth-commute-to-london

www.moveiq.co.uk/blog/buying/commuter-towns-london/

Ideas for short commutes outside London.

Bromley? North end near Grove Park has good connections to London Bridge. So anywhere near Burnt Ash Lane, Sundridge Park or Bromley North Station. Great schools, good for families.

@FrenchforHappy22 whilst I totally see your point on times- the difference hugely is commute cost. I remember when we lived in St Albans and commuting and my colleague in Kingston was paying around half what I was as he was 'in zones' - for that reason alone unless you get something much better (be ut house or lifestyle) and cheaper by moving further out I would always see what you can get 'in zones' first

As PPs have said commuting costs and, as I mentioned, access to multiple train lines and national rail as well as London Overground - if there is a problem on one line (cancelled trains, trespassers, signal failure, strikes), you can still get home! Not so easy if you are in Sevenoaks. Plus buses, Ubers/black cabs cover zones 3-4.

Trains from Clock House, New Beckenham, Beckenham Junction, Sydenham etc are also every 10-15min during peak times. Whereas, I am not sure how often the fast trains from further out in Kent are.

I would probably draw the line at zone 4!

There’s this www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/103031255#/map?channel=RES_BUY close to Ladywell station for quick trains to London Bridge and Cannon Street. Not the prettiest house from the outside but usually catchment for Gordonbrock primary school. Also close to Crofton Park station. I agree Hither Green and Lee are worth considering.

I agree that the difference between a fast train to Kent and a slow train to Ladywell is that if the line to Kent is down you're completely screwed, whereas if the line to Ladywell is down you can get a bus to somewhere where there is a train. And in an actual emergency you can jump in a cab.

Petts Wood is lovely. 2 different train lines. Lots for families to do. Like someone said earlier, just be careful with school catchment areas as primary schools are oversubscribed.

Penge. Lots of Victorian houses and almshouses, some of which fall into the bracket you are looking at. Loads of train stations within easy reach and recognised as a place to buy in right now.

www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/property-news/where-to-buy-a-home-in-2023-top-london-regeneration-zones-b1049010.html

www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/leafy-south-london-neighbourhood-named-26176268

You’ve all priced us out now.
hope you enjoy your new community.