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Original poster

Recommendations for a nice area in London to buy a 3 bed house at £650-700k?

59 replies

dc22 · 21/08/2023 14:33

Hello, I've read several older threads but posting my own - looking for a nice family-friendly area with a community feel, we'd like a house with min. 3 bedrooms and our budget is £700k at a stretch, ideally £650k.

We're currently in Wood Green / Alexandra Palace but areas around us are out of our budget. We'd also like to be closer to nature and less built up than zone 3 tends to be here. Looking around Southgate, Oakwood on Piccadilly which we know and also Chingford, Highams Park, Chigwell, Buckhurt Hill area along Overground/Central line (don't know the area yet but heard good things!). Considered Barnet area but might be too pricey closer to stations. We've never lived in South London but could be persuaded if we found somewhere that ticks the boxes (realise this probably means trains vs. tube and we find tube more reliable!).

We work in central London in Angel and Temple - don't have to commute every day but decent transport is still important to us. Don't have a car but thinking of getting one. Good nurseries & schools are a must - a forest school type of setting would be a massive plus as we're using one now!

Please recommend some ideas - thank you!🙏

OP posts:
MrsPatterson2014 · 21/08/2023 15:46

Penge - great transport links, lots of green spaces, strong community. High Street not the prettiest but useful.

Purditnin · 21/08/2023 15:46

Similar situation and we are going ‘Sawf’. Check out Beckenham/Petts Wood/Bromley generally, in SE. And places like Cheam, straight south.

Beachwaves127 · 21/08/2023 20:27

I’d recommend the chingford Buckhurst Hill area you mention!!! Quick into town on central line, good mix of London v countryside. Babies and kids everywhere so lots of nurseries and good schools.

Ireolu · 21/08/2023 20:40

Palmers Green is slightly cheaper than southgate and oakwood. Your budget may get you something in the latter 2 but is more likely to be a doer upper.

Twizbe · 21/08/2023 20:40

Second Penge. Really nice area with lots of families. Quite a buzzy art scene as well if that’s your thing.

Original poster
dc22 · 21/08/2023 20:56

Thanks for the recommendations so far, would love to hear more! We know Palmers Green but it feels a little too busy still and not as close to the countryside, plus lack of tube.. Will check out Penge and SE!

OP posts:
Original poster
dc22 · 21/08/2023 21:03

Oh and yes, absolutely into arts!

OP posts:
Horriblewoman · 21/08/2023 21:05

I wouldn’t live in Penge if I was in Angel regularly and wanted less than an hour commute. Same as temple, not an ideal commute as it goes into Victoria and the overground from Penge west or Sydenham doesn’t take you to the right place either.

Wenfy · 21/08/2023 21:06

Greenwich?

TheCyclingGorilla · 21/08/2023 21:16

I live in SE London. Unless you are on top of a London Overground/Tube/Rail station it takes an age to get from Zone 1 to home.

Mariposa26 · 21/08/2023 21:19

Have a look at Hanwell, on the Elizabeth line so really speedy into town and lots of green spaces nearby. Very close to all the amenities of Ealing. Should be doable on your budget.

user1477249785 · 21/08/2023 21:23

Raynes Park?

frippu · 21/08/2023 21:37

Tooting? buzzy food scene, on northern line. Good state schools with loads of primary options but your budget likely won't get you in catchment for the secondary, close to private & catholic options though.

I wouldn't go SE with Angel & Temple.

frippu · 21/08/2023 21:39

you will get a lot more for your money in places like Cheam, Worcester Park, maybe Motspur park & New Malden.

smileannie · 21/08/2023 22:07

South Woodford, Woodford, Woodford Green, Snaresbrook, Wanstead - all right in the middle of Epping Forest. Lived in the area my whole life (60) and wouldn’t live anywhere else. Excellent connections via Central Line, A406. All ethnicities, faiths and diversity.Outstanding state and private schools. A good bunch of Playgroups, nurseries where the parents are all very friendly and supportive. Still in contact with lots of them and school mums to this day. They all still have libraries. Great shops (Waitrose, Marks). Plenty of restaurants, coffee shops (Chain and independent). Pubs and bars. George Lane is usually buzzing after 9 at weekends. It does have some TOWIE style types which I personally love but plenty of regular folk and local eccentrics.Gyms, yoga studios etc etc. We even have our own hospital Whipps Cross. Just remembered there is a private school that’s set in the Forest that is actually called Forest School). Please do come and just have a look around at the weekend. Lastly, I promise you I am not an estate agent.

Beachwaves127 · 21/08/2023 22:19

smileannie · 21/08/2023 22:07

South Woodford, Woodford, Woodford Green, Snaresbrook, Wanstead - all right in the middle of Epping Forest. Lived in the area my whole life (60) and wouldn’t live anywhere else. Excellent connections via Central Line, A406. All ethnicities, faiths and diversity.Outstanding state and private schools. A good bunch of Playgroups, nurseries where the parents are all very friendly and supportive. Still in contact with lots of them and school mums to this day. They all still have libraries. Great shops (Waitrose, Marks). Plenty of restaurants, coffee shops (Chain and independent). Pubs and bars. George Lane is usually buzzing after 9 at weekends. It does have some TOWIE style types which I personally love but plenty of regular folk and local eccentrics.Gyms, yoga studios etc etc. We even have our own hospital Whipps Cross. Just remembered there is a private school that’s set in the Forest that is actually called Forest School). Please do come and just have a look around at the weekend. Lastly, I promise you I am not an estate agent.

🤣🤣🤣 I can vouch for your summary though!

MarshyMcMarshFace · 21/08/2023 23:30

Coulsdon, S Coulsdon if you like access to nature and the outdoors. Right on the doorstep of miles of countryside and the wonderful Farthing Down and Happy Valley, fast trains to London Bridge.

BarrelOfOtters · 22/08/2023 07:34

I have a friend in south coulsdon, lovely area. Not a bad commute.

geoger · 22/08/2023 08:17

You might find a doer-upper in Southgate/Oakwood/Cockfosters (but it’ll be the roads far from the station).
Have you looked at East Barnet? No tube but overground. Try the roads near oak hill park

Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit · 22/08/2023 08:38

I can't believe someone actually uses Temple Tube! My local train goes into Blackfriars which is a blessing and a curse. It is soooo cold waiting there in the winter.
But it does link on the tube to Temple in one stop. You can even walk there on the many occasions the tube is not working. I live in Crofton Park which is part of the People's Republic of South London. We are all very lefty politically round here. Our local labour MP increased her majority in the last GE as a protest vote against Brexit/Tories. We have Goldsmiths College just down the road at New Cross which to my amazement is finally showing signs of improving.
If I needed to get to Angel from here I would get the other train to London Bridge then Northern Line. Both easy.
Since the Elizabeth line opened it is much easier to get home from West End as we are on Overground.
There are tons of primary schools and parks and so on round here. Despite it being only just in zone 3 it is surprisingly quiet and wildlife friendly. For example I was just disturbed whilst eating breakfast by a fox. He came in to see if I had any leftovers. I was sitting at my kitchen table. To be fair I had left the patio door open. Cat was a bit startled.

Twizbe · 22/08/2023 09:11

Penge and Sydenham have a plethora of train stations for the commute.

If you’re only commuting twice a week as well it’s even more doable.

BovineJuice · 23/08/2023 11:40

Horriblewoman · 21/08/2023 21:05

I wouldn’t live in Penge if I was in Angel regularly and wanted less than an hour commute. Same as temple, not an ideal commute as it goes into Victoria and the overground from Penge west or Sydenham doesn’t take you to the right place either.

Depends on which side of Penge. If Sydenham is walkable or New Beckenham, you can get to London Bridge then onwards via Northern Line. I live in Penge, ten mins from New Beckenham station and it's very doable. Lots of nice Victorian houses this side of Penge, some within the price range stated.

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