Moving to North west london- where to live thats family friendly??

[banana55]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place for this thread, but am moving to london in January, three kids under 4yrs old, and only found out 2weeks ago, so scrambling to get to grips with it.

Thinking of highgate, highbury, islington, hampstead, primrose hill, goldners green areas.

Are these areas family friendly, are there playgrounds?? which would be best in your view out of those ive mentioned?

Need a montessori for the older two also.

Any advice greatly appreciated!!!!!

[HRHLadyG]

Hampstead is really lovely. It has a nice village feel with the shops and Hampstead Heath/ Kenwood House is glorious! Good luck x

[TheBookofRuth]

All of those are family friendly - but you realise you need to be seriously, seriously wealthy to buy in any of them, right?

[banana55]

Hiya,

Thanks for feedback....no we are seriously not wealthy:)))) i know they are pricey areas, but we are going to be renting, and its only for a year then we move to australia, so we are thinking of going for location over space and renting a 2/3 bed flat, we figure if we are near a good park, green space, it should be ok, and imagine alot of families do that in london right?? I also have a brother living in primrose hill, so we also think its better to be easier commute to him.

Is it worth going for hampstead over islington? Any where else Ive overlooked?

Many thanks, only ever been to london as a tourist!!!

[sj73]

I would definitely choose Hampstead over Islington which lacks green space. I'd look somewhere within walking distance of highgate wood or hampstead Heath. Brilliant for kids.

[sj73]

Crouch End is also great.

[banana55]

Thanks sj73, I'll focus on those areas so, Hampstead, crouchend and Highgate. Am moving on 24th Jan, and going to view properties the week before....so maybe on again closer to that time once I've narrowed down shortlist, looking for advice:))!!

Will start getting excited about move once we have a place to live!!!

Thanks again

W

[tethersend]

Have a look at Queen's Park too.

[TheBookofRuth]

Hampstead and Primrose Hill would be my choices, then, over the places listed. We loved living on Primrose Hill with our DD. We could just walk out of our front door and find something lovely to do with her.

[Damnautocorrect]

Another crouch end vote, it's lovely.

[TheBookofRuth]

Just for context, we rented a one bed flat in Primrose Hill for £1200/month (4 years ago), and a two bed for £2000/month a year ago. The two bed was cheaper because it backed onto the railway line.

[TheBookofRuth]

By cheaper I mean cheaper than is usual for the size of property in that area.

[TinyDiamond]

Finsbury park!!

[TinyTear]

Hampstead - and flats are ok as the playgrounds are great.
there is the big one by the athletics track, but for younger children i prefer the one by willow road / east heath car park

[Cariad007]

Tufnell Park/Dartmouth Park? Not cheap but less expensive and less snobby than Hampstead but still close to the Heath and lots of parks. Family friendly too.

[Melon2312]

I can highly recommend kentish town. Still within walking distance of hampstead Heath and also regents park in the other direction. And cheaper than living in hampstead but it's a great place to live, lots of regeneration going on in the area, largely due to the French school and influx of French people as a result.

[tshirtsuntan]

Little tree Montessori, ferme park road, crouch end is lovely