Living Saaf of the river...

[mr_tony]

Due to mrs_t moving jobs seems likely that we will be upping sticks and moving south of the river at some point later this year.

Just trying to get an idea of areas to put on the possible list.

Requirements

(at least) 2 bedrooms,
(at least!) 2 car spaces (at least one covered / garaged / underground)
Secure
Easy commute to West End for me, easy driving to South London / Kent for mrs_t.
Outside space (house + garden or flat with terrace)

Budget wise got to keep it under 400k - and ideally it'll be rentable for when we move in in a few years time.

So main thoughts so far

Surrey Quays
Grenwich

Anyone add any other options?

[trackdemon]

You've named a couple of decent areas - Greenwich much nicer than Surrey Quays (so much more to do) but probably a bit pricier and harder to get decent parking (for that Diablo). Blackheath is very nice too, not sure about commute into West end though...

There are plenty of new developments going up around Canary Wharf which may be worth looking at, and CW is an increasingly nice are to be around. Limehouse? Rotherhithe (some cool riverfront stuff)? Or you could just join the rest of the PH exodus to Wapping!

[mr_tony]

So I am at least on the right track.
I think key issue is being south of the river as mrs_t will be driving from client to client, and they're all located couth of the thames, or in kent - majority in greater south london though.

Thing is I like Surrey Quays in terms of the property I've seen there - right about the not much to do factor though - still having said that it's not as if we're out down the pub every night (and we live next door ot one now - so not for lack of convenience!)...

Good thing is Surrey Quays is right over the road from Wapping anyway - we'd get more for our cash and mrs_t won't have to queue to cross the river every day in the car.

Diablo is still on the wanted list, but I've actually decided to stick tight for now and keep the Morgan - hopefully permanently - I'm not sure I'll ever be able to sell it, it's just go so much personality. Interior is getting a makeover to get rid of the BMW plastic trim items, sports exhaust due shortly, and I'm thinking about more power, and maybe some carbon seats...

[iaint]

Moved to hither green area last year (http://streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=5 into a 3 bed house. Loads of on-street parking, some with off-street if the front garden has been paved and a drop kerb installed. Big rear gardens and a garage.

Perfect and decent priced - 250k for ours.

We're loving it.

I work in Victoria and it takes 40 mins door to door in the morning, 50 home in the evening. Just off the south circ, 5 mins to A20, 10 to A2. Walking distance of Blackheath for nice bars/restaurants. Bluewater's ~20 mins away for shopping.

[Ungarsee]

Crystal Palace is worth a look if you want to make a bit of money as well. We've got the East London line coming out which has sent prices a bit mental recently but it's still a much cheaper option that Greenwich etc and still going up in value. Its also nice and easy for Kent. Loads of Victorian houses if thats what floats your boat and £400k will get you all you've said above. If you want to be able to get into London quickly then look at places near Sydenham Hill (Victoria in 12mins) or Sydenham (London Bridge in 15mins) mainline stations.

[RacingTeatray]

I have a waterfront flat in London in Rotherhithe on Rotherhithe Street. I wouldn't be anywhere else for the money.

At the start of last year, my two-double bedroom, two-bath flat in a modern gated riverside development cost GBP240k, which I thought was a bargain. The flat's around 900ft2 (living room 20'x16') so it's spacious enough, and there is masses of secure parking. My development doesn't have underground parking but many do. Depending on the development, it may also have gardens (esp if ground-floor), concierge, gym, swimming pool etc. Mine has its own private pier extending out into the Thames which is extremely pleasant to sit on in summer. For houses though you need to look, as you say, in Surrey Quays. However, some of them do look disturbingly like Brookside.

Rotherhithe is a station on the East London line and it's also only a 5 min walk to Canada Water on the Jubilee Line which takes you to the West End in no time at all. There's also a river taxi service from Greenland Dock. Driving into town, I bank on roughly 10-15 mins to Parliament Sq depending on the route and traffic. Driving south, it takes only an hour to the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone. Also it takes very little time to get to either London Bridge, Liverpool St or Waterloo rail terminuses, which is handy. Only getting to Heathrow is a bit of a pain.



>> Edited by RacingTeatray on Wednesday 17th May 15:23

[bermyandy]

Have you though clapham/wandsworth way at all?

Or you steering more towards south east?

[joust]

Sounds like my house in Sanderstead

Two train lines. 20 mins into London Bridge or Victoria. A23 for easy access to South East|West of London. M25 J6 10 mins away.

Perfic.

J

[mr_tony]

interesting joust Don't know that area at all - will have to get google earthing!
Leaning more towards south east as mrs_t will be working in se london and kent - I work up west anyway so as long as I've got access to either london bridge (for jubilee) or another main station (waterloo, victoria) I'm happy. Besides next job on the list will probably be over more in the direction of the city..

[BeeGT]

Have you considered Bromley or Beckenham. No tubes but excellent rail in to Victoria / Blackfriars... e.g. 3 bed 1920's terrace, close to town centre, 5 minutes walk Bromley South station (Victoria 16mins) double garage plus extra off-street parking, ...just £350k.
Great for road access in to and out of London / Kent / M25. Easy to rent out (as well as the rail access the Bank of America and Churchill Insurance are large employers in the town).

[barry_j]

trackdemon said:

There are plenty of new developments going up around Canary Wharf which may be worth looking at, and CW is an increasingly nice are to be around.

Agreed - I rented a flat on the Isle of Dogs and it was great; it had balconies overlooking the river, loads of bars and restaurants nearby and great transport with the DLR and Jubilee line. The area has really livend up in the past 5yrs.

[ATG]

Whereabouts in the West End? Train from Blackheath to Charing Cross is 20 mins, plus you're on top of the A2(M)/M2 for Kent ... 15 mins to M25. Nice area, green spaces, some amazing property, fairly lively "village" in Blackheath. Worth a careful look.

For access to Kent you got to be south of the Blackwall tunnel; I wouldn't wish a daily commute through there on anyone. We lived next to Greenwich Park up on the hill for a year (towards Blackheath (Lack of) Royal Standard) so we could get down to our shack in Whitstable for weekends, yet I could still get into the City during the week. Thought it would feel like being in the wilderness as it didn't have a tube station, but my god, after years on the Northern Line, the overland train service was a revelation. I loved my bachelor tip in Belsize Park, but once coupled up, I wish I'd moved south sooner.

[falcemob]

At £400K I think you would have a choice of anywhere in south London. For that you would get a 3/4 bed semi with off road parking.
I live in Eltham, near a station (25 mins to Charing Cross, and our houses are around the £280K mark. The A20 is at the back and the A2 less that a mile away so communications are good.
I wouldn't go much nearer to London than Greenwich though.

[justayellowbadge]

Wimbledon, surely?

[ballon]

justayellowbadge said:

Wimbledon, surely?

Possibly Merton park, Wimbledon. 3 bed semi garden + garage and off street parking circa £400/-. Tubes Northern and District + main line from Waterloo. Top place.

[Jonny5]

I've lived in Blackheath for 3 years, initially loved the area, loved the open heath and the style of houses (stucco, double fronted georgian houses)

Slowly became very apparent that such a beautiful area is ruined by surrounding areas (Lewisham in particular)

I've had a Porsche GT3 nicked off my drive
Flat has been broken into
Daily driver has been broken into twice
Daily driver vandalised countless times

At weekends all the idiots from surrounding towns seem to converge on Blackheath. Try walking around the village on a Friday night....

Sold my place, can't hack it anymore. Which is a shame, as it's unlikely i'll own such a aesthetically beautiful house again

Edited by Jonny5 on Monday 5th June 09:52

[K.K.]

I have lived in Blackheath SE3, fantastic place to live. Great atmosphere with all the amenities you need. Great restaurants and bars/pubs. Problem was the unreliable train to Charing Cross and, if driving, the terrible traffic to central London. Then I moved to...

Rotherhithe SE16, by the river, easy commute or drive to central London (Jubilee line is very good), but felt a bit isolated. Also, beware of Youfs on bikes throwing eggs! Great kebab van on Brunell Street! Then I moved to...

Bankside SE1 and have never been happier. Can walk across to the City or take tubes and busses easily to the west end. Often walk to Covent Garden, within Congestion zone, loads of things to do and see. Borough Market is Great. On-street parking is a bit of a bugger but lots of flats have underground parking for one car and you can usually rent a second space from one of the other owners who don't have a car.

Anyway - hope you enjoy Saaaaaf London, I've lived here most of my life and just couldn't bring myself to move Norf of the river!

KK

Edited to say - Yes Jonny5 is right about some yobbish characters who converge on Blackheath, particularly at weekends!

Edited by K.K. on Thursday 8th June 13:30

[mr_tony]

Many thanks for all your repiles. Will have to wait and see whats happening when mrs_t gets out on the road in her nice company CLK (I'm not jealous!) - it will all come down to the locations of the Health Trusts she's visiting I guess as to how we make the decision!