How is life in Sutton or Carshalton?

[sallievp]

Hi all,
Husband and I are currently living in Morden (Merton Council) in a 2 bed first floor flat. We have just had a baby and considering buying a house in Sutton or Carlshalton. How is life in Sutton/Carshalton? Particularly, is it baby/child friendly (eg. nice baby groups, nurseries, primary schools)? My colleagues say that Sutton can be “rough”! Is it still the case?
Thank you…

[Mummyme87]

Sutton is a mixed bag. But there are some lovely parts, some of the best schools in the uk, parks and Sutton council provide good baby/toddler support/groups.

I'm wondering if you live where I do. We are in the process of moving from Morden to sutton

[Lemansky]

We moved from a flat in Morden to a house in Carshalton at the end of last year. We love it here, but have no kids so can't help with that side of things I'm afraid. There seem to be lots of parks and green spaces around us, and we're not in Carshalton 'proper' as it were.

[sallievp]

Thanks so much for the replies...it has given us something to think about

[Monkeypuzzlesandwich]

A lot of people will tell you Sutton is 'rough' but I moved here 10 years ago from south east London and I love it. There is a certain stigma attached to the 'bottom end of sutton' as it has a council estate behind the bottom end of the high street but you'll get that in whatever London borough you go to. They are pouring lots of money into Sutton town centre and in the next few years it will have the well deserved face lift it needs. You have Topshop, Marks and Sparks, Debenhams, new look, water stones, wilkinson, a brand new tk maxx opening to name a few.
There are some lovely parks nearby look up Nonsuch park with a lovely cafe where all the cakes and breads come from Jamie Oliver's bakery.

[Toomanycats99]

My daughter goes to school in Carshalton. I would say the village is lovely. The shops seem to work together to organise things. House prices are quite high within that area though. Sutton to be is an average town - I tend to shop there rather than Croydon as it has what I need and is nicer! Schools are good, catchment areas for some can be very small. Train links are better from Carshalton / Sutton than the Carshalton Beeches line.

[Toomanycats99]

Oh yes - loads of nice parks around Carshalton village as well.

[alazuli]

i was brought up nearby. went to school in carshalton and used to spend my weekends in sutton. it's a bit chavvy but not rough at all - just very suburban. lots of families, old people and kids.

[Monkeypuzzlesandwich]

Chavvy is such an overused term - where isn't chavvy??? The only places I would say that are not 'chavvy' are areas well beyond most people's reach - Richmond, Chelsea etc etc. Any suburban town will have chavs just like any country village.

[sallievp]

Thanks so much everyone...very helpful information