moving out of london - new area options questions!

daveb975

wallofbeans wrote: »

our first is on the way so we'll need those great schools in not too long!!

That could be another swing in favour of Walton. The state schools in Kingston/Surbiton have a good reputation, but are massively over-subscribed, especially at primary level.

They were supposed to be building a completely new primary school on the old hospital site, but this plan has disappeared with all of the current funding cuts.

fozzylozzy

If you wanted to go even further out, how about Weymouth by the sea..... (just a thought!!)

Direct train line to Waterloo and you could get a lot for your money down here!!

beccad

Good to read all the positives about Hersham/Walton. We're considering a property in Hersham at the moment (one of the roads off Burwood Rd), although our budget is a good bit lower than yours wallofbeans (max £350k)! We've done a lot of driving around the area and really like it.

beccad

To add, I also know how you feel about deciding to move out of London, looking at the map and thinking "Where the !!!! do we start?" We were able to narrow it down to the South-West bit of Greater London, and had to be no more than 40 mins on the train, but even that gives you a HUGE search area!

sunshinetours

pippitypip wrote: »

Crikey, can't believe how few people are recommending Essex!

Most town centres anywhere are just what you'd expect (not pretty little villages), but 10/ 15 mins out and it's leafy, green, gorgeous, family friendly - pretty and not as expensive as the South London boroughs you're talking about.

Like Woodford/ Chigwell way - very quick to get into London, Woodford tube on Central line I think: http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=6731902

Danbury, lovely little village in Essex - not even 10 mins drive from Chelmsford town centre: http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=3369932

http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=4719571 East Hanningfield, about 15 mins drive to Chelmsford.

ooooh I could go on, so many lovely areas if I had £600k that'd do pretty well in some lovely areas right across Essex.

Could look at Epping and Theydon Bois too - again good tube links.

hth,
pippitypip

I agree with the value for money issue but in fairness to the OP they have discounted it because of the access to the part of London they need to get to

Danbury is lovely as are parts of South and West Hanningfield (and some of East) but they do not have bars, cafes etc that OP wants.

I do think people who have lived in London and have everything on their doorstep do struggle to find somewhere that matches up fully to that kind of convenience quite understandably

Parts of SW London/Surrey are so ridiculously expensive for a reason!

zagubov

wallofbeans wrote: »

what about Walton on Thames?

OR if we're going even more london-ish then Kingston upon Thames - good bits? horrible bits!?

Not much for your money there

nollag2006 wrote: »

The train links to Kingston are really poor - goes all around the houses to get to Waterloo and limited late night service. Walton is lovely, but very pricy. Not much in terms of pubs and shops. Trains are infrequent though

You can do better

Look at New Malden- spacious leafy and green, parks, golf courses, good shops, excellent fast trains to London until the small hours, handy for Kingston (or Wimbledon) for shops/nightlife.

Low crime, very good schools, easy parking, villagey, feels a lot further out in the country than it actually is, a lot more spacious than anywhere in Kingston by a mile.

hazyjo

Thread's nearly a year old. Is the OP still looking even?

Jx