Nice Areas Around London

whambamboo

lush_walrus wrote:

Yep me too on Slough, definately AVOID especially if you are really considering your children's education. A friend of mine teaches in a school in Slough at the moment, and he is having enormous problems at the moment there. Slough has had a huge amount of new Polish immigrants, not a problem in itself. But there are many fights in his particular school between the Asian pupils and the Polish ones. Couple that with the fact that quite a lot of the Polish children aren't able to speak English yet, the schools are quite troubled.

Actually, I know someone who moved to Slough (he's an accounts director) for the schools. It's cheap and has a good train links to London. It is a bit grim though.

BUT, this only works if you go to one of the grammar schools - which Slough has and neighbouring Middlesex doesn't. You wouldn't want to go to a school that isn't a grammar in Slough.

whambamboo

LizEstelle wrote:

Well, where does one start?

Were one one, one would absolutely HAVE to consult the Independent Schools Council website, darling, where one could have a jolly old muck in with like-minded people who wish to keep one's offspring away from the other 95%, even at a certain non-moneysaving expense.

One imagines the Queen often sends out for a nice piece of cod from the local Windsor fried potato emporium.

Have you ever even been to Windsor???

I didn't think so.

It's nothing like Virginia Water, with the cheapest house £1m. There is quite a social mix there, and it's not as rarified and royal as ignorant outsiders like yourself might assume

I guess you think Prince William will be moving in here:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-5440587.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy

mrsc_4

We currently live in Essex, and commute into London on a daily basis it takes about 40 minutes, driving you have good access to the A12 and A13. I can't say much about the schools as we don't have children but my schooling was good and I would send my children to the same school. Most areas are very nice and we might be biased but I love living in Essex.

TNG

Brentford's up and coming. A lot of redevelopment going on. you have Kew to the south, Chiswick to the east and Ealing to the north. Some good schools (and a few ropey ones, but where doesn't). Central London (Waterloo) is about 20 minutes away on the train. Tube stations aren't too far away (15 minute walk). Handy for M4

jyonda

I think Slough and East London will come as a shock compared to Somerset so Surrey may be a better bet.

Woking in Surrey has fast trains to London and the south coast. Guildford is on the A3 as is Haslemere which is a nice place with trains into London and affordable-ish prices. Epsom is a nice market town with good access to London but it's reflected in the prices. Chessington is a bit cheaper than it's surrounding areas, has slow trains to London (35/40 mins) and good access to the M25. Standards of education are generally pretty good throughout Surrey though you'll get some townie chavs anywhere you go.

[Deleted User]

No one's mentioned north of London. I'm moving to Borehamwood soon and buying my first home. You could also consider Watford or St. Albans. Both are on very fast links into London.

whambamboo

ringo_24601 wrote:

No one's mentioned north of London. I'm moving to Borehamwood soon and buying my first home. You could also consider Watford or St. Albans. Both are on very fast links into London.

house prices in St Albans are absolutely obscene. I would avoid.

sanfrancisco

and watford is an 80's dump.

silvercar

parts of borehamwood are nice, parts are well dodgy!

there are a lot of nice green areas around there, Bushey, Elstree, Aldenham, Radlett (again parts).

where are you moving to ringo? we moved out 2 months ago after 18 years there. (only gone a mile up the road though!).

Horasio

Strangely enough, my husband and I were discussing areas just outside of London last night.

I was brought up in Surrey/Hants/Sussex - yes we moved a lot:D and found it very positive and friendly living south and south west of London.

When I was 17, I visited people who lived north west of the M40 and around towards Hertfordshire etc and found although it is pretty, it feels sad and the people seem very insular but there are some friendly places.

I recently revisited Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey and it still felt as lovely as I remember.

You will get a shock at the house prices though:eek: