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.

Oh I didn't realise you liked some elements of it!

I don’t think anywhere on the SW Trains network (other than possibly Clapham Junction/Queenstown Rd) is going to come in at less than 40 mins’ commute. She might only be spending 24 mins in transit on trains but obviously also need to factor in waiting for W&C train and walk to from/station (a good 10 mins from Bank platform to Liverpool St) at either end.

@watersprites you see I don't think of some of the areas suggested as more central- I lived in Walthamstow once and it still felt a fair way out and wasn't my bag if I'm honest. - I get the feeling it wouldn't be the OPs daughters either

Now if central was having a place in Notting Hill or Hampstead - I would agree totally

As it is I think some of the suburbs are actually almost as quick to get in from , and have more of the vibe I think the OPs daughter is probably looking for- as well as being decent places in their own right.

I would probably have suggested Epping too - but couldn't see anything suitable to let.

Some of the more central areas I thought of like Crouch End or Muswell Hill aren't on the quick train or tube really without getting a bus first. So I ruled these out

My personal choices would be Wimbledon, Raynes Park, surbiton, kingston, Putney, Barnes, and the train plus W&C. OR as others have mentioned somewhere like Chingford or even Enfield (as in zones) - but around 38 minutes into Liverpool st

I would avoid going out as far as St Albans (even though it's quick) or Chelmsford due to commute costs- keeps it way down if you are still in zones.

@Kta7 I did it regularly when we lived in st Margaret's and yes it was around 40 minutes in total - but was fine with that as I liked a nice house

@Bluesclues1 ah- I missed it off my list- it should have been there

@torto where does she live now by the way as no point suggesting exactly where she lives, !

@Crikeyalmighty you did St Margarets to Liverpool St in 40 mins door-to-door in rush hour? No longer possible sadly.

I live in Highams Park. I absolutely love it but it’s definitely got a young families vibe and there’s quite a lot of 1930s houses. . I would suggest Stoke Newington or london fields if she can afford it or Clapham/ Balham if she’s totally against coming east.

@Crikeyalmighty the op wants a quick commute into Liverpool street, plenty of places even in z 3 is more than 40 mins door to door into parts of z1. So being on the right side helps as does a tube line which is far more reliable than waiting for trains.

Walthamstow is much hipper & younger than places like Raynes Park/Surbiton which are very family oriented. I like those areas & live in one you mention but except for Wimbledon I wouldn't have wanted to live there in my 20s & I would have hated to be without the tube.

I don’t think anywhere on the SW Trains network (other than possibly Clapham Junction/Queenstown Rd) is going to come in at less than 40 mins’ commute

Agree & you are going to have to live right next to the station.

Somewhere like Balham would be but again you will have to be 10 min walk from the station.

I did it regularly when we lived in st Margaret's and yes it was around 40 minutes in total - but was fine with that as I liked a nice house

How in 40 mins door to door?

Around Victoria Park in east London. Victoria park village- lots of pubs, quirky shops, young vibe and plenty of space in the park to walk/run with a dog
Bow
Dalston or around London Fields- upper end of budget, but Broadway market area is also young and vibrant

@watersprites I do totally get what you mean. It's easy for me to say I guess as we lived in Hampstead in my early 30s (very crap flat, lovely street) and then moved to Crouch End with a baby.

My son lives in a share in Belsize though in his mid 20s and he would be more than happy to move to Kingston or Surbiton if he could get a shared ownership - it's difficult to know really without knowing the person. Some 20 somethings can be an old head on young shoulders. got a relation who is 30 and partner who live in st Margaret's and they love it.

I also lived in Walthamstow in mid 90s, so maybe I'm being very unfair on it- it was pretty urban then and I guess I don't do urban- hated Hackney and Dalston too and suchlike. Very aware others love it though. I'm not getting that vibe here from OP with wanting more space and a dog etc -

Does she actually work in Liverpool st, or does she commute farther from there? When you say she works in the 'city' do you mean Canary Wharf or around Liverpool st/City of London?

Surbiton is lovely but makes zero sense for Liverpool Street.

There is no way that journey takes 40 minutes in total except by helicopter.

I also lived in Walthamstow in mid 90s, so maybe I'm being very unfair on it-

It's so different now just like Brixton is or even Balham, there was nothing in Balham in the 90s except the tube!

There's also been a big shift with East London becoming far more cooler than decades ago. I'm born & raised SW London (& love it) but no way would I chose Clapham over somewhere East today. It's full of Hooray Henry's for one but the OPs daughter might like that vibe! 😆

I think commute length for work & play is really important

From Crouch End you can take the train at Hornsey Station into Moorgate, super convenient!

@WonkyFeelings ha- had forgotten that, probably because we didn't live in a bit that was remotely convenient for Hornsey station .

@TheYearOfSmallThings it was 13 years ago I admit but yes that's what it took me 'then' and about 8 minutes of that was fannying getting out of bank station!

Highams Park is a great shout.

Really?! Shocked at how bad trains have become then! A fast train from St Margarets to Waterloo is now 34 minutes. Liverpool St where OP’s daughter work is 2 changes, probably at Waterloo then Bank. Then allowing to walk from home to the station, and station to the office. Realistically it’s likely to take 1hr15 door to door these days. If it was Bank only maybe an hour. I have a friend that lives a few stops up in Teddington who commutes to the city and bad day now it can take her 1hr30. Thankfully she doesn’t do it daily.

I'd stay closer in. How about this cute 2-bed Victorian terrace in Mile End. It's near the gorgeous Mile End Park which connects at one end with the beautiful waterside cafes and pubs around docklands and at the other end with Victoria Park with its deer and turtles and fountains and music festivals. She could commute on foot to Liverpool Street if she likes walking!

For a young renter I’d stay as central as possible. Highams Park would be a good shout for someone looking to buy with or planning kids, not a young professional in these circs.

Id definitely say stay East if Liverpool Street is the destination. Overground much more pleasant and less crowded than the central line and quicker too.

The nice bits within an easy commute would be Angel/Highbury/Stoke Newington/parts of Hackney (London fields/Victoria park) and I think there are nice parts of Bow/Mile end too, if budget allows. If she likes a west London vibe then Walthamstow and Leytonstone may be too gritty for her.

Wanstead could maybe be an option?