Moving to London - area advice needed

[hello57906478]

Hello! We are a couple in our late 20’s (no kids). We are moving to London and would like some advice on different areas where to buy a house (min 2 bedrooms). The budget is £850k. We would also not exclude a renovation project. Number one criteria for us is a very safe neighbourhood with easy commute to Tottenham Court Road (Soho), ideally below 45 minutes and no changes. From our research it seems that Ealing could be a good area, however we have never been there and would like to know what it is like to live there and which streets are good. Additionally it seems like Surbiton could be a good area for us but the commute requires a change. On the weekends we like to go on walks with our dog (so a park nearby is essential). Nice cinema and a Pilates/barre studio nearby would also be a huge advantage. We would want a village/suburban feel with ideally a pretty high street (but understand it might not be possible). We will not have any school aged children in that house, so schools aren’t important at all.

Wanstead

Ealing is a really handy place to live...easy to centre and also airport.. great green spaces .. not particularly cool, trendy or dynamic the odd bit of artisan coffee but now 2 cinemas, a few decent restaurants that are not chains..but definitely not hipsterville
Crime is patchy probably a bit more urban than Surbiton.. prettiest areas/ best high streets pitzhangher and Northfield's best green space Hanwell.. although the high st is not pretty at all

Have you considered renting for a bit first so you can find out where you might like?

Wimbledon. You can get a tube directly from South Wimbledon to Tottenham Court Road, although Wimbledon Village area is nicer.

I would look out both sides of the Elizabeth line. It’s nice and clean and new and will take you straight to Tottenham Court Road.

Pitshanger Lane area is nice in Ealing, and you have Pitshanger park to walk the dog in.
You could also pop the dog in the car and walk it on Horsenden Hill which would only be a few mins away, or you can pop the dog in the car and go to Elthorne Park in Hanwell W7 and once thru the park and the fields out the back you can walk along the canal.
Sometimes I used to pop the dogs in the car and walk them in Gunnersbury Park W3 - a bit further away.

If you've got no kids I would go as central as your budget allows! Maybe just east of central like clerkenwell or as far as old street/ shoreditch. Good community feel and a 30-45 minute walk to Tottenham Court Road

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144763265#/?channel=RES_BUY

@allthehuns

I think a 7th floor flat might not be that doable with a dog, it really is better if a dog can get straight out the door ( preferably into a back garden ) several times a day to toilet.

Fulham

Ooh sorry! I didn't read properly and missed you have a dog! My bad.
So the one I suggested is not a good fit, but I still would say look at central London, lots of parks around and dog owners galore. If you look at each flat individually some of the lower floors will still be suitable as they often have green spaces outside. It depends how often you want to be in the city I guess, as having lived in both outskirts and central, I would either choose the latter or not London at all as the time spent travelling in wasn't worth it for us.
Alternatively Abbey Wood area is a great steal price wise and on the queen elizabeth line if you would rather have greenery/ space and a simple commute in.

Ealing is brilliant - everything you’d expect to find in a moderate size market town, but with the added bonus of the Elizabeth line.

Thank you so much everyone for your responses. It’s very helpful. I have looking into Wanstead and it seems great.

yes we are considering renting for a bit however we are only 3 hours drive away from London, so we can visit all the areas on the weekends if necessary.

We have been to Wimbledon in the past and really like it. Just hard to find a house within our budget that is close to South Wimbledon station.

A small house or a garden flat for that budget on the northern line but not too far out - you could look round North Finchley/highgate tubes. Very dog friendly area with lots of different parks. Muswell Hill and Crouch End have a nice villagey feel

Charing Cross is walking distance to Soho, as is Marylebone, and some trains can be fast, it doesn’t have to be the tube!

Yes definitely doesn’t have to be a tube, very open to commuting by the train!

I have been living in London in the past (near King’s Cross) but other than Wimbledon and Richmond I haven’t been to any other areas outside of the city centre. Obviously there aren’t many houses within our budget in those areas, so that’s why asking for advice on alternative areas that are also better commute to Soho. We do have friends in London but they mostly live in flats more centrally and for various reasons we don’t want to live in a flat (even the ones with the garden) and would rather commute longer/be further out.

You'd get a lovely house in Gidea Park for that budget. Raphaels Park is really nice. It's not the trendiest area but becoming more so, and there are a few decent coffee shops (Natural Bean) and pubs (The Ship) etc. It's on the Elizabeth Line for Tottenham Court Road, and there are numerous local bus routes; it's also very close to the M25, the numerous country parks around Brentwood and you can be at the seaside (Leigh/ Chalkwell/ Southend) in 40 minutes via the A127.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145250657#/?channel=RES_BUY

But despite all that, if not planning kids I'd probaby go for something smaller and a bit more central. Maybe near Highgate station/woods?

Second Wanstead. Fits all of your criteria.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146433464#/?channel=RES_BUY

dog walking in hollow ponds or Wanstead park.

alternatively if you want to be further in, a garden flat in Victoria park village.

Acton poets corner area has a really easy commute to Tott court road on the Elizabeth line

Depends how much space you want in the house really.

You could get something in Wimbledon or Richmond but it would be a tiny cottage. You’d need to see one to decide if you thought it was worthwhile / how quickly you’d grow out of it.

Ealing a good shout, and better for the budget, but it’s quite competitive (knowing a family trying to buy at a similar budget there). They say most properties go off the market before they even get to see them.

If you want an actual house you can grow into, Tooting / Streatham seems quite good value and on the way ‘up’ so to speak. You could get a proper house on that budget.

Surbiton is nice but I’m not sure I’d choose to live there in my twenties.

Given the massive cost of buying, have you considered renting in one of these areas while you look to buy? Will give you a good sense of it.

We used to live in the Pitshanger Lane area as children and I love it round there. So much green space still, it doesn't feel like London. Good schools (although I note you don't have kids), good shops locally to walk to. A great area that would suit long term.