Moving to UK: best family places to live with commute to Canary Wharf

[HKtoUK]

Hello, will be shifting to UK soon and looking for ideal family areas to live in and around London with easy commute (1 hour or less) to Canary Wharf with good schools! Happy with Greater London areas as well. Looked at Kent and awaiting independent school responses (yr10 trf is not easy so looking for independent school with hope to switch to an o/s state school) , but appreciate more suggestions as I am clueless as to where I should begin and which are the bests areas to look at.. Thank you.

I see others have mentioned the Borough of Bromley, Petts Wood offers trains to Lewisham and London Bridge for connections to DLR or Jubilee line (as well as links to Victoria and City Thameslink if job changes location).

Great location for a variety of state and independent schools, 24 mins to London Bridge. Grammar school options too. On edge of Kent so get best of still being in London but greenery and space of the suburbs. Nice range of independent shops and restaurants.

Surely OP wants advice on where not to live too? Don’t live in Lewisham OP. Go further out. The schools in Bexley and Bromley are good.

I would also look at schools before deciding. It can be quite tricky getting into a new school at the beginning of year 11 as this is halfway through the GCSE syllabus.

But the OP’s child is transferring for y10, not 11, I thought.

The OP's third post says that their DC is currently in year 10.

I wouldn’t rule out state school. From one POV it’s easier than private, because (broadly speaking) if a state school has a space and you’re the closest applicant they are forced to take you, whilst the private school might decide that it’s more trouble than it’s worth to take anyone in year 11.

But it will be really tough. What syllabus is your child studying at the moment?

@Ginfordinner Yes, you’re quite right!

State schools will definitely offer a place as they have to by law. It’s just more of a case of which school the places are available as they won’t all be desirable.

Will the OP get a nice three bed for that price? I live in North London and you wouldn't get a place with that budget

doadeer, £1700 will suffice for a nice place in outer London.

This 3 bed for £1650pm close to Petts Wood station (oyster zone 5) and shops www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-76062757.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-87286838.html

Almost on budget. Lovely road.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-86490794.html

And this one is in North London- they do exist.

blackheath or charlton. property priced towards woolwich a bit cheaper but transport a bit longer.

good private schools in the area (eltham, colfes, dulwich, blackheath) but also close to kent grammar area (bexleyheath). lots of new builds but also loads of spacious old london stock.

We live in bromley on the Hayes line. About 70 mins to Canary Wharf via lewisham or London Bridge. Uses bromley south as a back up. Excellent state schools (but keep an eye on the Langley schools as in middle of consult about admission criteria). Private schools close too. Countryside 5 mins away.

Thank you so much everyone. Wish you all a happy new year. I have started doing my research using above suggestions and websites. @EmmaGrundyForPM and @daisypond what a relief to know that state school will take kids in year 11 so thank you.

If you all have to recommend one area with best or near best state schools for secondary in London, which one will it be?
Once again thank you for great suggestions. Very helpful!

that place in north London is in chipping barnet. that is very far out. would take much longer to get to canary wharf.

I was going to suggest somewhere on the jubilee line, Kilburn, Willesden green, have some very nice properties esp in the mapesbury estate. form there you could get to schools in Camden, which are v good, both state and independent. but not sure on that budget, that you could find anything suitable, re accomm.
could you look for a good state school and then have more money to move nearer to it, by saving on school fees.
half of Kilburn is in Camden, where school are v good. half in brent, housing ok, schools not so good. but not sure how admissions work anyway. think it varies at that age.
I don't know south east London much.
have heard Lewisham can be v dodgy, esp for newcomers.
blackhaeth is nice, but v expensive. hither green, lee are nice. not so much catford. as to Bromley etc, and distance/ time, you need to actually try out journeys, on weekday mornings, to get an accurate picture.
don't go by estate agents blandishments.
are you moving from elsewhere in uk. thinking of school system.

Come to Rotherhithe/ Canada Water, x1 tube stop away from Canary Wharf, £1,700 / 1,800 will get you a terraced or semi detached house. Don’t know about schools though

@alexdgr8 Moving from HK. Kids in British curriculum so thats not the worry. Issue is shifting during GCSE years where most schools refuse the intake. Thank you for your suggestions!

@Aridane Is Rotherhithe a good family area? I looked up schools and its good. Thank you.

Yes, it is (I think). I have lived there for 30 years

Feel free to to PM if you have any specific queries or post here.

Disclaimer: I do not have young children!