Moving to Manor Park (London)

[HouseinManor123]

Hi There,
My boyfriend and I currently live in Battersea but would like to upsize and move into a house with a garden. Manor Park seems ideal as it is near the Wanstead flats, which our dog would enjoy and will have good transport links with cross rail coming in.
The only reason we are unsure is the area. Hardly anything going on there and it seems like it has been promised to be on the up for several years now with no changes.
We found a house we really love, but are unsure if we should commit to the move. Maybe someone living in the area can help us?

[Katjolo]

Are you looking near the station? What amenities would you like nearby?

[BananaBooBoo]

Live close to there. The flats are brilliant. Forest gate has some lovely places to eat, manor park not so much. But can walk to Wanstead.

[Hearhoovesthinkzebras]

It's nice in parts, depends exactly where you are planning to be.

[PinkSqidgyPig]

Nearby Forest Gate is promising. Leytonstone is on the up.
The Flats are great. I live on the border of FG and Leytonstone. It's got much better in the last ten years. I like living here (although I'd happily move back North now).

[SapphosRock]

I used to live that way. It's v convenient for Westfield shopping centre and Wanstead flats are great for weekend walks.
Not much in the way of pubs or restaurants. There's quite a big Polish community so you won't go short of speciality Polish bread.

Leytonstone is a bit more up and coming if you want more going on.

[Tami123]

Thank you for your answers :).
We're looking near manor park station, in the conservation area.
So basically it's ok, but nothing to do there if I got that right.

[thecatneuterer]

Yes I think that about sums it up. I live in East Ham and often need to be in Manor Park. Some of it is very down at heel, some parts aren't bad. All are safe enough but there is definitely nothing in the way of things to do/nice places to go. The nearest place for anything like that would be Stratford.

As for being up and coming - who knows? Probably, because it's nearly all owner-occupied, but very slowly.

[squee123]

Personally I wouldn't live in Manor Park itself. It's pretty grim and surprisingly resistant to gentrification. I've known it for 12 years and I don't think it has improved much. The Aldersbrook estate is a bit further from the station but is much nicer whilst still being more affordable. Doesn't have much in the way of amenities but it is a short bus journey to Wanstead which is lovely.

[Tami123]

Ok:). Perfect. Thanks again for all your help.
It's such a difficult decision, because there's never such a thing as the perfect house/flat. Always something wrong with it.

[twilightcafe]

Funnily enough, I'm on the Forest Gate/Manor Park borders this weekend as some of my family still live here.
It ain't Battersea, that's for sure.
Manor Park is rough and there is little chance of gentrification. If anything, the area has deteriorated in the past 20 years and I certainly do not like walking around after dark.
If I had to move here, I'd go for certain bits of Forest Gate and perhaps East Ham.

[Hearhoovesthinkzebras]

Squee and Twilight have said what I wanted to say but was trying to be polite. The area around Romford Road is rough imo.

[squee123]

what's your budget? what do you need for it and where are you commuting to? We may be able to recommend other areas around that way

[thecatneuterer]

East Ham Central Park area is much nicer and similar prices.

[Tami123]

After all we have heard on Mumsnet and of friends we have now decided to not move to manor park or forest gate. We would like to have good places around and we feel there are not enough pubs and cafes nearby.
We're now looking in Leytonstone, Leyton, Walthamstow and South Woodford again :).
Found a great one in Leyton near Francis Road.

[Tami123]

@squee123: budget is 550k

[thecatneuterer]

South Woodford is lovely. I'd like to live there. Do consider the Central Park area of East Ham though - honestly it's quite nice (although still devoid of stuff to do).

[squee123]

South Woodford is lovely but you won't get much for your budget. Looking on Rightmove the only house in your budget is right on the north circular. Although saying that there are one or two better ones just over and hardly anything is going for asking at the moment so you might get a deal.

It really depends where you need to be for your commute, but if you go off the tube you will get a lot more. Somewhere like St James's Street which is on the Overground into Liverpool Street might work for you.

[claragolightly]

Not sure about Manor Park, but I can recommend Leytonstone. I moved there about 18 months ago and found property a lot more affordable than Walthamstow and South Woodford. It's well located in terms of the Central Line, and because it's before the split so you can get on any eastbound train.

There are also nice parts of Leyton that are affordable. Some other parts are still a bit gritty, but I do think it's on the up.

[Tami123]

Yes, we just realised as well that South Woodford does not have many properties on the market for 550k we could stretch up to 650k but that would have to be a property that does not require a lot of work.
Leytonstone and Leyton sounds great to be honest. Also near the West Ham Park sounds good.
Thank you all for your help. Really appreciate it!

[RuffleCrow]

I used to live there. Have you seen the film "Ill Manors", OP? (by rapper Plan B). I would advise watching it before you move there - it's pretty accurate and based on his life growing up there.

Parts of Leytonstone and most of Wanstead are much nicer and you still have "The Flats" nearby. Obviously you won't get as much for your money though.

[Tami123]

Wanted to give a quick update for anyone who is interested. We have now put an offer on a house in South Woodford, which has got accepted :)). Very much hope selling our place now goes through and the survey comes back positive.

Thank you again for your help and suggestions.

[squee123]

hurrah! A great place to live. Fingers crossed for you

[thecatneuterer]

Oh lucky you. I love South Woodford so much. My dentist is there and I always wish I lived there too (although it wouldn't be as convenient).

[twilightcafe]

Congratulations! South Woodford is lovely!