Where to live - multi-generational, multi-cultural family with primary school kids

[KalmKiwi]

We're moving to London from NZ to live with my in-laws who are South African. We have two primary school children. Where in London would you recommend we live? We don't want too much of a city experience. NZ is such a neighborly place and the children play outside and make friends with the neighbours. But my South African in-laws are worried about crime, long and expensive commutes to NE London.

Watford or Harrow

Where do you need to commute to for work?
Budget…?
Where do your in laws live?

Depends on budgets, location preferences etc

Somewhere like Ealing would give you London living, good schools and community feel but it is expensive and it has it run down areas.

You could go further out west or north to more commuter areas - Amersham, Watford, Rickmansworth are all on an underground lines but far from city living vibes and more small suburban communities.

Even further afield but still a quick commute into London (20ish minutes) Berkhamstead, Hitchin, St Albans.

You could go to the other side of London and go for Surrey - Reigate, Leatherhead. Slightly more inwards Hampton or Teddington.

If your in laws are worried about crime in SA why don’t they move to NZ to buy a house with or without you in the community where you already live & are settled?

You haven’t given nearly enough information for people to give proper suggestions. We have no idea of your budget for one thing. If you do have the budget, St Albans in Hertfordshire is a good shout for being a nice place with low crime and easily accessible to North London. But it’s very expensive.

Have you been to London recently? Or even the UK?

I wouldn’t move anywhere in London (which I love) if I didn’t want ‘too much of a city experience’, tbh.

I would say St Albans, Beaconsfield, Amersham, Rickmansworth. Good links into London, lovely green spaces, lots of family events advertised at various times of the year. You could also look at Gerrards Cross which has a station but you can easily get into Uxbridge / Hillingdon for tube links

London is really not comparable to any city in NZ - it really is best for a ‘city experience’
i think I’d consider a smaller city that has a good mix of cultures and ethnicities - perhaps Sheffield, Bristol, even Oxford?
it is easier to live on the outskirts in a more community set up in these cities.

How about Chingford if you need to be NE London? Or Wanstead. Both are near Epping Forest, don’t feel like London, more village like. Anywhere around there really, South Woodford, etc. Mix of village and good transport links into London.