Crouch End vs Stoke Newington - discuss...

[alittleteapot]

in terms of places to live, bring up kids, schools, etc. interested cos we are trying to move and considering various areas.

[jalopy]

Crouch end.

[JenL]

I lived in stoke newington for a couple of years then moved to north London. Crouch end definitely wins hands down. Stoke newington has parts which still can be a bit moody which is why we left (2 stabbings outside our house!).

[IguanoMum]

We're moving too, and looking for new areas. I thought the crouch end had a reputation for being a bit rough?

[Buttonnosedsausage]

Crouch End isn't rough at all. I'd say Stoke Newington is. Crouch End has good primary schools, nice parks, a sports centre with a lido and is generally more family orientated.

[IguanoMum]

Thanks for the info! And exactly, which area is crouch end and which isn't?

[alittleteapot]

primary schools good in crouch end but i asked estate agent about secondary schools today and he said "that's when you move to muswell hill." finding this stressful enough - at least in SN the school is good. but crouch end does have lovely villagey quality.

[sofaone]

I don't like either place - wouldn't consider living off the tube. Highbury or Angel would be better.

[WoodRose]

Crouch End. Lots of DC at my children's primary school have siblings at Highgate Wood ( one of the secondary schools in Crouch End). Their parents - aspirational MC types - are very happy with the school. They have a new headmaster and the school has improved a lot. Be careful which part of Crouch End you choose because catchments for primaries can be tiny. If you contact Haringey council (Primary Admissions Dep't) they can give you an idea of the liklihood of you getting into a particular school based on admissions distnaces in previous years.

[minibmw2010]

Crouch End out of the two choices, though if you could afford it go straight to Muswell Hill as that's even nicer (but has house prices that prove it also).

[alittleteapot]

we like tufnell park but also telephone number prices...

[TwinkleToes76]

I lived in crouch end for about 16 years and have just bought a house in Stoke Newington. We have a 3 year old and another on the way. I don't think I would move back to crouch end, I find it a bit boring and it feels quite out of the way. I find it doesn't have as many activities for younger kids, the park isn't as good, there are too many food shops and little else, and it is overwhelmingly white and middle class (not that Stoke Newington isn't becoming more like that these days but you do get a better mix!). If you live in Crouch End I think you have to live quite close to the broadway otherwise it feels suburban, but the houses are lovely and bigger than in SN. I think the primaries in both areas are fine. Highgate Woods is ok and Hornsey Girls was pretty mediocre when I went there but seems to be doing well according to the last Ofsted. Crouch End has Banners cafe, which is fab, and the Clocktower Stores, which does a lovely Greek seeded loaf of bread!

[Dolittlest]

Depends what you're after.

I prefer Stoke Newington for the sense of community and for the properties - the Victorian 'cottages' on a lot of the streets are lovely.

Crouch End is vanilla. A bit dull compared to Stokie.

But Stokie is a hell of a lot rougher than Crouch End. I have lived in both areas, and grew up in a seriously rough area of London (not like namby pamby Stokie ), but Stokie definitely has rougher pockets and Clapton/Dalston have grim sides to them. Crouch End is a bit more borderline-Muswell Hill, iykwim

Both are shite for transport, as no tube, but Stokie has that new Dalston Junction line and the bus to Finsbury Park is about 15 mins on a good day, so not too bad.

Have no clue about Crouch End schools. Good primaries in Stokie, but secondaries are a bit shaky.

[maggiethecat]

I lived in both and definitely preferred SN - had a more upbeat vibrant feel to it. Clissold Park and Finsbury Park are great too. Depends on which part of SN you are close to. We were fairly close to Manor House tube, also if you needed to get to city 341 and 141 buses are great.

[cockles]

What about secondary in Crouch End? We're in SN at the moment, but wrong school area.

[stevieknicks]

I live in SN and have friends in CE, both nice with small kids but agree that CE is much more middle class and white. I always find it really suburban when I go there, but that may be what you are looking for.

Houses a good 60 - 100k more expensive there though, my friend paid £650k for a terrace wreck and had to spend £150k doing it up! SImilar house in SN would be quite a bit less...

You do need to be more careful about where in SN you look for property, streets south of Church Street good but houses go like lightening when they come on the market. The park here is having a massive facelift so will be even nicer next summer, lovely shops and cafes and very very vibrant - we love it here.

[leo1978]

Lived in both. Stokey can be dodgy but Secondary School is good. Crouch End is gorgeous - great parks, lovely houses, a bit up its own arse I suppose but that is the only down side. Both are very annoying in terms of transport. Crouch End is easier - bus to Finsbury Park. Stokey used to take forever to get anywhere.

[RamblingRosa]

Both have lots going for them but I'd probably go for Crouch End. Better schools, less likely to get stabbed or shot, leafier.

It's true that the best secondary near to CE is Fortismere in Muswell Hill (with a tiny catchment area) but there are good schools in/near CE too. I think Hornsey Girls school is meant to be good if you've got girls.

I'd love to be able to afford to live in either TBH!

[RockinSockBunnies]

Crouch End, definitely. It's lovely - great shops, good schools (has the best primary in Haringey - Coleridge), close to Highgate Wood, close to Highgate village too. You can get the overground to the City from Hornsey station or the underground from Highgate if you get the bus from Crouch End.

I suppose the main drawback to Crouch End is the price of houses. Also, the lack of good secondary schools. However, I believe that Alexandra Park secondary is doing very well and beginning to rival Fortismere. There are lots of options too if you wanted to go private.

[RamblingRosa]

Ooh yes Coleridge is good.

[MadameBuh]

We live in crouch end and love, love, love it but with a 3 year old & twins on the way we are having to move. After a v lengthy search process, we have chosen Palmers Green. Still close enough to CE to see friends/ continue with some groups, lovely Broomfield Park, attractive vic/Edwardian housing stock & a couple of good schools ( we hope to be near Hazelwood, also has a children's centre). The high street has a Waitrose - yup, yah. maybe they know something! Keep hearing how people from ally pally, muswell hill & crouch end have been moving there over the last 2 years as obv. being priced out.

We have just bought a house there so can you tell I am trying to sell it to myself as much as you!!!

[crazyhead]

I'm moving to CE so I HOPE that's the nicest one! I have friends in Palmers Green who love the area, MadameBuh

[fromheretomaternity]

Muswell hill!!! Quieter than crouch end/ sn but more spacious and green IMO.

Rhodes ave primary and Alexandra park secondary both v good and next door to each other. Have to be close to get into Rhodes though.

[crazyhead]

Muswell Hill is lovely - bit pricier than CE though and that's pricey enough...

[Nickname1980]

I'd love to revive this - anyone got a take 6 years later?

OP - which did you end up in? alittleteapot

[thesunisout12]

would be curios to hear new input on this theme! SN has changed quite a lot, isn't it more expensive than CE now?