West Norwood(London)

[Postchildrenpregranny]

DD1 hoping to buy a flat here. Anyone know any pros and cons ? streets to avoid ?

[mashpot]

It's a great bet, improving all the time. The roads around St Julians are the best area IMHO. I would avoid the Ladas/Tivoli roads area personally but they're still absolutely fine, just further from the train and High street etc.

[DavetheCat2001]

I live in West Norwood and have done so for 16 years now. The place has improved massively in that time, and greatly so I would say in the last 5 years.

People have been priced out of the surrounding 'gentrified' spots surrounding it (West Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Herne Hill), and so it was only a matter of time before things improved and prices have shot up accordingly. It still retains a bit of a diverse edge to it too which I like (not yummy mummysville like East Dulwuch for example), but you can definitely see more money moving into the area.

The high street is a bit poor, but there is a new leisure centre, a number of nice coffee shops, a Blackbird Bakery and a decent family friendly pub there now.

More openings/improvements planned too, so definitely an area on the up. There is also the monthly 'West Norwood Feast' which is a community led day with stalls, lots of foodie stuff, vintage clothes and bric-a-brac stalls which is definitely worth a visit.

I agree that roads near St Julians Farm, Thornlaw, Casewick, Lamberhurst, Thurlby are nicer. The area's more towards Gipsy Hill I don't personally like as much.

You can get into Victoria or London Bridge in about 20 mins, so good rail connections, and there are some great primary schools in the area too.

[allovertheworld]

May I hijack and ask for your thoughts on schools? We're currently looking in Streatham but properties in West Norbury keep.coming up in my search, intrigued by the monthly feast

[allovertheworld]

West Norwood. Sorry.

[orangina01]

It is definitely on the up and mostly unknown so far so prices are good but rising. Robson Road has cute small houses, and any road on the West Dulwich border would be her best bets really, though agree roads near Julian's are good too. Schools like Julian's and Elm Wood are very good but catchments are shrinking.

[mashpot]

Lots of good primary schools (I don't know about secondaries, we're nowhere near that stage!). The catchment for Julian's is not that small, it is a 5 form intake now I think and I know someone who got a place this year from Robson Road. Elm green is good, Kingswood is good, Hitherfield... Probably others I'm not thinking of at this time of day! Feast is great, especially when the weather is good, like the one we just had on Sunday

[DavetheCat2001]

My son will be starting at Julian's school this September, which is a great school by all accounts. I know several people with children there and also a senior staff member.
Secondary school wise, Dunraven is meant to be very good. They have opened up a primary school I the last couple of years too, and if your child is in there they automatically get a place in the secondary. I looked round and put it as ne of my school choices, but wanted Julian's as a preference.
I agree Feast is a good day out! Missed the one just gone as we were away, but the weather was lovely.
The only downside for us as a family is that we have outgrown where we currently live (2 DC's), but although our maisonette is worth shy of half a mill now (crazy), 3 bed houses with any hope of extending are not coming up under about 700k, so we are effectively priced out (as are many all over London now).
We may just make do for now, sell up at some point and take our 'London money' and relocate elsewhere.