Richmond upon Thames

The river and the park make everyday life feel calmer than central London. Good schools and a proper town centre help. It's expensive and a fair way out, but for green space and a relaxed pace it's worth it for us.

We come for the park and the riverside walks regularly. The deer, the greenery and the calm are the appeal. It does get busy by the river on sunny weekends, but there's always space if you walk a little further.

People often describe it as green, calm and a little pricey, and that matches what I've seen. Further from the centre than many areas, so the trade-off is commute time against quality of life.