What's it like living in West Moseley?

[BushyDreamer]

Looking for views and experiences of people currently living there, or who were there in the past 5 years or so - bonus if you have young children!

What's it like? The good, bad, and the ugly please. Schools, toddler activities, nurseries, baby activities (I would like a third at some point, but maybe when these two are at school).

I currently live in Sutton, which is really good for soft plays and things, and the council run baby groups are brilliant, but the shopping is rubbish and I generally don't feel like I belong. The teenagers seem to be getting worse, and the area we live in feels like it's in decline.

I have 2 toddlers and my eldest will be going to school next year, so we'd like to pick somewhere nice to settle down. Would prefer secular education as DP is a bit traumatised by his Catholic school days.

DP has found a doer upper in West Moseley and is keen on it. We can afford it, and it has 4 bedrooms! Decent sized ones!

However, I know nothing about the area! Looking at the map, I'm a bit nervous at how far the train stations seem to be. I mainly WFH but DP will need to commute. I like the proximity to the parks and water etc.

We used to rent in Teddington (near the lock, sigh), and if money was no object, I'd be back there in a flash.

As it is, I have not yet won the lottery, not progressed beyond middle manager in my career.

Thank you 🙏

Teddington is lovely so it’s hard to move on from that. What part of Sutton are you in as there are nicer bits & some excellent schools.

East Moseley is much nicer than west imo as there just isn’t really anything there.

I would say the reduced transport options will be hard to adjust to particularly when your dc are teenagers.

We're near Rosehill. 5 mins on the bus to town.

We bought what we could afford 8 years ago, which wasn't much!

I’m sorry to be that person, but it’s Molesey (as in, the River Mole) not Moseley. Agree that East Molesey is a lot nicer than West (I’m nearby but not in either), although it’s not a huge distance in between them. West Molesey is a bit of a long way from any transport or buzzing high streets, aside from East Molesey itself. If you’re looking near Hurst Park you might get a bit of a Teddington feel from being so close to the river, but the Island Barn side of Molesey has always looked a bit grim to me - lots of light industry and endless residential roads with not much else going on. I imagine with little kids you’d spend a lot of time in the car driving to other places (I wouldn’t advise living around here if you don’t drive - trains aside, the local transport is £££ and rubbish).

I’m not sure about schools - I think it’s Hurst Park primary and maybe Grovelands, then there’s the new Heathside (sister school of a very good Weybridge academy) at secondary, or Thamesmead over the river. I don’t have up to date info on any of them. Baby and toddler stuff, you’d probably be looking at the Xcel centre (big gym, swimming pool and soft play) and groups in East Molesey.

Honestly, if you’re mourning Teddington and finding Sutton a bit underwhelming I’m not sure West Molesey is the answer (but East Molesey, or Lower Sunbury near the river, probably is).

What about other bits of Sutton, are they affordable? Or parts of Kingston?

Moseley is in Birmingham - I really thought you were talking about there, especially as we have a Sutton too (also with shit shopping but good schools).

Sorry, it was a very confusing typo!

I don't think the cost of moving is worth the benefit, for us. We'd get a slightly larger house but still effectively be in the same area with the same lifestyle and a bigger mortgage.

I think if it came down to only moving here or not at all, I would rather do a loft conversion, pay off the mortgage and send the children to an independent school. But that wouldn't address the general decline I'm seeing and feeling.

I think I'm dreaming of my old life of doing park run, mooching along the high street charity shops, walking along the lock, just lovely little moments and a pleasant environment. Trying to recreate that for £550k 😂🫣

Well I would rather places like New Malden, Worcester Park, Berrylands, Carshalton Beeches for example vs Rosehill as I prefer a nicer living environment but it’s your life. I will say between my friends who have moved a bit further out they really struggle with having to be taxis for their teens.

The cost of moving is a real pain, we want to move in a few years & the stamp duty alone is awful but we need some more space & like where we live.

Carshalton is surprisingly lovely. No river, but a really pretty town centre with ponds and open spaces, and a great high street. Quite an arty/oddball vibe, lots of Arts and Crafts era housing. Easy commute to London Bridge and Victoria, and a bus ride away from the bottom of the Northern Line.

But yes, the southwest London river suburbs do have a specific vibe, and that’s why they’re so freaking expensive. (I grew up there and cannot afford to move back, so I feel your pain).

You really won’t create that in W Molesey. East yes. What do you want - 4 beds for £550?

Edit: Does WM still have a curfew for teenagers?

We're looking at 3 beds with a view to extending/doing a loft but would love a 4 bed if we found one in budget. They seem to go for 750+ which is just not doable currently (ever?).

This house would be for the next 15-20 years, until the children finish school, so we're really feeling the pressure.

I didn't know about a curfew! Sketchy teenagers is partly why I'm not keen on staying here as well. It was only meant to be a starter home 🙄

I think the curfew was a temporary thing a few years ago (although not totally sure). You do get bored teenagers all around here, because there’s not loads they can do. Most of them aren’t causing trouble, but there’s always some who are worse. It’s a safe place to bring up kids, but it’s not action-packed to put it mildly.