Where in Southeast London or Kent for a 600k 3bed house?

[FrenchforHappy22]

I’m hoping to get advice here on nice family areas close(ish) to London Bridge, or at least on a train line, so south-east London or Kent.

We’re looking to buy a 3-bedroom house (with parking), around 600k.

We both work from home so no need to go into London daily. We don’t have any reason to live on a train line to London Bridge, but hubby has family in Hither Green and thought this area was easiest. 🤔

Looking for somewhere with a bit of green space and villagey, so we don’t have to leave the area to do things. Park, occasional dinner nearby, coffee shops to get out of the house. Won’t be going into London daily but should be close enough for it to be manageable. Good primary schools, secondary not essential at this stage.

Reading here, Eltham and Bromley have come up. Couldn’t find much in that budget in Eltham. Bromley more promising but wondered about the commute. Penge too but someone said it’s hard for cars. Interested in other areas.🤓

@Catopia There's some beauties out there! What are the trains like? I think @BovineJuice might be right, but the countryside is tempting!

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66025129/?featured=1&utm_content=featured_listing&search_identifier=52ea23d542c21f9edfd53279047cdadc5e98bc9f223f7374ec15d59300e6b24a

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66793774/?search_identifier=52ea23d542c21f9edfd53279047cdadc5e98bc9f223f7374ec15d59300e6b24a

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66738395/?search_identifier=52ea23d542c21f9edfd53279047cdadc5e98bc9f223f7374ec15d59300e6b24a

12 mins to London Bridge, every 15
min, plus Gatwick, Luton etc direct connections

Crystal Palace?

Not sure you can find anywhere nice for that price in CP. And is CP any good for schools?

Harris Girls (ex-Cator Park) is outstanding on Ofsted

I would also recommend Lee

I lived there for 9 years in the late 80s to the late 90s.

Railway will take you to London Bridge, Cannon Street, Waterloo East or Charing Cross and there is a decent row of shops by the station . Also a Co Op Local and laundry if needed.
Park in Baring Road, called Northbrook Park, is nice and has a playground and exercise equipment, as well as a circular walk. Years ago the playground was at the back and out of the way, which I never liked so its good its now closer to the main road and pavement. Shops up near the park too.

Coney Hall is almost West Wickham / Hayes and is cheaper. You can walk to Hayes station within 20-30 mins. We moved to West Wickham last year but really we are bang in between Hayes, WW and Coney Hall.

Also whoever said above the last train out of London to Hayes is 10:30pm is mistaken, last train from London Bridge is just after midnight!

Yeah I'd say Lee or Catford, even Forest Hill/Honor Oak Park there are some 3 beds for £600K. Green spaces all around.

@EggbertHeartsTina we must be very close!

@BovineJuice ah maybe, we moved here 10 years ago and I think it was more do-able then. The secondaries aren't great - our DD is going to Langley in Beckenham!

@anicecuppateaa @EggbertHeartsTina we are all local!!

Catford. Direct trains to London Bridge, it's only Zone 3, and plenty in your budget. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchType=SALE&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E85422&insId=1&radius=0.0&minPrice=&maxPrice=600000&minBedrooms=3&maxBedrooms=&displayPropertyType=houses&maxDaysSinceAdded=&_includeSSTC=on&sortByPriceDescending=&primaryDisplayPropertyType=&secondaryDisplayPropertyType=&oldDisplayPropertyType=&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=&newHome=&auction=false

@anicecuppateaa @chickenpieandchips ooh imagine if we are neighbours!

Forest Hill is great (I live here!). With a 600k budget for a 3 bed you would need to look mainly at ex council or a doer upper. Forest Hill does has a good stock of rather nice sixties town houses. People seem fixated on Victorian and Edwardian houses so these can sometimes be cheaper

The "wrong" side of Forest Hill (ie nearer Catford) can also yield some bargains.

Elmer’s end is on the Hayes line to Charing Cross/London Bridge. Some lovely houses with big gardens and parking etc within that budget. Good. Schools and amenities.

Some ideas here but these are only a few - lots more options!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136531412#/?channel=RESBUY

This needs work…
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143965622#/?channel=RESBUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141905753#/?channel=RESBUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145278608#/?channel=RESBUY

Consider Redhill, Surrey. Direct trains to Victoria and London Bridge.

Upper Norwood and parts of CP (going away from the Triangle) have good/outstanding schools. But CP is horrendously overpriced now.

What secondaries are there?

In CP? They're all Harris ones mostly. From what NDNs say they're not brilliant but don't think they're that awful either. Kingsdale Foundation School two of my friends DCs go there, there's 2 independent catholic schools nearby. A few independent schools nearby, Dulwich College (boys), Alleyns (mixed), JAGS (girls) and Sydenham High (girls).

St Joseph's is the nearest boys school. You might get into Bishop Thomas Grant or Dunraven both Streatham.

Harris schools are quite divisive. I know Kingsdale is very popular but it's a lotto admission wise I thought. No idea why people rate Dunraven tbh! BTG is very good but obviously you have to be a practicing Catholic.

My ex best friend’s DD got into BTG and she’s not a practising Catholic, I think her DM was going to Catholic church though. I wouldn’t say BTG is that great, it wasn’t when friend’s DD went and certainly wasn’t when I was a teenager (at least 3 friends I knew went there). St Joseph’s you don’t have to be a Catholic either. All 3 local DC have got into Kingsdale fairly easily so I heard. Harris schools do appear to be divisive.

You definitely need mass attendance & baptism for BTG unless it's not oversubscribed any more. I wouldn't class St Joseph's as a great school either.

BTG wasn't great when I was a teen either but results wise & progress 8 wise it's by far the best secondary in Lambeth now

Dunraven is a great school