London area recommendation?

[Deleted User]

There are more possibilities than I'd have expected in a Brockley, zone 2.   I searched for flats under £450k with gardens.  They do tend to be leasehold though.   Take a look:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE^2331&maxBedrooms=2&minBedrooms=1&maxPrice=450000&propertyTypes=flat&primaryDisplayPropertyType=flats&mustHave=garden&dontShow=newHome,retirement,sharedOwnership&furnishTypes=&keywords=

cattie

Areas such as Eltham,New Eltham & Sidcup are decent places to live & very green, with plenty of parks & woodlands nearby. Though there's not much other than housing & a few local shops in New Eltham, whereas Eltham has a decent high street for shops & a cafe culture. Pricewise you'd likely find a decent property for the money in the Progress Conservation Area estate. Such as these for example 
https://www.onthemarket.com/details/9923555/
https://www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/56145925

There are probably other nice areas that people can suggest.

 Personally I don't like Catford. Did live there once many moons ago but nowadays it'd be a big no no for me.

[Deleted User]

Definitely rule out Catford when Brockley is within budget!

[Deleted User]

There are actually a few options around Archway/Highgate:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION^70315&maxBedrooms=2&minBedrooms=1&maxPrice=450000&propertyTypes=flat&primaryDisplayPropertyType=flats&mustHave=garden&dontShow=newHome,retirement,sharedOwnership&furnishTypes=&keywords=

[Deleted User]

Some around Chalk Farm, too:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION^85263&maxBedrooms=2&minBedrooms=1&maxPrice=450000&propertyTypes=flat&primaryDisplayPropertyType=flats&mustHave=&dontShow=newHome,retirement,sharedOwnership&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Indigo_and_Violet

For £430k you might just about sneak a two bed flat with a communal garden in Stoke Newington. A schelp to the tube but very much with the hipster vibe. Alternatively, lots of our friends are moving out to Walthamsow - on the Victoria Line, near the river and the forest, got a bit of a high street and gentrifying pretty quick. 

seradane

I second South Croydon/Sanderstead area - trains into London Bridge in 15 mins, nice leafy streets and not too far from Croydon for the "things to do". Can get a 3 bed house with garden for £425k, for example: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92812859#/

hazyjo

I was quite happy in Eltham on my own (as recommended above), but think it'll be too suburban for you. 

In defence of picking East London because it's cheap, I'd agree with that statement such as with East Ham, Barking, etc, but Chingford and Highams Park are not comparable. They used to be in Essex and have a very different feel and aren't particularly cheap, just more reasonable than surrounding Essex such as Buckhurst Hill, Epping, Chigwell, etc. This part of East London certainly isn't a last resort instead of north London.

Alan2020

Really healthy budget, you can get something like this, good connections and schools.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78200049#/

bouicca21

Anyone who likes living in Catford would hate Eltham or Ruislip.  I’ve lived in all three places and I’d take Catford over Eltham and Ruislip any day.

i think maybe OP should get on the 54 and pay a visit to Beckenham High Street.  Totally get that it might feel a bit too suburban round BPP, but at the moment property in Beckenham is cheaper than Catford and the High Street is only a few minutes from the park and has a different feel.