What area of London?

[torto]

Can someone recommend an area in London that’s easily commutable to the city?

DD is looking to move further out to get more space, she’s late 20s. Wants a quick commute into Liverpool Street (say 40 mins?). Somewhere that isn’t just families. They want to get a dog so somewhere with decent outdoor space. She’s looking for somewhere that is pretty, old housing stock. Her worst nightmare would be a 1930s semi (she grew up in one!) in a boring commuter suburb. Their budget is around £2,500 a month, preferably a two bed or a one bed with a garden.

Higham's Park has nice Victorian bits near the forest, which is great for dogs.

I'd recommend somewhere like Leyton/Leytonstone (in the Francis Road area) or Walthamstow. There are loads of 1/2bed maisonettes with gardens and lots going on in the area!
I lived there in my 20s and my sister still lives in the area and loves it. I've now moved further out to Epping Forest which is very family and dog friendly!

somewhere east

might struggle to get decent outdoor space though

She’s not a fan of Leyton, but I thought it was cute when visiting a friend there! She prefers slightly posher areas, more West London vibes… but that obviously comes at a price … and the commute

Another vote for Walthamstow - choice of overground or Tube, great vibe, lovely market and good access to green spaces.

I agree with Highams Park. Or North Chingford near to Station Road. Really easy commute to Liverpool Street and Epping Forest on your doorstep. They're also just 5 mins on the overground to Walthamstow where you can pick up the Victoria line.

Walthamstow itself is also a good option of course, a different vibe.

Yy Walthamstow. Or further in and if budget allows - Stoke Newington, London Fields.

Also look on the train line that runs from Moorgate up through Old St and Highbury & Islington. Nice quick commute to Moorgate and short walk to Liv St. Areas on that train line include Alexandra Palace, Haringay.

If she really wants West London she could look round East Acton (“Chiswick borders” )and commute via the Central line but it’s a much less pleasant and probably longer commute vs taking the overground. And less for your money than E/NE direction.

doesn't really make sense to go west

SW rather then W but what about Clapham? Northern line into Bank for work. The common ticks the green spaces box and it’s full of young professionals. Lots of victorian housing stock and a ground floor conversion flat should be doable on that budget.

Personally I would go for somewhere in SWLondon on the train line into Waterloo (around 17 mins from say Wimbledon and Twickenham)and then a quick 4 minute on Waterloo and city

Better choice of prettier houses in what she's looking for , greener and just as quick.

Here's 2 examples - 1 of which is a traditional semi but pretty nice for the money

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137470763

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86278623

Surbiton is a suburb (a nice one) but why would you live there or near Barnes when you could be more central?

I agree with looking at south west, on the train into Waterloo then get Waterloo & city line to bank. And why is she getting a dog if she goes to an office…

Plus you won't to those journeys in 40mins!

East - Bow or somewhere like that?

Parts of Greenwich (new builds areas not the old central bit obvs) are quite affordable - and big parks.

Se - Crystal Palace has a big park, but check travel time

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136524020?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=lettings&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_LET Amazed to see you can get something like this in Brockley within that price range. This is close to a good park, lots of dogwalkers locally (some of them professional). Overground to Whitechapel, one stop on Elizabeth Line toLiverpool Street. Zone 2.

There are no rentals in leyton , i do part time admin for an agency, when a flat or house comes up, it is fought over. also, there is a huge crack cocaine problem all around francis road, a new hair salon charges £400 for high lights while addicts are passed out on the pavement with a crack pipe outside....albanian mafia have almost taken over the high road, ...full of fake shops, cafes, barbers....residents have reported seeing bags of cash, drugs, even bare knuckle boxing fights in these places when the shutters are down....Avoid...we can easily sell and cash in as have no mortgage, paid 20k and can get easily 900k for our massive house when we choose to leave the area !

East anywhere on the overground is a breeze direct to Liverpool Street, unless there's strikes/rail works of course lol. For open spaces most stations on the line from Liverpool Street to Chingford cover that angle - Victoria Park/Hackney and Walthamstow marshes/Epping Forest.

i have posted reply to op message....see that...avoid francis road...yes expensive hair salons and gift shop etc but now infested with crack users...day and night...massive problem...been going on for over a year...mafia all over high road behind it all...it will take the army to go in and clear it up...muggings at the local cash point to fund drug habits, parcels stolen, addicts in front gardens with crack pipes day and night...all reported for over a year...no change....and no flats to rent, if one comes up it goes to bids as shortage etc.

If sister wants east then consider walthamstow, not st james st area as rough, highams park a lot nicer and no drug and gang issues....well not as bad as leyton and walthamstow areas....us residents all know that the albanian mafia has taken over large chunks of high roads in leyton, walthamstow...hoe st, wood st etc...yet to reach highams park or chingford...

@earsup why haven't you sold up?

Ealing. I lived there for 8 years in my late 20s/early 30s and loved it. Nice pubs, restaurants, boutique gyms etc. great transport links - central, district and Elizabeth line.
we would quite often walk down to Kew - even did Richmond a few times. Easy to get to ‘posh’ west London like Chiswick and South Ken. loads of lovely parks.

Not trendy London, but getting there!

good luck finding a landlord happy to accommodate dogs though!!

Walthamstow Central is 15 minutes from Liverpool Street on the overground. We've also got the Victoria Line, which gets you to Oxford Circus in about 20 minutes. I'd third (or fourth) Highams Park maybe Upper Walthamstow.

Because i love my house, belonged to my grandmother and my late mum, we borrowed 20k years ago to renovate it all...has all original features, big garden, we keep bees, have a lot of friends in the area....near the tube, yoga classes...I avoid the high road, shortcut around it, at some point they will need to send in a huge police squad and deal with the mafia etc....residents are tired of meetings and want action...some neighbours threatened dealers with an iron bar so they left our road and moved along 4 roads up...not pleasant is it...!!