Where to buy in London?

[tantans]

Hi everyone, I wonder if you can recommend to us where to buy in London. DH and I are both first-time buyers, mid-30s, and expecting our first child in a few months. We have a budget of £800k, where in London would you recommend us to buy with that budget? We're looking for a 2-3 bed house, green and family-friendly area. If there's easy access for transport to Farringdon that'll be a huge plus.

Your recommendation will be greatly appreciated!

Sutton/Morden? Or is that too far out for you?

London Fields
Bermondsey
Drayton Park
Homerton
Limehouse
Finsbury Park
Peckham

Catford or if your budget can stretch to it, Crofton Park. Direct Thameslink service to Farringdon.

By in the best area you can afford and area that suits you as prices will always rise faster and be a bit more stable than other areas. Come time to sell, often you will reap the rewards of price increases.

Is this your forever home? Or will you move in about 8 years?

The only reason I ask is that I have known so many people about to have a baby or have a young DC who move somewhere because it has a great local feel, lovely primary school etc but then they are moving again when DC is in Y5 to be in catchment for a good secondary.

If you want to stay put, look at secondary schools as well as primary schools. I know this is a really dull way to look at things but this is the kind of advice I wish I had been told in my mid 30s with a baby on the way.

Obviously if you thinking of private education, move where you like. I've always liked Crouch End / Muswell Hill & Clapham.

I agree with you but will also add a slightly alternative view:

Schools can change a lot in 5-8 years - both going up as well as coming down. So I agree that some forward planning is desirable but maybe don’t get hung up on it. London schooling is so dense compared to outside the capital that it’s not like you’re moving to a village which only has one viable school option which has no sixth form provision, for example.

Forest Gate - on the Elizabeth line so direct into Farringdon and you could get a 3-4 bed for 800k. Look in the roads north of Romford road and near the flats.

Thank you so much for all your suggestions and POVs! Ideally, we would like to stay in one area for long-term, but of course we can only plan...

I will check out all those areas, and I saw that there are many properties in the Tooting and Streatham areas. Does anybody know how are those areas?

Tooting is great. Tooting bec is much nicer than broadway but the closer you go towards Bec Balham the pricier it is. Lots of young professionals and families. So many baby classes going on and also in nearby Balham too. Very diverse and has been up and coming for a while now!

Highams Park/Chingford. Overground into Liverpool Street or Victoria Line. Epping Forest on the doorstep. Great place to live.