Large communal garden and living centrally vs private garden in the suburbs

[hodgepodge01]

WWYD?
We have toddlers and are weighing up living centrally with a large beautiful communal garden with playground across the road and being close to parks and playgrounds, better transport, museums etc, but being in a large flat with a high service charge, that needs at least some renovating. Or a terrace house in the suburbs with a large private garden. It's been updated but not extended and is in a quiet neighbourhood we don't know so well, but seems family orientated. The commute is equivalent as one is better for either one of us. They are the same price.

@Heronwatcher I wasn't disagreeing about St C.

Having access to that many credible state secondary schools is pretty unusual.

Wimbledon College is in Wimbledon, Graveney is in Tooting, Tiffin In Kingston, you can go to all those schools from many parts of London if you fit the criteria as I said.

What is unusual is to have excellent options on your doorstep that aren't exam or faith dependent.

We have to cross the road, but I’d say the garden is nicer and bigger than maida vale? So plenty of space, and we have girls, I don’t think they’d cause a ruckus. A bit of excited squealing, but it’s genuinely huge.
I do want them to have all the fun of a private garden, and the ease of popping back in, but there are trade offs of the being in a less dynamic area too, so not clear cut.

Don’t underestimate how easy it is to just fling open your doors and let your kids play outside. No need to worry about broken glass, or dog shit, or other people doing things - they have privacy and freedom, can come back in to use the loo or get a snack etc.

Carting a load of stuff over the road and back everyday is going to get boring very fast - and what happens when one needs a wee and you have to stop, take both back with you etc.