Is the Camden/ Islington border a rough part of London?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Honestly, I am always amazingly wide of the mark when judging these things To me it looked fine though. It was about half a mile walk from Caledonian Road tube station, and a bit further from Camden Road overground - that sort of area? Sort of between Camden Square and Caledonian Park?

I've read some alarming things about Caledonian Road, how it's full of drugs and stabbings Currently been in Hampstead and been here for years and years now so compared to that a lot of other probably lovely places look a bit run down or seem a little edgy. I'm very out of touch.

Would you live there?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Currently am, not currently been

[manicinsomniac]

I don't live in London but go there regularly (all over, not just the centre) and I'm not sure there are any whole areas of London that are 'rough' any more. I'm sure there are particular blocks of flats or streets that are but I think everywhere has 'gentrified' to at least a degree now - property is too expensive everywhere in London for any area to stay 100% deprived.

But there might be Londoners around who know the above to be complete bollocks, idk

[nevereverever83]

it's fine.

[LipstickHandbagCoffee]

That bit of London is mixed.expensive houses next to estates. you’d need to be street savvy. But on other hand that’s how it gets it vibe. If you’re after genteel much of muchness youll get that in nw3 Hampstead. Hampstead is nice but dull full of joules wellies,roads blocked with private school run,yapping middle classes

[Ttbb]

I wouldn't, not necessarily because it's unusually dangerous, it's just a bitgrubby. Would certainly chose Hampstead over Camden any day.

[Ktown]

I bloody love it there
Unless you are planning on joining a local gang you should be fine

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Not planning on cosying up to any gangs, no

I love Hampstead and West Hampstead but it's too expensive. Have pangs at leaving, but there it is.

NW3 is not dull!

[AbsentmindedWoman]

It's good to hear it doesn't sound bad, then.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I have to concur with the keeping your wits about you/being street smart. I looked at property around there and noticed I was very alert compared to other areas.

Lots of teenagers on bikes/very mixed area.

[GinDaddy]

"I don't live in London...but I'm not sure there are any whole areas of London that are 'rough' any more."

Hmm let me name five areas off the top of my head...

• Harlesden
• Tottenham
• Edmonton
• Thornton Heath
• Newham (near hospital, Custom House etc)

I'm sure someone will point to an artisanal coffee shop being opened in these areas etc as signs of the winds of change. Evening Standard Homes & Property have probably already pointed out that a new "mixed use" block is tabled for build in 2022.

But from bitter experience, I can say that these areas have serious crime and deprivation problems, and are not property hotspots (although the 'Stokie' types are hoping Tottenham will change I'm sure).

HTH

[Whataboutmeee]

Islington has been rated the worst place in Britain to be a woman after Blackpool .

[LipstickHandbagCoffee]

Nw3 is crushingly dull and up its own Jacksie.competitive folk Obsessed by schools,school runs,property prices,the Lyndhurst and hall mums are ghastly. and locals had a fit when a Tesco metro was suggested in Belsize Park. Campaigned to prevent it, even had a video in budgens too about the need to preserve the locality

[hermoninny]

I lived on Cally road for a year as a student in a studio flat. No stabbings in my time. And I was never offered nor did I see any evidence of drugs.

I then moved to Camden road - so border line really - and same situation.

Don’t listen to gossip or rumours OP

[affectionincoldclimate]

Ex resident. Cally Road was massively dodgy only few years ago but there is a gentrification halo effect coming from kings cross so it’s much better. That bit is a bit dodgy as there are a lot of long rows of seriously deprived estates running along cally road up to cally road station and it’s was not pretty. My foremost memory of living there were constant stolen moped chases, abused and aggressive Staffordshire terriers everywhere and one actual shooting I witnessed (luckily nobody died). Then you’d cross into barnsbury and be in a millionaire’s paradise within moments. Strange and unnerving combo. Not my favourite part of town.

[millifiori]

I think it's a pretty dreary bit of London around the main roads, but there are some gorgeous sections off the beaten track. Try parts of Archway/Tufnell Park/Crouch End. Finsbury Park is very grubby but has some lovely houses off the main drag, is quite lively and has lots of parks nearby and good transport.

[Tallulahoola]

I know it well. Bit rough late at night I'd say, but not terrible.

If you go off to the east just a little bit towards Tufnell Park it's residential and nice.

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Yes, I remember all the drama when Tesco opened, that was my Budgens

NW3 really isn't dull, it's amazing, I miss living right around the corner from the Heath.

Anyway, I have to move on! The Camden/ Islington area sounds alright. I don't do much wandering home tipsy from a tube station these days, which is probably the most likely time to have my purse or phone whipped off me by chancers, and hopefully won't fall foul of some drug overlord.

[Whataboutmeee]

Islington scored low for women on safety, environment, housing affordability, employment and happiness.

[formerbabe]

Would you live there?

No, I can't afford it!

[LittleBearPad]

You can move to the other side of the Heath, Tufnell Park, Dartmouth Park. Kentish Town. They are cheaper than NW3 though not cheap.

Cally Road is a bit grotty. It’s getting better I suppose.

[PiffleandWiffle]

• Harlesden
• Tottenham
• Edmonton
• Thornton Heath
• Newham (near hospital, Custom House etc)

I'd add Shoreditch to that list, very trendy but extremely grubby behind the wafer thin facade. Lots of phone snatching & general robbing of people gullible to walk around with nice things out...

[TheCatsMother99]

I really like Islington, I'd live there if I was looking to move back in to London.

[TheCatsMother99]

• Harlesden
• Tottenham
• Edmonton
• Thornton Heath
• Newham (near hospital, Custom House etc)

These are spot on by the way!

[PseudoBadger]

West Hampstead is basically Kilburn....

[MoistCantaloupe]

• Harlesden
• Tottenham
• Edmonton
• Thornton Heath
• Newham (near hospital, Custom House etc)

Good list. When I moved to London 10 years ago, I very naively went on a house viewing in Harlesden not having looked up the area.

As soon as I stepped out the tube I was followed and shouted at the whole time - about a ten minute walk. The guy who lived their drove me back to the station and said the solution is simple 'I will drop you off here everyday in the car, and then pick you up everyday after work!' Didn't take it. Don't think I'll go there again.