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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:
HFR · 23/08/2023 17:15

I used to live in Balham, near tooting Bec Common. Would recommend if you like a village feel. There is also an open water swimming pool, lots of tennis clubs and amazing farm shops/restaurants. And a Waitrose! It's a bit cheaper than Clapham. You could get the northern line directly to Angel, i used to cycle as the cycleways are really good around there.

stripeyjug · 23/08/2023 17:28

@HFR the op wants a 3bed house for 700k ...

Herecomesthemoon · 23/08/2023 17:33

If you are wanting to be closer to nature, in the south east there's West Wickham and Hayes in zone 5. Trains go to Charing Cross, walkable to Temple. Beckenham is between West Wickham and Penge and lovely but would be harder to find houses in your budget. Beckenham has several stations going to various parts of central.

HFR · 23/08/2023 18:08

I can see loads on rightmove in Balham for that price, we recently sold in Balham so I know a bit about it. Also due to the current market environment sellers want quick sells so they will likely accept less than asking as it’s a falling market. There is also tooting and Streatham.

stripeyjug · 23/08/2023 18:46

@HFR I know the area really well. Rightmove gives me 2 options which I don't think the OP is looking for. Where are you seeing loads?

HFR · 23/08/2023 19:06

I could be wrong, maybe I was looking at houses for slightly over 700k (I always look at houses slightly above budget in case the seller would come down). Anyway I’m sure the person who originally asked the question can take a look.

MsFogi · 23/08/2023 19:14

Bromley/Elmstead Woods/Bickley and commute into London Bridge/Cannon Street/Blackfriars/Victora...
Great schools

Alexahelp · 23/08/2023 19:36

Yes to North Chingford and Highams Park, tick your boxes and should be within budget. Lovely greenery in both the forest itself and parks, decent things to do and a bit of evening life. My daughter used to go to a lovely nursery right on the edge of the forest in Chingford (we moved - I miss it!)

Wallabyone · 23/08/2023 19:52

If you're looking at Southgate, Oakwood, etc, then you could consider Potters Bar...it's much more family-orientated than it used to be and the trains are great.

Original poster
dc22 · 09/09/2023 22:53

Update: thanks so much for recommendations everyone! We visited North Chingford recently and really loved it. Highams Park felt a bit too quiet in comparison, we like a little life on the high street. Decided against Southgate and surrounding areas in North London for now as well as SE London (Penge etc.) - something I didn't mention is that my sister lives in Romford and it would be nice to be closer for family time (and babysitting haha!). We also visited Buckhurst Hill but didn't like it - too posh in a slightly boring way and didn't feel like London anymore...
So North Chingford is the frontrunner atm but I've also been googling areas closer to Romford like Upminster and Hornchurch and planning a visit soon. Anyone know these areas?

OP posts:
EmmaOvary · 09/09/2023 22:55

Have a look at South Norwood. Norwood Junction has fast trains to London Bridge in 12 mins, links to Victoria, Blackfriars, City Thmeslink…

Original poster
dc22 · 09/09/2023 23:01

Ah thanks @EmmaOvary , I was just updating to say we're excluding South London for now. But a good friend lives in South Norwood and I've visited - it's lovely though she complains about reliance on the trains haha!

OP posts:
Original poster
dc22 · 09/09/2023 23:03

Also, budget is definitely more up to/around £650k not £700k 😬

OP posts:
Holdmysunhat · 09/09/2023 23:06

I’ve lived in both Upminster and Hornchurch @dc22. They’re nice and clean, good transport links. Good schools. I liked living in both but never felt at home. It’s more Essex in character than London which I didn’t love and ultimately moved to SW London with a similar budget to yours.

No disrespect to Essex but some of the stereotypes held true. The women were so glamorous all the time with perfectly done nails. I actually started going to the nail salon when I lived there but that’s not really me! I also found it wasn’t as broad minded as ‘London proper’.

Original poster
dc22 · 09/09/2023 23:13

Thanks @Holdmysunhat. Yes I bet the feel of some places is really different, I guess we need to visit and see how we feel about it. Must say Chingford didn't feel too 'Essex-y' in that sense (no offence to anyone!) and I get the sense it's changing fast with lots of young families moving from Walthamstow etc. Need more research trips soon!

OP posts:
reasonableme · 09/09/2023 23:13

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.

Another vote for this. Some are lucky to live opposite large parks in wanstead and woodford and these areas not only look beautiful but also have a nice community feel. South woodford has a nice high street but no large parks and woodford has quiet residential areas and several large parks.

Original poster
dc22 · 09/09/2023 23:27

@Alexahelp Was that Chingford Forest Day Nursery? I've been reading about it and it looks lovely!

OP posts:
Beachwaves127 · 10/09/2023 07:09

dc22 · 09/09/2023 23:13

Thanks @Holdmysunhat. Yes I bet the feel of some places is really different, I guess we need to visit and see how we feel about it. Must say Chingford didn't feel too 'Essex-y' in that sense (no offence to anyone!) and I get the sense it's changing fast with lots of young families moving from Walthamstow etc. Need more research trips soon!

I think chingford is London anyway. Good choice it’s lovely there

UncomfortableSilence · 10/09/2023 07:36

I live in Hornchurch and have lived in Upminster. Born in Hackney and grew up and lived in South Woodford for over 20 years.

Woodford and the surrounding areas are lovely and echo what PPs have said. You may struggle with £650k in some of those areas.

Hornchurch/Upminster are great, beautiful parks nearby, Upminster Park, Hornchurch Country Park, Langton's Gardens in the centre of the high street and loads more nearby. Schools in Havering are generally very good. People are friendly, I don't really go along with the stereotypical Essex thing, you get all sorts everywhere. There are libraries in both towns, M&S Food, Waitrose, Aldi, Lidl and Sainsbury's.

Travel is fantastic, DD1 has just started working and travels to Temple and does it in 50 minutes straight through on the district line. Less on C2C/Circle. DH is around 40 mins to Liverpool Street. Traffic can be shitty, my commute changes daily.

Lots going on for young families I would come and spend the day looking round.

Alexahelp · 10/09/2023 09:40

Ha yes! Really lovely place. We were so sad to leave it when we moved. Also might have gone up now, but at the time the fees were really reasonable for full day London nurseries….

Original poster
dc22 · 30/10/2023 22:12

Hi all, a little update - having visited many of the areas, we settled on (North) Chingford and have found a house we like. The sellers have not yet found a new house for them and haven't yet accepted our offer, I think they're worries we'll rush them. So waiting patiently while progressing the sale of our flat... Fingers crossed! Thanks again for all the recommendations.

OP posts:
Nady91 · 27/12/2023 08:50

Hello,
I am looking for advice regardin buying a new home and schools in the area I have in mind. My husband got a new government job and he will be based in South East London. We currently own a flat in Romford, so we will probably try to sell to buy a new home in them.
My concerns:

  • I am looking at Woolwich and Abbey Wood area and they seems a but empty. There isn't a single cinema which is very unusual for London. It looks like there are only houses and no amenities (compared with Romford)
  • Schools: after moving, we would like to start a family but I can't find reliable info about schoools in that area. I am aware of the grammars in Bexleyheath but I believe having a back up is always a good idea. Education for me is really important so once I have a family it will be my top priority
  • NHS. Here in Romford the NHS does not seem good. My gp practice is terrible. The doctors are terrible, I would never trust them especially in case of pregnancy. How is the NHS IN SE London? Any experience?
BovineJuice · 27/12/2023 09:04

Where in SE London is his job as transport links may be important?

Nady91 · 27/12/2023 09:18

It's close to Woowich Arsenal

TheRealKatnissEverdeen · 27/12/2023 09:26

dc22 · 30/10/2023 22:12

Hi all, a little update - having visited many of the areas, we settled on (North) Chingford and have found a house we like. The sellers have not yet found a new house for them and haven't yet accepted our offer, I think they're worries we'll rush them. So waiting patiently while progressing the sale of our flat... Fingers crossed! Thanks again for all the recommendations.

I missed this thread when you were in the searching and needing recommendations. Well done.
The summary of Woodford and surrounding areas by pp were spot on too!
I'm in North Chingford with the forest at the end of my road and my son's school has the forest land and backdrop.
I hope you enjoy it and the move went well / is progressing well.