Location conundrum

[Ciao123]

Hello,
my husband and I are expecting our first baby. We live east London and want to move to a 3/4 bed house (we’re first time buyers.) We work in Farringdon and Canary Wharf. We’re looking for country life with easy London access plus good primary schools.

We’re struggling to hone in on exact location, (understand the net is wide!) and I keep jumping between south/ north London or somewhere further out like St Albans or Sevenoaks. It’s confusing and stopping me getting excited about the move. Budget is 900k thereabouts. Any suggestions welcome as to best location, or if you’ve also been in this situation!

Thanks for reading :)

South Woodford, woodford, Wanstead in E London on the Central Line.

How far are you willing to commute? 1hr?

I'd recommend not leaving London if you both plan to work in London Post baby. Given you are Canary Wharf/Farringdon, I'd also avoid being too far West or South.

I'd recommend the quieter parts of Wandsworth Borough Merton

The roads between Penge East and Sydenham stations.

Penge for the commute to Farringdon (via Herne Hill) Sydenham for the commute to CW (overground via Canada Water)

nice area, good schools, should get something for your budget.

Have you thought about Beckenham like this one? Walking distance to the station and right next door to Waitrose which comes in handy if you need to do a quick shopping on way home from work. Plus a few outstanding schools all within a mile.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147670712#/?channel=RES_BUY

I always suggest Sevenoaks on these threads - lovely, good schools, low crime, just a nice place

Can you get a 3/4 bed house in a nice part of North/South London for 900k? I would have thought that realistically you would need to move further out to get the sort of property you want with good primary schools in catchment.

Thank you, I'm overwhelmed by the responses! First time using this thread :)
I hadn't considered Wandsworth or Penge. Sevenoaks and Beckenham now on the list. With living further out than London, like Kent/ Sevenoaks, I have a fear it will feel 'psychologically' very far from the city, work, friends, etc...

I have friends who’ve moved to Sevenoaks and yes, they feel quite isolated. I don’t think it was a positive move for them but they are a bit stuck there at the moment.

Beckenham / Bromley South areas (can park at New Beckenham station, get train to Lewisham and DLR to Canary Wharf).

Thameslink line goes straight to Farringdon, and has lovely clean trains with air con, so look at stations Shortlands / Ravensbourne / Beckenham Hill.

Lots of great school, but be careful with catchments. Very suburban rather than country, but easy enough to drive out, and Lewisham have been pouring money into doing up Beckenham Place Park in recent years and it is such a beautiful place to spend the afternoon.

Sevenoaks lovely too, but expensive, and you’ll either be looking at a small house in town or driving and paying for parking at station and train fares, or very expensive parking in Canary Wharf if you decide to drive in, and Blackwall Tunnel traffic.

Shenfield? Elizabeth Line to Farringdon and any train to Stratford for Canary Wharf.

Would second Se london. Much better for the city and cheaper than SW london, equal cost to Kent / sevenoaks i would think but much better connected and still green.

crystal palace, sydenham, forest hill, penge all good. 900k should get you something nice.

Surely no one would drive in to Canary Wharf from Sevenoaks for work 😹 you’d have to have lost your marbles.

I used to work with someone who did, usually once a week. Very senior, came early and left late to avoid traffic… he really liked his car!