If you've moved from Islington,Stoke Newington or Muswell Hill somwhere cheaper to buy a family home, where did you go?

[AnnieBeeBee]

Anyone moved from islington to find a cheaper place to raise a family?

I live in the prettiest bit of Islington right now. And would like to either live here or in Muswell Hill- because of the schools - or Stoke Newington - again because of the schools and actually love that neighbourhood - but can't afford a family house here, or N10 and N16. (I've posted on another thread before - I have £850k to spend.) So I have to move elsewhere - and have no absolute clue where!

So my question is- anyone moved from these neighbourhoods to somwhere else to buy a family house?

And - tell me honestly - are you happy you did or do you secretly miss your old 'hood?!?

I know how lucky I am to have made so much on my flat (which is also an utter shock) but can't help but feel disappointed (erm, along with the rest of London) that I can't afford to stay in the places I love. First world problems!

I'd love to hear your experiences!!!

[zeddybrek]

Hi OP

We moved from Islington to Dalston Junction for more space. A stones throw from Upper St and Highbury Fields so didn't feel like we have moved very far. It would have been perfect but then DH got a job in Hertfordshire/London borders so have moved even further out but can still definitely recommend Dalston if you want to stay close to Islington. I don't know much about the schools there but do know another friend with young children who has made the same move and they seem happy. Good luck!

[AnnieBeeBee]

Thank you zeddybrek! I will have a look. I wonder if I'm too late to be able to afford a family-sized house in Dalston though?

How does it feel living even further out? Would you share where it is? (You don't have to!)

[wetlaurel]

You can get a house for your budget in Harringay Ladders or Stroud Green. Both not far from N8/N10.

[zeddybrek]

I am now close to Watford. If it wasn't for DHs job and family nearby then we would probably still be in London but just a bit further out. I don't miss it as much as I thought I would as we have great family support, a big garden and my commute to The City is less than hour from my door. I have 2 small children so it has all worked out for the best.

Having said that when my youngest leaves home I would love to downsize and go back to N1. Just another 18 years or so to go!

[tkband3]

We moved from London Fields to Southgate...quite a few Muswell Hill refugees here and in neighbouring Winchmore Hill and Palmers Green! Lots of good schools, green space and nice houses, and great transport links into the City (overground from Winchmore Hill or Palmers Green) or the West End (Piccadilly line from Southgate). You'd get a decent 4 bed house for your £850k.

[namechangedtoday15]

Moved from Islington to Cheshire, but I don't suppose that helps, does it?

[grumpysquash3]

Moved to Cambridge, but also not helpful!
You get much more for your money here though, even if it is expensive by national standards.

[ScrambledSmegs]

Moved to Berkhamsted. Love it! Probably too far out though?

[firawla]

Moved from islington to the Ruislip area about 4 years ago, pretty happy here!

[Givemecoffeeplease]

Take a look in Bow. You'd get a 3 bed for that. Good schools, Victoria Park, Stratford Olympic Park, the canal, the markets, Hackney City Farm...

[AnnieBeeBee]

wetlaurel, I always thought the ladders were the logical next step but then was told the schools aren't so good. Do you know if that's true? A quick look on Rightmove school-checker brings up nothing "outstanding", but I know that's not the be-all-and-end-all!

Haha I fantasise that, when I'm retired and the children have grown up, I'll buy a cool warehouse flat in my favourite spot, zeddybrek! I'm sure I'll change my mind when that happens though!

tkandb, do you know what the Muswell Hill/Southgate borders are like? Before the north circular? I've seen good schools near the golf club and houses I can afford... Wonder what the catch is. The road maybe?!

Haha Cheshire would be a big step, namechange! Bet it's lovely to have all that green around you!

I absolutely love Cambride, but my husband works in central London and cycles (and loves his commute) so he wouldn't consider losing it for a train. I don't cycle, I don't mind a trail, but I understand his thinking! grumpysquash

Ooh I don't know Berkhamspted, Scrambes (looking on a map now...) same with Ruislip! firwala

Bow hadn't occurred to me. I don't know why since I love Victoria park and it's just the other side. I guess I'd never thought of it as a good family place, but everywhere is so different now! givemecoffee. Like that it's on the central line!

[AnnieBeeBee]

Yes it's not the first time south of the river has been suggested to me. Seems like that's where everyone is flocking! hesterton. I suppose because I'm north London now, it feels like a huge change. But it's not so far...!

[taxworries]

Moved crouch end to Leytonstone. Bit of a shock. IMHO move far enough away that you won't be trailing wistfully back to your favourite coffee shop. DH and I have made a pact that we won't return to our former area for three months even though it's a quite easy journey on the overground.

[LisaRinnasLips]

Enfield Chase from Highbury Barn.

My house was 450k for a 3 bed with loft extension and garden on gorgeous road. Same price as a 1 bed crappy flat on my old road!

[Mougly]

Maybe Clapton near chatsworth road market. I know houses on Glenarm road and rushmore road go for around that price. I don't have children but friends that do have them in Rushmore school and say it works great. Fantastic green spaces near and the river Lee. I lived on haringey ladder and though it was great as a house share there isn't much for families with children. Other options are forest Gate with Wanstead flats near, you can get a great house for 650k or Bushwood in Leytonstone for amazing houses for your budget.

[ScrambledSmegs]

Berkhamsted's lovely, it's an old town on the edge of the Chilterns so gorgeous countryside, with lots of good schools. Some lovely old houses in the conservation areas too. Averages 35 minutes to Euston.

Watch out though, prices in the Home Counties north of London are sky-rocketing at the moment. I also know quite a few people who moved from Islington to Lewes and prices there are going bonkers too, apparently.

[tkband3]

Do you mean the sort of Ally Pally/Bounds Green area? It's not an area I know particularly well I'm afraid...just the main route through it from me to Muswell Hill really. There are some nice houses on the side roads - the Ally Pally bit is particularly nice, but the closer you get to the North Circ, the less salubrious it becomes . There's a couple of decent primaries - not sure if you'd be in the catchment for Bowes Park, but I've heard good things about it. Don't think secondaries are quite so good - you certainly wouldn't want Broomfield for a few years yet...it's improving but is not that long out of special measures. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41195406.html

What do you consider a "family" home in Greater London? 4 beds, a large garden and a driveway or a standard 3 bed Victorian terrace as above? It's within 5 mins walk of Greenwich park and village, good schools on your doorstep and a 20-30 mins cycle into the City, West End would be more. Jubilee line is a 10 mins cycle max though.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41334465.html
Stick approx 1.5 miles on it and you get more bang for your buck, outstanding school catchment about 100metres away, but you will need to take a bus into Greenwich or a 30 mins brisk walk to Blackheath village. Charlton is generally being totally revitalised due to families who want more space than central Greenwich with a beautiful park and good transport links already there. Not much in the way of chic coffee shop and boutiques currently though.

[blueteatowel]

Yep! Went from Clerkenwell to Walthamstow 6 years ago. Family were teens so commuted to their existing school which wasn't in Islington anyway.

Did I miss my old hood?? Yes! I'd lived their since my teens so had close friends and my mum still there. I knew Walthamstow relatively well before buying there. I chose the area as transport was very important to me; I needed tube plus north circ/M25 and an easy way for the kids to get to my mum. Having lived in zone 1 I wasn't prepared to go further than zone 3 It was also an easy journey back to where I used to live and for the children to get to school.

It was space/cost that made me move so if I won millions on the lottery I'd be back to Clerkenwell in a heartbeat. As it stands I sold a two bed flat, purchased a 4 bed house, new car and had change. I love the market and many of the local restaurants. Walthamstow is not Islington but that's why people can still afford to live there

[soundsystem]

We moved from Victoria Park Village to Leyton (planned to move to Walthamstow but ended up just over the border). We did miss Hackney to start with but love it here now. And not just because most of Hackney seem to have moved here as well!

There are plently of parks/open space, a few decents pubs, cafes, shops (with more opening all the time), good transport, and a similar sense of community to where we moved from. Most primary schools are good or outstanding and there's a new secondary opening next year (run by an Academy Trust that runs a few of the outstanding primaries).

[lovemycrazykids]

Southgate has good schools-primary and secondary, transport, nice parks. Winchmore Hill, Crouch End, East Barnet (bit further out though), would be some of my choices.

[Nickname1980]

What about the Chatsworth Rd? I've seen a few houses for around £850k there? Not too far from the areas you like. Don't know about schools though... Anyone?

[Spadequeen]

I was very much a north London girl and had no interest in moving south of the river but couldn't afford north London. We first moved to forest hill and am now in brockley, wouldn't go back to north London now, love it down here

[Jessamelb]

Hi AnnieBeeBee what did you decide?
I'm in the same situation now... pregnant and so we've decided to move out of our 2 bed in islington which I love and look and other areas. We've been looking at Aldersbrook near Wanstead which is lovely, but quite secluded.
curious to hear what you decided! :)