HELP - Sooooo we know that this is the best place to live BU Post Reply

[kcbh27]

Ok - so I know that this is the best place to live in and around London BUT...
We are needing to plan where we are going next. The reality is that we just cannot afford to buy here and we'd really like to buy in 9 or so months.

We've only lived in the UK/London for 15 months and lucked into this amazing location so we really don't know anything about other areas of London and how great they can be too.

Does anyone have any suggestions for other great community minded, family oriented neighbourhoods? We are willing to go out a bit but it needs to have a train to the centre of London nearby (For example: Sevenoaks). We probably want to stay south but if there is a great location in the north, we'll check it out as well. If South, we'd like it to be <45-50 mins to Waterloo (or thereabouts) and if north - the same time to the centre.

We'd like a community that we can walk in, or ride our bikes in, to get to a high street/or main street that is varied and eclectic, not necessarily posh. A great post-3rd-wave coffee shop is a huge bonus.

I'd like to start going out to neighbourhoods to see what they are like and whether or not we'd be comfortable there long term. So please - bring on the suggestions.

Thank you SO much in advance!

[The NSC]

Why not try Pitshanger Lane near Ealing? I was raised there (a long time ago!) and went back last week with my little boy. We had great time in the local park for the afternoon. So many kids around (and polite!). Its arguably more community/family based than BTC. And cheaper. Well worth a visit. Good luck.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Off the top of my head, perhaps somewhere like Twickenham or north, Southgate or St Albans? What is your budget and what do you want for it, as that really narrows the options?

[NYE31]

Try the Life after London website, the founder often posts on here & also on facebook.

[bamse]

If you don't have to be on the tube line & d epending on your budget, East Dulwich is lovely and very central. House prices around 1/2 what you pay here and has great state schools and a very nice feel to it with lots of shops and restaurants, local market and Dulwich park and Peckham Rye for green space. Herne Hill is also nice & "up and coming" with the wonderful Brockwell Park close by. i don't know anything about the schools in Herne Hill though. Also Blackheath/Greenwich area is nice with great schools & green space. Not so clued in about the prices around there though. Also have friends in Twickenham who love it (although I'm not sure about being even closer to these bloody planes!) and further west you have Ham, Hampton Court, Themes Ditton....

There is so much choice! NVN isn't the only great place in London

[sunnytwinmummy]

North Kingston is great (KT2).
We have great schools (all outstanding), a great sense of community and we are right next to Richmond Park.
Waterloo is only 30 mins away from Kingston or Norbiton train station.
House prices are significantly less than in Clapham.

Good luck.
x

[rooting4tooting]

Edgware and Stanmore, quite sleepy, but very nice

[kcbh27]

Thank you so much everyone. I've started my research into these areas (and the dreaming as well). I'm glad that we have so much time to plan and learn about our next possible location.
But - I'm still going to enjoy every last minute of living here.

I'll still take any other suggestions. Thanks!

[Bee@lifeafterlondon]

Hi there, really good luck with the research. It can be so hard.
Just thought you might find this handy thing useful, it shows commute distance from the station of your choice. http://www.lifeafterlondon.com/calculate-your-commute/
Also another handy tool to locate schools is this one. http://www.locrating.com

Our website offers quite a lot of advice for people with guides on how to choose a new area and forums where you can speak to people all over the country for a bit of advice. Let me know if we can help.

Good luck

Bee at Life After London

PS huge thanks to NYE31 for mentioning our site - so appreciated.

[kcbh27]

Thanks - I've been perusing your site for the last hour now.
And thanks for the commute time, I've been slowly working that out and finding commute time maps online.

[Bee@lifeafterlondon]

great, hopefully some helpful ideas. Best thing is to ask a question - plenty of people been in your situation before and they are so helpful.

Also if you're in need of some face to face advice we're running free half hour one to one sessions in Putney in a couple of weeks. You can book a time slot and get advice all about a potential move - might be interesting for you perhaps? http://www.lifeafterlondon.com/book/

[actuallyadad]

Friends just moved to Epping and love it for all the reasons you describe and it's on the tube.

[kcbh27]

We are hoping to pay <650k and buy a place that is on a quiet-ish lane, has 3+ bedrooms or 3 and a study, a garden and a garage.

And now y'all see why we can't stay in zone 2.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Have you considered Furzedown, between Tooting and Streatham? Near Tooting common, very friendly and lots available in that budget. You could buy in catchment of Graveney school (though would need to be within a few hundred meters I think).

Another option could be somewhere like Brockley, near Forest Hill and Dulwich. Or Wanstead to the East? You have Epping Forest on your doorstep and a nice high street.

You might be able to get North Muswell Hill/Finchley if you aren't fussed about getting a period property. Or check out Barnet, lots of families and brill schools.

Futher out, you could also buy in St Albans for that budget - again very family focused and fab schools. Only 20 mins to Kings Cross on train.

[firsttimerSW11]

How about somewhere like Thames Ditton, it's lovely. The train links are brilliant from Surbiton (one stop from Waterloo). If you wanted to go a bit further, I know people like Esher but it's that bit further out.