Where in London - 1.5 mil budget

[Eriana]

DH has just been offered a job in London, massive pay jump so can't really say no.
We have a 2 year old and a Newborn.

We are looking for somewhere safe, family friendly with a garden. Not too far out, 4-5 beds (5 bed preferably 4 bed could work) as we will both have WFH days and family visiting lots. We need good state schools and ideally it's somewhere we can stay for a while.

We've looked at Dulwich and that's done nothing for us just don't like the feel.

I will be commuting to Westminster, DH to St James area.

Budget is 1.5 mil, little leeway if needed but would rather not go over it by much.

Any ideas?

Do you only have to be in the office 1 day a week? Depends on the sector obviously but I’m a lawyer and most firms are now 3 days a week minimum with some 4. The general movement across the city seems to be encouraging people back into the office, so it might be worth considering how a change like that could impact you.

I agree if it’s only 1 day you can suck it up. It’s all a balancing act all the time.

@PregnantNowScrewed

3 days each but WFH on the opposite two days. So only one day where a parent won't be at home.

Ah I see. But it might be nice for you to see your kids (more) on the days that you are in the office, and the commute time might
make all the difference to that.

I have colleagues who share wfh and office days as you describe and they can go 24hrs without seeing their children on their long days/office days - I just couldn’t do that.

But at least you won’t have to worry about being late for pickup on 4/5 days, so that takes away some stress.

Luckily my only long day is Wednesday (weekly meeting with American west coast starts around 4.30 our time). The other days I can go into office for 8, finish at 4 (DH can do nursery drop before WFH).
Worse for DH as he is on 9 hour days.
No idea how we will feel about it yet I guess, it's a pain and you may well be right, time will tell.

@PregnantNowScrewed

Also according to city mapper if I left work at 4 I'd be home for 4.39 (door to door), if I went tube then bus (though I know that the bus from North Greenwich to trafalgar road is prone to getting stuck in traffic) or 4.46 changing at London Bridge for main line.

I think we will have to wait and see.

No where has really stood out to me on this thread as "yes that's the place" so maybe the family, friends and familiarity of Greenwich might be what wins it.

Tankerville Road, Streatham
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149310845

considered streatham? It is on the train rather than tube but you can cycle very easily to say Balham and tube from there. Or train into Victoria from Streatham Common.

honestly reading all the issues and compromises with childcare is why we moved back to my home country from London. UK employers seem so inflexible with stupidly rigid in office hours.

With the OPs budget she can do better then that part of Streatham & the best schools there are faith.

@Eriana you are going to struggle to find a big house with a 30 min door to door commute & excellent state schools particularly at secondary.

@Eriana I think you will be sold if you go to Wimbledon -

the best state secondaries in Wimbledon are single sex &/or faith schools though.

Kennington offers the commute and space and there is Pimlico and Greycoat for secondary (latter is faith and v competitive though) Primaries aren't too bad.

I used to live on this road and adored it. Hilly Fields is great and I personally love Lewisham itself. Would be a fantastic place to have kids.

This is 29 minutes from the house to St James' tube station. Big garden (for London). 4 bedrooms by Ravenscourt Park -

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/67409862/?search_identifier=04192ab04611e851001fef2957495ed9340b0bafe39e484c93e5d54f8638a418

I second Southfields. It's lovely. Very leafy, amazing homes, good local shops and a few cafes/restaurants/bars, quickish commute, and just a short hop into Wimbledon village for more chichi stuff and kids' activities. The only downside is Wimbledon fortnight and the huge crowds at the station during that time!

I dream of a house like this in a location like this. But sadly finances don't allow.

Surbiton would probably tick most of your boxes, too.

I agree with everything except I found that even during Wimbledon fortnight it had a lovely vibe. When I was living there generally you were going in the opposite direction of the Wimbledon tennis crowd when getting the tube to and from work.

I think Blackheath/Greenwich would be brilliant except for state secondaries maybe. I don’t know much about them but would ask your friends. For younger children it’s amazing, so many activities and so much green space. The overground connections into central London are quick, and the boat is a pleasant alternative.

Stockwell, Vauxhall and Oval/Kensington are all lovely areas and walkable, if you can find in your budget I would go for them.

But I also came on to suggest considering other commute options. I live in Streatham Hill and commute to Westminster by bike in 30-40 min depending on my energy and whether I go on my own pedal bike or jump on a Lime bike. It's much quicker than the train/tube options and totally flexible so I can maximize the time in office, leaving exactly when I need to for pick up etc.

Same would be true of Herne Hill, Camberwell, possiblely also west Norwood though that might be a bit far.

Agree with you on Dulwich, I dislike the pretentious feel of the "village" and East Dulwich, though I kind of like West Dulwich cos it's moving over towards Herne Hill

This is in catchment for Dunraven, outstanding secondary, plus a big selection of excellent primaries, though it is 4 beds
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146389604?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

But basically my contribution was that you might consider cycling even if only on the crunch day when you can't juggle childcare with wfh

Streatham is a dive though?
these days west Norwood is better

The Balham/Tooting Bec/Streatham borders are good but secondaries are an issue.

I’m not really sure why people rave about Dunraven, the results haven’t been great the last few years. I don’t even think it’s outstanding anymore, not that Ofsted grade is the be all.

I think Streatham is the area worst impacted in London re falling school rolls. I’m not sure why that’s the case but it’s something to be aware if choosing state schools.

As a Londoner who has spent the last ten years rushing for nursery/school pickups etc, I would strongly advocate somewhere smaller and more Central that you can get to by various means of transport if pressed, rather than more space that you might conceivably use for a big barbecue once or twice a year, but which will add big complications to your logistics for the rest of the time.

Yes agree West Norwood nicer than Streatham (though Streatham Hill nicer than Streathm proper)
It's a bit further out though for the commute stuff

Re Dunraven, you're right I just checked and it's now good in ofsted terms. I don't have a kid there but lots of friends do and think highly of it. There are other decent schools around, it doesn't feel to me like an area where parents generally despair of a lack of secondary choice.

Interesting in school rolls @Radiatorrung , do you remember where you read or heard that?