Where to buy within commuting distance of London for a 475-500k budget?

[roamingcat]

Hi all,

We've been living in Croydon for several years but as we start to look towards the future and having children we think it's probably time to move. However, we're a bit limited for choice as we don't have a huge budget (for London) and both of us commute everyday so we can't live too far out. We're hoping the hive mind will be able to help us find some good options. Our current criteria is:

• 475-500k budget (thinking ahead to nursery fees we probably can't stretch any further than this)
• 2-3 bedrooms (we would like to have two children)
• Ideally a trainline which goes into a couple of central london stations, or allows for a change at clapham junction as we work in different areas of London (ideal stations are clapham junction, london victoria, london bridge, waterloo)
• For the area itself we're just looking for somewhere that feels safer than Croydon with a couple of nice independent coffee shops and restaurants, a park to go for nice walks/park run and things to do in future with kids (e.g. swimming pool). We also ideally need to live somewhere where things are relatively walkable as I don't drive but DP does.

Thanks all!

I've always found one of the reassuring things about Bromley is you can always taxi it from Lewisham even when the normal train/bus lines are down (has happened to me a few times in snow, rail strike etc).

Whereas my dad once got over lubricated on a night out and had to taxi it to Sevenoaks.

That cost him!

@Phineyj I don't disagree about Bromley too- if OP is moderate in expectations - it's practical

It's also still in zones- which makes a big difference in commuting

Brookwood, Woking area Guildford.

Bedford?

You don't get much for the OP's budget there. Maybe a 2-bed flat.

All very expensive and trains from Brookwood are slow and few and far between.

Guildford- if you want walking distance to the station, no chance for her budget.

@CornishCreamTeas I wouldn't say that's true- this is pretty nice and a 3 bedder-

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148516061

Haywards Heath?

OP would be so much better off in south London.

The only thing to recommend Bedford is you can find a 3-bed semi detached for well under £400k.

But the commute is massively expensive and slow, so OP would soon see why.

The town centre is fairly grim too!

Tonbridge is lovely. 5m from sevenoaks but a world of diff in price

3bed about 425/450 with drive/parking /garden.

Good train links to London Bridge , Waterloo east

Bromley. Fast trains to Victoria, stopping services to Blackfriars. Good for shopping plus cafes, restaurants, pubs, etc.

Beckenham is a bit pricier. Also decent for transport. Not sure you'd find somewhere nice for that amount though.

Good luck!