where to live

[mimififi]

Hi all,

I'm just wandering about nice places to live that are within an easily commutable distance to London's square mile. I have small children, so where would be the best place to look? I need somewhere that isn't tooooo grey, where there are nice parks etc and where there isn't too much violence/nasty stuff/noise etc......

Anywhere like that in greater london?

[Andy008]

Clerkenwell is the most convenient, but you will pay handsomely for the privilege.

[WoWo]

"Anywhere like that in greater london?"

Plenty, but you will pay for the privilage. It depends on what you call easily commutable and how much you can afford.

[Buenchico]

This isn't a direct answer but I hope that it's still a useful suggestion:

If you buy a copy of the Time Out publication "London for Children", you'll find that reading it will give you plenty of information about the quality of the parks, sports centres, etc, in each area. The information is more than just factual, it manages to give you a real 'feel' for each area. The book's fairly cheap, it's available from loads of book shops and, if you're going to live in London with kids, you'll get plenty of value from it anyway.

Chris

[arty7774]

It depends on whether you want to live north south east or west of london.

Hertsfordshire has some large new areas of housing at reasonable prices. Stevenage is building houses and new schools. Its on the A1m and easy access by rail.

[mimififi]

easily commutable: well at the moment mr mimififi does a 5.5 hour round trip every day so half hour on the train, or tube would be considered on our doorstep...

Beunchico ( you good fellow), sounds like an excellent publication, I shall get onto that.

I was also thinking about how much my children will benefit from all that London offers, such as the museums, libraries, sports facilities etc etc...Is this true, or is London still a scary place?

[BigMac]

Within the Square Mile, look no further than the Barbican. Virtually self-contained ghetto/enclave* with own large garden including two separate children's areas; lots to do at the arts centre (theatre, concerts, cinema, exhibitions) and everything in the Square Mile within an easy half-hour walk. Service charges are offset by lack of season ticket!.

New city Academy just over the river on the South Bank for which all CIty-resident children are eligible (11+ or 13+, I think). Other schools a little varied - only 1 or two state primary, lots of private prep schools. Barbican Playgroup for under 5s a real boon.

But it all comes down to budget in the end.... Check local estate agents, e.g. Hamilton Brooks, to get an idea of price.

* Delete as applicable

[dove]

Epsom is nice but expensive, Victoria and Waterloo line easily accessible. Also there is lots there for the children, good schools and the countryside is on your doorstep.

[mimififi]

cheers dove, thanks for that.

Anywhere else anyone, I'd prefer south of the River, but not necessarily... Come on, there must be loads of people who live in London and love it...Let me know. Where do you live...?

[I_Tried]

Dove u still interested lmao Mr. T. a crazy fool xxxx

[mimififi]

In a pickle, that's a great site, thanks for that.... i'm very grateful

[David H]

South I have a little list of nice and relatively cheap areas all very easy to London Bridge and the city.

First is Brockley, just past the less livable New Cross and far superior. A bit further out is Lee but easy on the train and probably cheaper still. More modern and probably a bit pricier is Beckenham to Bromley, further out but far more like the country.

South West however costs an arm and a leg and besides Putney and Wimbledon wouldn't touch it any closer to town, Battersea-Wandsworth-Clapham just don't do it for me. And probably double the mirror areas to the east though I'll never work out why as the Kent side is a lot nicer if you avoid the dodgy bits (East of Woolwich along the river, New Cross, as mentioned, Catford, Peckham, Kidbrooke estate and parts of Lewisham), otherwise I'd recommend any of it, though Balckheath and Greenwich are villages and very expensive.

[funnywebsite]

Ealing and Richmond are both nice especially Richmond but rather expensive. Berkshire is nice, so is Surrey it all takes a lot of money though. Parts of Staines is OK I think, not that I have lived there but there is a lovely river that runs through it where I have had nice long walks up to Runnymede and beyond.

[shaneystar]

We lived in Wimbledon for twenty years.Nice area. Wimbledon common,Richmond Park etc.Plenty of green space.Kingston-upon -Thames and Richmond are nice too.But...it will cost you an arm and a leg.When we left two years ago victorian terraces in Wimbledon....done up very nicely mind you...were going for half a million.