3 bed flat in london, 700k ?

[flate]

Where might I look for a good sized 3 bed flat in London (3 dc) for 700k absolute max, with decent state schools?

Would like to be somewhere with an urban london, but villagey feel (hence the focus on flats). Have a strong preference for purpose built flats rather than house conversions - either period or new. I've mostly lived in west london when I was younger, but never with family.

Atm considering Kilburn?

How old are your dc OP? Southwark has about 15 primaries facing closure due to decreased numbers/lack of funding. This will impact on secondaries. Other heads are very angry that Kingsdale (a very popular school) is proposing big increases in intake as there isn't the physical need for it. Kingsdale are obviously thinking strategically.

@plasticwallet

All primary school age!

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on Chiswick village in Chiswick? Flats there seem to come up within budget

@flate if you are doing in year transfers then you should find out if boroughs even have space in primary you like for your 3 dc. The falling rolls aren't a thing in every borough eg Kingston is oversubscribed.

I’d check out houses too, especially now if you’re looking in west london. I lived in Acton, Ealing which is lovely and has good schools and is child friendly in terms of parks/activities etc. I loved my first flat in London (Shepherds Bush), but wouldn’t consider it with a child. It was bad enough with adults walking around and general noise.

The reason being with kids and flats you may find yourself with the noise complaints. I have a friend who lives in Hammersmith in a beautiful 2 bed flat in a gorgeous red brick building, stone floors etc, but is constantly asked to keep the noise down, which is impossible with children!

We bought a 3 bed flat for slightly under £700k in London three years ago. We love the flat itself, as it has got amazing river views from every room and the sound of crashing waves is music to our ears. There are trade-offs that u should consider.

We have 2 tiny balconies with fake grass as we do not have green fingers. If you love gardening, you may prefer having a garden. We live near an 'outstanding' state primary school that our kids got in, but to be very frank we think it's pretty rubbish, but we cannot afford private school. Kids genuinely would fare better in smaller class sizes. Secondary schools are pretty much non-existent where we are but we were keen to save up from the start to afford private secondaries in London - so carefully consider this.

Do you drive? We do not have a car and yet find it seamless to live in London zone 2 without a car. We love what the city has to offer kids and we spend weekends exploring London. Maybe some people get sick of London, who knows? Are u ok with commuting? I'm 15 minutes door-to-door from work and would hate sitting in trains or waiting more than 5 mins for a train.

Whilst we love our flat, the river and proximity to London attractions, the schooling issue is huge. It makes us unhappy when we regularly think about it. After spending so much on a flat and being unhappy with the useless state 'outstanding' primary school, maybe the better option would have been to go much further out and pay for private primary school (cheaper outside of London) and send to grammar for secondary.