Moving back to UK - where to live (London/SE)?

[LegoFam]

We've been living abroad for the last 5 years and are planning to move back along with our 2 kids ages 1 and 3. We used to live in London Zone 2 but obviously our priorities have now changed. We're not sure now what areas where to move back to, either in London or commutable. I'm applying for jobs atm.

Our requirements:

• we're a multiracial family so a diverse area
• good state schools including secondary. Our kids probably could get into grammar but I don't want to put them through the pressure of tuition so we want good non-selective options. Definitely not a church school as we are an atheist family. A nice to have for the little one is a forest school nursery.
• interesting food scene
• walkable, community feel
• max commute 1hr-75min to central London. My husband works from home 100% but I think I'd be 2-3 days in the office in Central London (assume either the city or the West End).

Budget: £2500 rent p.m. for a generous sized 3 bedroom plus garden. The kids can share a bedroom but we both need space to WFH.

Most family is SW or Berkshire but we're not limiting ourselves to those as I think budget would be limited.

Areas I can think of that meet the diversity requirements and are family friendly are like Reading and Kingston. But Reading I worry is too far out to be able to do things in London regularly.

We plan to buy in a few years hopefully in the same area.

Have you tried a broker for the mortgage? I've used John Charcol a couple of times.

Penge is coming up a lot and a friend mentioned that too. I think we need to take a look!

I have two boys. As @treesfalling said, I'm not sure about grammar yet. I've seen friends&family kids go through a lot to get into grammar even with smart kids. DH and I are both academic so we know we can generally support them through school so I don't think its the end-all (I may change my mind ofc 😬 as we get closer to secondary).

Not yet but our money is tied up for a year anyway as our old flat is rented out on a fixed term contract.

I definitely would look at Penge and the Penge side of Sydenham, and dont discount Forest Hill Boys. My sons go there, one is academic and doing brilliantly, one is not academic at all and has improved leaps and bounds since primary school (hes in y7) esp in Maths. The teachers really really care about the boys there and the pastoral support is great.

A flat for now is ok. Hoping when we go to buy in 2-3 years it may be a house

The only issue with this is potentially 2 lots of stamp duty in a very short time.

Sorry forget you would be renting

Northfields/Hanwell in Ealing? Good schools, and has Elizabeth line for commuting.

Eg
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162725450

The competition for grammar in London is insane. Many dc start prepping in yr 4 and it can be fairly hard core.

But you can apply to Kingston & Sutton grammars without having to necessarily live that close to them. But you want a great non grammar option too.

Yeah it's crazy!
Back when I did the 11+, I don't think I even knew I was going until the week before.

@treesfalling not the case as she is renting

You might need to compromise on the faith school, as a significant proportion of primaries are. I live in walking distance of four primary schools and they are all called St something or other. I just went with "Christians believe xyz" when they came home with it.

Another vote for Whitton. Spent years there and loved it. The cheap end of Richmond borough and full of young families. Decent train service and great High St. you can afford a small 3 bed house there. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163011122

Bromley? Has generally very good schools - also Bexley Borough - access to Grammars and easy by train to get into central London.

When I mean faith school, I mean one that requires you to practise a faith to get in. I know some allow you to practise "any" faith even if it's a Christian school but we just don't. And it's one area we can't compromise on. DH will give up a bedroom first!

I’m on the east side of Reading and from Twyford I can be on the Lizzy line and in central London in well under an hour. Your budget would get you what you want. Look at Earley/woodley/twyford/eastern side of RG

Thank you! Any schools/catchment areas to look out for? Esp re secondary?

I only live in the UK,as I have no choice.Most of the UK is Over priced.Or a ghetto! Most state schools are not that great! Nursery schools should be mandatory from the age of 2.Transport overpriced! NHS on its knees! Inequality is alive & kicking!.I have lived in London,Kent, south Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire,stoke on trent.unless you have deep pockets,the standard of living is low compared to most European countries.State pensions are way too low.Pension age going up to 67 yrs.Economy static.Cost of living unaffordable! Employment unpredictable, Zero hours.Parking a car, a nightmare,pot holes on large areas.lack of investment.Poor areas usually stay poor! Flats are very expensive, which have become unaffordable due to Maintenance costs, energy costs.A high number of properties are owned by persons who do not live in the UK.Rough sleepers not uncommon, drug dependency a problem, anti social behaviour a issue.Living here hell no!

Pension age going up to 67 yrs.

It's already 68 for those under 47!

Sevenoaks is lovely and Quick Look in Rightmove there are houses in your price range

@Bulldog01 as someone who had20 months living in Copenhagen and then had to come back for elderly parent reasons I totally agree with you - we lived in a smart but urban area too in Copenhagen - and people I felt had high standards - they expected to work full time even with kids, they expected high tax and high services-

There are several pretty good secondaries around here, Maiden Erlegh, Waingels, The Piggott are all decent. There are also several good secondaries in Wokingham. We have grammar schools as well if that is of interest - Kendrick girls and reading boys- but they are highly selective/competitive as I don’t think they admit based on distance only scores so you get kids coming from Oxford, Basingstoke etc as the academic standards are very high. For primary, almost all schools locally are “good” with a few rated outstanding, with one or two specific exceptions it’s pretty hard to find a bad primary.

So in an ideal world, I'd be looking at some Scandinavian countries but because of jobs, family and some health issues, right now the UK is our better option.
Where we live now has lots of problems and almost everything you mention above is worse here. The education being one of the key reasons not to stay.

The idea that all the secondaries in SE London are terrible is hilarious. Here be dragons.

FHB is a nice school. It's a proper comp with an arts focus (not many of those left) so limited social selection. Shared 6th form with Sydenham School.

There's also Kingsdale and some people like the Harris Schools or Norwood School. Loads of options. But it sounds like you're years off that anyway.

Hey,
Where do you live now?
Of course if you live in Expensive Areas in the UK, it's ok! Example Chelsea, Richmond, Kensington, Knightsbridge,Westminster, Golders Green, Marylebone.Our Daughter rented a 1 bed flat in Orpington 3 1/2 years ago.The rent was £1250.00 then a month,she moved back with us as the rent had gone up to £1400.00.The flat was a new build.The Electric for the Heating/ Hot water was supplied by Switch 2 who were charging £200.00 a month for hot water.When I mentioned that living in the UK is not desirable,yes, if you are in the majority who are earning a low or average income.