Best place to live which is an easy commute from Victoria

[starkadder]

OK - so we are thinking about moving back to the UK after what will have been three and a bit years in Madrid.

I'm from London, was born in Hammersmith and have lived in Ealing, Stockwell and Fulham over the years.

Now we are thinking it might be better when we move back to NOT live in London any more - because London seems a bit rough and a bit expensive now that we are precious parents.

It has to be within commuting distance of Victoria because I'm going to have to go to the office sometimes (but not every day).

We prob have a budget of about 250 grand and we'll have (fingers crossed!) 2 children by then, so would be looking for 3 bed or preferably 3 and a bit since I work from home and need an office.

Suggestions please!!

Sydenham. 17 mins from Victoria (Well nearby Penge East station is). Is London but only just. Leafy, fairly cultured... not sure you could do three beds for 250 but not impossible...

I think you want to be further out, though. This is as far out as I'm prepared to go (Ealing, East London and Brixton here)

thanks so much for your reply to my very boring message!

I am thinking actually that I am not sure how far out I am prepared to go. Not too sure about small town Britain. But I am probably just prejudiced, never having actually lived in small town Britain. Have only ever lived in London and Cambridge in the UK.

...Anyway...maybe outskirts of London, i.e. not on tube, will be both broadminded and affordable. Maybe Sydenham is the place!!

Brighton? Not sure if you can get a 3 bed there for £250,000 though - can any Brighton locals put me right?

South Norwood? Plenty of trains to Victoria, takes only 20 mins. I think it has potential because tube is coming here. Crystal Palace, Beckenham, Croydon is close. There are few decent schools. The most importantly, you can get 3 bed for up to 250k. I live here because 1) easy to commute and for me full-time worker is crucial because of the child that goes to childcare 8-6 2) it is relatively cheap to commute as compared when you have to get train from Brigthon or Guilford for instance.
That is purely my opinion.

We are moving (fingers crossed) to Walthamstow, around Lloyd Park. 25min tube to Victoria (though a bus/walk to tube from the house we are buying). 3 bed houses to be had, especially if you are able to up your budget a little. We are spending 270K and getting 3 beds + loft room and huge garden.

I am like you, can't imagine not living in London!

Brighton though, good suggestion

You can get these in your budget within 1 mile of Streatham Common station some houses

There are definitely parts of SE London within your budget- though you might need to consider more modern and ex-local authority properties if you're after 3 beds for 250,000- and lots of the trains run into Victoria. Like most of London, areas quite near each other can feel markedly different so you'd have a good chance of finding somewhere you liked, whether you're looking for quiet burbs or a more bustling inner city type area. I think there might be stuff within budget in:

parts of Streatham
Plumstead
Nunhead
Eltham
Peckham
Sydenham
Catford

Also might be worth looking at some Easty bits- Walthamstow maybe? It's on the Victoria line.

Come to Brighton, 'tis lovely here

It's got to be Brighton, and yes you can buy a 3 bed house for that sort of budget in the city suburbs.