Moving from Sydney - what boroughs to consider?

[Bresina]

Hello,
We'll be moving from Sydney with our 12 month old son in November and just starting to look at where to live. It's all a bit much, I want to make sure we choose the right area for the little one to thrive.

Any suggestions for:
family friendly area
leafy / parks
safe
under 1 hour commute to Holborn Viaduct

Budget around £3,500 pcm, ideally looking for a 3-bed place

Thanks!

I think that’s a decent budget for 3 beds. I don’t know north London so well but south London you could look at Clapham, Balham, East Dulwich, Herne Hill, Greenwich. Those are all leafy areas with an easy commute to Holborn. I would choose Herne Hill as you’re also close to Brockwell park and brixton. Mind you I don’t live there so I might be over romanticising it!

there are a lot of people from Australia living in Clapham, which might be nice for you. I would look around Clapham Common or Wandsworth common.

Look along the Thameslink and Elizabeth Lines for the easiest commute.
Will you be needing to drop your son to childcare as part of a commute? If so, that’s something to consider.

I'll try to find childcare near home so wouldn't need to drop him as part of the commute

Herne Hill would be great - family orientated area, Brockwell Park with Lido, gym and 'Whippersnappers children's activities. Farmers market. Walkable to Dulwich Park. Walkable (or quick bus) to Brixton for cinema, theatre and tube.
Thameslink and London Bridge Trains. Good cafes and pubs.

I've been told to avoid the area around Brixton due to safety?

Herne Hill is an extremely safe and family friendly area. Brixton is great, but has its less salubrious areas. If you don’t know the area then yea, I wouldn’t look for a place to live in Brixton. But Herne Hill - particularly near the station or towards Dulwich - would be great

West Greenwich, or Blackheath. Time it right and you could reach HV from Greenwich in 25 mins:
https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/results?InputFrom=Greenwich&FromId=1001123&InputTo=Holborn+Viaduct%2C+London%2C+UK&To=Holborn+Viaduct%2C+London%2C+UK&ToId=51.517093658447266%2C-0.10471390187740326&Date=20241001&Time=0830

Wimbledon to Surbiton and Ealing to Pitshanger Lane would be my starting points. All very leafy and family oriented.

Are you Australian? If so, i think there are a lot of Australians around Wimbledon, Southfields area as well.

I'm not, my husband is. I think he'd prefer to stay away from areas with too many Australians though 😂

Wanstead, Leytonstone in East London
West Hampstead
Around Crouch End, Archway

most of London will have parks and you will end up liking your own. It’s a very green city.

do you know anyone? Proximity to them is a good idea if possible.