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Original poster

Where to buy to start a family around London (750-900k)

121 replies

AX35 · 31/08/2023 21:54

Hi,

We are in our mid thirties and would like to start a family but before that we'd love to buy a house to avoid being moved around at random by landlords.

We both work in tech so we need to be in the office twice a week max but we'd like to be able to get there within roughly an hour (Canary Wharf and Liverpool Street). We currently don't drive so we would need somewhere walkable to a train station.

We are looking for 3-4 bedroom houses with garden in an area with a nice community vibe and independent shops and ideally not too small (Berkhamstead is lovely but didn't vibe with us for that reason)

I've done plenty of research but as an EU immigrant it's hard to judge a lot of those places without first hand knowledge.

We love St. Albans and had an offer accepted already before the seller pulled out and we are still looking there but there is nothing reasonable on the market right now.

Other places we looked at but can't really tell if it would be a good fit are Tunbridge Wells, Beaconsfield, Harpenden, Seven Oaks, Guildford or Maidenhead but not sure about those as we haven't visited them yet.

Does anyone have any recommendations, any places we should be checking out or should be avoiding with our criteria?

OP posts:
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Jacquel666 · 01/09/2023 00:14

Guildford/Godalming are both 40-ish minutes from Waterloo. You can get a 3-4 bed house for around £900k. Schools are good and there’s plenty going on - live music in the parks, theatre, restaurants etc
we moved here 22 years ago to start a family and it’s been great. Nice community, generally friendly and honest. Feels safe to walk the streets any time.

succulentlove · 01/09/2023 00:17

West Ealing or Hanwell? On Elizabeth line and seems to tick your boxes re shops etc

allgrownupnow · 01/09/2023 00:27

Hi @succulentlove , I came on to suggest Hanwell too :)
Op, have a look, it ticks all your boxes and you should get a nice house in your price range
It is 'in' london rather than being a commuter town like others mentioned.

Bubblewaffle · 01/09/2023 04:45

Terraced houses around South Wimbledon or Raynes Park?

South Wimbledon much less pricey than Wimbledon Village, good schools, lots of parks around (dundonald park, Morden hall, wimbledon common, Cannizzaro), decent high street, and second last stop on northern line means you always get a seat. Good state and private school options.

Octosaurus · 01/09/2023 05:00

Try east, Bethnal Green, Bow. Very easy into those areas

Octosaurus · 01/09/2023 05:04

Octosaurus · 01/09/2023 05:00

Try east, Bethnal Green, Bow. Very easy into those areas

Nvm just realised you're wanting further out!

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 05:25

Do you want London or outside of London? Essex is good for a quick commute to the city.

Do you plan to move again for secondary school as otherwise you need to think about both when buying?

Original poster
AX35 · 01/09/2023 05:53

Jacquel666 · 01/09/2023 00:14

Guildford/Godalming are both 40-ish minutes from Waterloo. You can get a 3-4 bed house for around £900k. Schools are good and there’s plenty going on - live music in the parks, theatre, restaurants etc
we moved here 22 years ago to start a family and it’s been great. Nice community, generally friendly and honest. Feels safe to walk the streets any time.

Thanks, we had both on the list but the commute to Canary Wharf with nearly 1.5 hours for my partner made us drop it. Might give it a go and just have a look around the area though to see how it feels.

OP posts:
Original poster
AX35 · 01/09/2023 05:54

succulentlove · 01/09/2023 00:17

West Ealing or Hanwell? On Elizabeth line and seems to tick your boxes re shops etc

Both sound interesting, any areas in particular to avoid there? We would probably be looking closer to th stations.

OP posts:
Original poster
AX35 · 01/09/2023 05:57

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 05:25

Do you want London or outside of London? Essex is good for a quick commute to the city.

Do you plan to move again for secondary school as otherwise you need to think about both when buying?

We don't mind either.
We are currently in Leytonstone and while we like it, it just doesn't give us the feeling that we want to raise kids here.

Secondary school is far far away so we definitely could be moving again then but for now we are just looking for a place to get settled down for the next 5-10 years.

OP posts:
gillygeey · 01/09/2023 06:18

In London you could look at S Wimbledon/Raynes Park/New Malden/Worcester Park/maybe Surbiton (unsure of journey time)/Crystal Palace/East Dulwich/Tooting. Don't know much about N.London.

Have a friend in St Albans who loves it. And another who loves Leigh on Sea.

Plumful · 01/09/2023 06:20

What about somewhere on the Elizabeth line? Shenfield?

Plumful · 01/09/2023 06:21

Why are people suggesting Wimbledon when OP’s commute is East London!

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 06:27

Any of those areas I mentioned you would want to try & live close to the station to minimise journey times.

One thing to be mindful of is London is experiencing falling birth rates so some primaries are facing closure or huge budget deficits. It's more of a thing in inner London vs outer.

www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/fourth-south-london-school-close-27115634.amp

schoolsweek.co.uk/falling-primary-numbers-force-council-to-consider-mergers/

JassyRadlett · 01/09/2023 06:31

I'm in Surbiton and the commute to Canary Wharf is a dream. Liverpool St is slight less fun though as you need to change at Bank or TCR.

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 06:32

Why are people suggesting Wimbledon when OP’s commute is East London!

The OP wants a house under 900k, an hour commute, nice vibe.

You could also look at Walthamstow.

Plumful · 01/09/2023 06:33

When you’ve got kids you need to minimise your commute and OP has the luxury to do that now she’s actively deciding where to live. Given their commutes are Liverpool St and Canary Wharf it would be logical to go East!

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 06:34

@Plumful they do have a minimal commute as they only need to be in the office twice a week max.

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 06:34

@JassyRadlett yeah I think that's why my friend discounted Surbiton.

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 06:36

Given their commutes are Liverpool St and Canary Wharf it would be logical to go East!

It's logical if you like East.

Lotustiger · 01/09/2023 06:41

Have a look along the train line from Waterloo around Walton, Weybridge, West Byfleet & Woking (all the Ws!)

Lotustiger · 01/09/2023 06:42

PS Waterloo & City line and the Jubilee line make the commute from the South West of London really easy and quick

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 06:45

@Lotustiger would those journeys really be under an hour?

Lotustiger · 01/09/2023 06:54

gillygeey · 01/09/2023 06:45

@Lotustiger would those journeys really be under an hour?

Would guess all would be around an hour - ironically West Byfleet/Woking (furthest out) would be quickest as there are fast trains into Waterloo (25 mins)