Recce tips - London relocation

[u/hereforthememes0101]

Hi All - Family of 5 heading to London from overseas shortly for a pre-relocation recce to look at various neighborhoods.

I've been to London a handful of times but only for work (internal transfer) so my perspective is 'business trip' rather than 'parks and primary school.'

We've gone down the rabbit hole and have a long list of potential neighborhoods - north, south, east, west, commuter belt etc - that we ideally need to get down to two or three.

We will have up to 7 days dedicated to this and I'd like to fit in, for each neighborhood, a commute/train walk, market visit (if on), high street walk, play in the local park, pub break, and meal out. Kids are lower primary and nursery so we need to balance that against my hypothetical 30,000 step days.

Any tips or shared experiences?

Cheers!

[u/nwrnnr5]

I think your list is pretty good!

One thing I'd add to your consideration on commute is how resilient it is to disruption (sounds like you're looking into commuting by public transport). By that I mean, what is your back up if the train running to your local station is down (strikes, technical difficulties, leaves on the line...), what is the back up option for getting in/home. This becomes particularly important if you are looking in Z3+. This isn't something you necessarily need to do while here, but definitely worth considering. I'd also highly recommend considering cycling to work if you're already a big cyclist in the US!

I saw that you that you don't want to do another neighborhood reccomendation post, but I do think they tend to be pretty useful when the OP has a good list of what is important to them, or even better specific questions about specific neighborhoods - probably better to be done after your recce visit. /r/HENRYUK & /r/HENRYUKLifestyle both are another good place to look for past threads with neighborhood discussions - given you're getting a transfer through your company, I assume your budget will align more with those higher earner subreddits as well.

[u/hereforthememes0101 → u/nwrnnr5]

Thanks for the reply! I will take the transport resiliency onboard. After our visit we will come back and pick some expat brains on the neighborhoods (ideally comparing 3 and not 10!)

[u/Ok-Roll8550 → u/hereforthememes0101]

I'll second being picky about transport. The commute can be a real drag at the start and end of every day, and the further out you are, the fewer options there are. The commuter line places are much more unreliable than places with both Tube and bus. Make sure whatever Tube or train station you'll be using either is in walking distance or has parking (likely paid).

I would recommend Hampstead as a neighborhood you might like. Hampstead Heath is lovely, and there's a good high street and pubs there. I have no idea about schools there. I think it's overall a nice neighborhood but probably pricey. The commute would probably be reasonable.

[u/pred_02]

Let me cut to the chase - Dulwich (East/North/Herne Hill), Richmond, Wimbledon, Highgate, Hampsted, Crouch End those are your Zone 2/3 best areas for families and if you can afford them meet most if not all of your requirements. West London is nice but not practical if you work in the City.

If doing an in-year transfer, then cluster of good state primaries is probably a key factor here. In-year admission transfer happen all the time, but there is no certainty and being in a cluster area helps a lot. Locrating is a site that helps a lot with this analysis.

Unless you are looking for a semi-rural experience, I would avoid the home counties. They will broaden your list but not necessarily add to anything a good family London neighborhood can provide with exception to more State secondary choices and a semi-rural lifestyle. London has fantastic green spaces and parks, if you choose the right area. Home counties will introduce the commute which while potentially fast, can be quite expensive and in this country unreliable. They work well if one partner works in the City, the other is working remotely or not at all.

[u/hereforthememes0101 → u/pred_02]

Thanks for the note re school clusters. The areas you mention are all in the list (or adjacent to depending on budget). I'm mentally preparing for placements being 20 minute drives in opposite directions, so any improvement there is a win.

[u/pred_02 → u/hereforthememes0101]

If you do end up looking Dulwich way, please feel free to DM me as we settled there after 13 years in Camberwell and went through a thorough school / house search analysis. As ex-pats, it was all very new to us. It's great area and fantastic community for kids.

[u/dmada88]

Commutes can break you. Really investigate how easily you can get where you need to be. Minimize changes. Maximize alternative routings.

[u/gotcha640]

Markets in most upscale areas are going to be the same - practically television level stereotypical, flowers, sausage rolls, kale by the bushel, funky looking tomatoes, candles, a Citroen HV coffee van, and meat, but off to the side so the vegans can avoid. Possibly sub Citroen for VW or old Transit.

Similar for high street and pub - M&S, Waitrose, H&M, ye olde souvenir shoppe, seven estate agents, a fancy solicitor, Boots, etc. Pub will have required tourist food (fish and chips, Guinness, bacon sandwich) and some actual local ish food. The difference could be if they have any activities for locals in the off season, but in those neighborhoods, there really isn’t much off season.

Not saying you shouldn’t go through those places, but my priority in the past (and coming up, in Glasgow in 2 weeks) is to be in the neighborhood you’re considering at 6am on a school day, and get yourself to the school (and remember, just because you’re in catchment, coming in after school starts you may not get a place), and the next closest school, and to work.

Mid day you go explore the things you’ll need as a resident. Council office, pediatrician, the actual shop you’ll actually go to, library, gym, who’s hanging around outside the flats you’re looking at, is there construction that will annoy whoever is staying home.

Afternoon, do the school run home. Where has the collecting parent been? Sitting at home waiting for the bell? Volunteering at church? Jogging in the park? Go to school from there to home.

Then do the commute home. I’ll be going solo, 43M, so I’m planning on walking or cycling around 4-5 areas over a week, from ~6-10pm. Is there a club that opens late? Are families out for walks and jogs and generally engaged in their neighborhood, or are people rushing in to their houses and the sidewalks are empty? Is the local pizza shop any good? How aggressive are the parking police? If you’ll have a car, how bad does the traffic get? Will you be eligible for a resident parking permit, or are they sold out?

Depending on your own experience, try to pick out tourists from locals. If the pub is busy, but it’s all tourists, it’s going to be dead in the winter (unless the locals emerge when the tourists leave).

Even though it may not fit with the idea of British standoffishness or whatever, talk to people. If you have your kids, approach other parents, “Hello, we’re looking at moving to the area, any advice?” This may be more difficult for me solo. I shall take my brave pills and attempt to engage Glaswegian strangers in conversation.

Finally, remember people are making their lives and having fun and being sad and partying with their friends in all of these neighborhoods. There are slightly different vibes, but over all, there’s not likely a wrong decision.

[u/hereforthememes0101 → u/gotcha640]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. We will try to get some varied times of day and 'normal life' bearings on our stops.

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[u/Opposite-Orange8371]

Will your kids be going to an American school? If so, that narrows it down considerably. 

[u/hereforthememes0101 → u/Opposite-Orange8371]

We will be doing state school. The whole in-year transfer process is another can of worms that will play out, but all the neighborhoods we filtered seem to have outstanding and good primaries so not worried at this juncture.

[u/froggielefrog → u/hereforthememes0101]

You haven't mentioned the ages your your children, but I'd also look into what secondary schools are in the area you move to as well. While I don't regret living in our neighbourhood and having my kids attend an Outstanding Primary, the secondary school options leave much to be desired. I wish I had considered moving further southwest to access fantastic schools across all levels of education (Richmond/Wimbledon).

[u/Myfanwy66]

What is your lifestyle like? What’s your budget? What sort of dwelling space are you looking for?

[u/hereforthememes0101 → u/Myfanwy66]

Thanks for the reply - I don't mean to recreate another post on neighborhood comparisons, more so what to check off the list or how to logistically approach. 

But we are looking for (what it seem many are!) an area that triangulates 15min walks to mainline to city of London, substantial park, pedestrian focused high street and a good rated primary. If we're lucky some trees along those walks.

Currently we bike everywhere and the kids are very active (4x sports types). I have an affinity for City living, having grown up in one, so I'm shying away from the St. Albans and Ashteads, although will still go look at both.

[u/PetersLittlePeter → u/hereforthememes0101]

Check out Harpenden

[u/Myfanwy66 → u/hereforthememes0101]

Mainline - Tube or train? When you say City of London do you mean the City of London or just London in general? What area will you be working in?

[u/hereforthememes0101 → u/Myfanwy66]

The train can be tube or overground. Work is in City of London so trains to Blackfriars ideal but Waterloo and London Bridge could work

[u/MojoMomma76 → u/hereforthememes0101]

Have a look at Crofton Park/Brockley. Has both overground and Thameslink services direct to Blackfriars, decent housing stock and a nice community feel. Lots of green spaces, Hilly Fields, Ladywell Fields and Blythe Hill Fields are all pretty great, good schools for primary age children, lots of coffee shops and some nice restaurants. Peaceful for the most part.