If we like Tooting where else would we like?

[Tootootoot]

We're looking for a flat in London and based on our research (basically reading lots of mumsnet threads) we've visited Blackheath and Tooting so far. We didn't think Blackheath was right for us (seemed too suburban and a little dull) but we really liked Tooting. The diversity of the people, the market, the common and once it's open the lido were all great. Also the fact it's got good transport options for getting into central London.

Budget is £500k for a 2 bedroom flat. Is there anywhere else we should visit before we make a decision please? We don't live in London currently so need to make the most of our time when visiting. Thanks in advance.

I lived in Paris too 😊. I was in the 5e but not as fancy as that sounds.

Yes, Pigalle is gritty

Peckham, Brixton, Dalston Junction maybe?

Final stop is mordon.

But you gave South Wimbledon before that which is handy for northern line and a 15 min walk into Wimbledon.

Mordon is not a nicest of places as a centre (though shop wise neither is Tooting particularly but the food is great and easy to get to Balham or Wandsworth or Wimbledon for nicer shopping.

I’ve lived in a few of the suggested places! Would suggest Streatham, West Norwood and Brockley. You might struggle to get a 2 bed for 500k in Streatham now, but worth a look.

Check out Furzedown - area between Tooting and Streatham, you should get a 2 bed with a bit of garden for your budget. Great community, local events organised several times a year and walkable / good buses to streatham or Tooting and you can walk to the lido too :)

If you need to commute in to the West End then I'd steer clear of Streatham/Norwood etc as the reason these areas are cheaper is that the transport isn't that great. Your budget would get you a 2 bed flat further in so the northern end of Clapham/Stockwell/Oval/Kennington or Vauxhall off the river. All of these have at least the northern line and Stockwell northwards also has the VIctoria which is fast. You could probably also get the edges of Brixton. Oval has a farmers market and Kennington Park and all these areas tend to have lively residents associations that organise events if you want to get involved in the community. Loads of the Stockwell/Clapham mothers swim in the Lido at Brockwell Park all year round which is much nicer than Tooting (albeit a bit shorter). If the Lido is the big pull then Herne Hill by Brockwell Park is nicer than Tooting, diverse, has a nice market at the weekend

Some examples of what £500k gets you

3 bed in Herne Hill right by the Lido
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134438465#/?channel=RES_BUY

3 bed in the "posh" bit of Stockwell
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125040542#/floorplan?activePlan=1&channel=RES_BUY

3 bed by the Thames in Kennington
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85454334#/floorplan?activePlan=1&channel=RES_BUY

2 bed with large communal gardens in Brixton

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132402293#/?channel=RES_BUY

Ah ok, for a West End commute have you looked into North London at all? You could find somewhere on the Northern/Piccadilly line for an easy commute. As PP mentioned I’d avoid Norwood, Streatham etc as they aren’t ideal for transport, especially if you don’t want to drive.

Or if south London, how about Putney, that would get you to Embankment on the District line?
Some examples:
Putney:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130191992#/?channel=RES_BUY
East Finchley:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127188098#/?channel=RES_BUY
Manor House:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132014873#/?channel=RES_BUY

You might like the area around Seven Sisters, great for the tube and from memory has quite an interesting market.

Otherwise Streatham has some good nightlife, and though it doesn't have a tube station it has several train stations which go into the center.

Furzedown (between Tooting and Streatham) is a 20 min walk/short bus ride of both, and parts of it are very close to the Lido. Also a bit greener than the other two, but transport isn't as good. It is cheaper because of that though, and far away from stations to have free parking across most of it.

Tooting Lido is freezing 🥶 and totally rammed on very hot days!

How about Hampton or Twickenham? There is Hampton pool there which I think is heated.

Or Teddington or Sunbury-on-Thames?

You might like the area around Seven Sisters

Nobody likes the area around Seven Sisters. It is not nice, and I am not fussy (I live up that way).

How about Hampton or Twickenham?
Or Teddington or Sunbury-on-Thames?

These areas are pleasant but the opposite of diverse and lively, besides being expensive.

True, I was focussing on the lido too much there

I love Tooting- my son lived there for a while- think you aren't going to beat it with your budget- maybe Crystal Palace , Greenwich and Streatham or South Wimbledon areas worth considering- but I prefer Tooting!! And I'm a snob

I'd look at Streatham Hill (minutes by bus down to Brixton tube - the buses up and down the A23 are very frequent) plus its own train station), outskirts of Brixton, Clapham North/Stockwell, Herne Hill. Yes, they are noisy and some down at heel bits but buzzy, fun, and so much green space (Clapham Common, Tooting Common, Brockwell Park, Wandsworth Common, and the Dulwich parks), friendly communities, cinemas, lovely cafes, lots of sport and stuff going on, and (mostly) good transport links.

Maisonettes in this area generally have a small garden and are within an easy walk of Tooting Broadway (just on the Colliers Wood/Tooting border)
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/64601920/

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/61317539/

The Dinton Rd one is very close to the railway but slightly further from the railway line on the same road is fine

I'm slowly working my way through all of these suggestions with rightmove and Google maps. I love the look of Streatham so far.

Colliers Wood certainly looks good price-wise, for example:

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133710425

Would be very good to have a house because of my dog but didn't think it would be possible. But there doesn't seem to be much going on in the area or a lot of green spaces.

The Lido is closer to Streatham really so you could look there but no tube.

New Malden is meant to be up & coming but again no tube.

The best parts of Streatham will likely be out of budget

I like Tooting it's got grit but is getting hip. Northcote road etc are perfectly nice but not hip & pretty sanitised.

The traffic & congestion is bad in Tooting (hate Streatham high road too) but if I didn't have dc I don't think it would bother me. Fab restaurants in Tooting.

Sorry i can't get over people wanting to living in Tooting, Streatham, West Norwood etc. these were absolute dives 20 years ago. I dodged prostitutes getting home from Streatham hill station when I was there! Crystal Palace is nice though if you look on the Upper Norwood side, my flat was there (sold before the prices shot up when nobody wanted to live in London!)

Furzedown (between Tooting and Streatham) is a 20 min walk/short bus ride of both, and parts of it are very close to the Lido. Also a bit greener than the other two, but transport isn't as good. It is cheaper because of that though, and far away from stations to have free parking across most of it.

Furzedown is expensive for what it is because transport is annoying. It's expensive because of good schools, op doesn't need to factor that in?

@gogohmm Parts of Tooting & Streatham were always nice eg Heaver Estate, top of Bedford Hill. Sarah Beeny lived there for years in a ££££ house.

Equally I think Upper Norwood is a bit no man's land!

South Wimbledon might be work a look as you could still be close to the high street & obvs northern line. I do like Wimbledon.