Chingford

[Thebestusername]

I don’t know if this is the best place to put this thread but I tried in the property section and had no traffic.

We are looking to move to Chingford and have been looking at houses near Mansfield Hill - Silverthorne, Nevin Drive, Mansfield Hill, Ridgeway, etc.

Any advice on these areas?

I like to run, are there easy running routes or scenic routes frequently used by runners?

Hi OP

I know Chingford well, I’ve lived round here all my life. All the roads you suggest are great, lovely houses around the high school, and the Ridgeway is kind of the ‘posh’ avenue of Chingford. People are friendly and there’s a good family feel and lots of amenities on Station Road - library, small soft play in Costa, mother and baby groups, fitness classes and am dram productions in the community hall, market sometimes on Saturdays, vegan cafe, craft cafe, independent bookshop, loads of great independent restaurants. There’s usually the Chingford Festival on the green every year too (COVID permitting!). Trains every 14 minutes to Liverpool St, gets you there in 25 mins, or 10 mins to Walthamstow on the underground.

Chingford foundation school is going through a rough patch at the mo, but you’ll be in the grammar catchment for the Redbridge grammars and I think the Enfield ones too. Lots of good private schools near there too, Normanhurst, Bancrofts, Forest etc. For primaries, Chingford C of E and Parkside schools are rated Good.

You’ll be spoilt for choice for nice places to run, Ridgeway park is situated at the top of the Ridgeway, and if you run towards King’s Head Hill, Epping Forest can be accessed from the side streets and then you’re straight in to the largest green space in London. There are proper paths so running in there is a dream. If you want something more structured with tarmac paths, Gunpowder Park is just a five minute drive from the bottom of Mansfield Hill and is a beautiful country park with many running and cycle routes. Chingford is pretty safe for East London too, I often see lone runners and walkers in the forest or parks.

I would say Chingford mount and south of that towards the billet is a bit rougher, but there are some great new craft brewery places that have opened near Blackhorse Road, I wouldn’t personally live round there but it’s a quick bus or train ride to hipster heaven if that’s what you’re after!

Best of luck with the house hunt!

Hi OP.
WorryWartOne is spot on! I can also thoroughly recommend Chingford - especially North Chingford up by the station.
If you look on either side of Station Road there's some fantastic properties (depending on your budget). It feels very safe - a real High Street with a great community feel. I've got lovely neighbours - lots of checking up on each other during lockdown without being intrusive. Walking in the forest is brilliant - excellent dog walking territory and everyone is so friendly. So many independent coffee shops / restaurants. It's a really positive friendly atmosphere (plus banks and post office).

Hope you've found some nice houses to see?

Thank you. Incredibly helpful. I was beginning to wonder whether anyone on mumsnet lIves in Chingford.

We think North Chingford might provide us with a less cramped environment (where we live is crammed with traffic and lots of houses and flats and commercial buildings), more open space, diversity, and things for kids to do. We were initially looking at Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, and Woodford Green and then one day we drove through Chingford and since then we’ve decided that it might be more suitable. We don’t know Chingford and how safe it is or how good it is to actually live there but on first impression we like it. We do not know anyone from there to ask their views.

This Sunday we will visit Ridgeway Park, Gunpowder Park, and I’ll scope out how to get to the green space you refer to.

I had seen a nice house just off station road but it sold quickly. The houses we are interested in sell very quickly and some of them seem overpriced but the market is hot.

Kimberley Road nearer the station seems popular. We’re looking at one on College Gardens and Silverthorne this weekend. Nothing on Ridgeway. One on Mansfield Hill that backs onto the park sold before we could view.

Check out Highams Park too - just down the road.

I have family that lives in Chingford and it is lovely. Good schools and nice community feel with lots of open space and access to outdoor activities e.g horse riding, sailing, bike riding in forest etc
OP where would you be relocating from? That might help to compare the feel? North Chingford is the place to look though so you are on the right track.

Thanks. We’re moving from the Romford area nearer the Chadwell Heath side.

We did look at Highams Park but I can’t distinguish it from Chingford Mount or is it South Chingford? Which part of Highams Park do you recommend?

Highams Park is tiny, just search for roads near the station and you can’t go wrong.

Definitely not the same as the mount.

A downside for me would be the fact that IDS is the MP . Chingford is becoming more diverse as people move out there from Walthamstow, Hackney etc, but it's still pretty conservative. Nice houses though.

Interesting about IDS. Someone told me that it is a Labour Council. I would hope they work together for the good house f Chingford.

I’m now very excited at the prospect of living there. I’ve been looking at Google Earth far too much today.

Highams Park is ok but there is a fair bit of crime compared to North Chingford (still not loads but noticeably more). I find it very busy with traffic too, especially as it has the whacking great level crossing in the middle. The park itself is lovely though.

I don't know if we have IDS to 'thank' for this (probably not!), but North Chingford is clean, safe and not overrun with identikit high rise 'executive' flats the way our neighbouring areas now are. It's very villagey for East London, and conservative or not, the people are friendly, diverse, and our road was a great example of community in action over lockdown.

Glad you found Kimberley Road OP. There are some lovely houses there and in all of the surrounding roads.
If you haven't found the plain (and the Forest) it's well worth having a look over there. It's real countryside and you can picnic, walk, ride, run for miles and miles with just squirrels and the occasional deer for company - and lots of other people at weekends.
I'm not a supporter of IDS or his party but he is an effective constituency MP who answers letters, regularly meets up with constituents and can be seen walking along Station Road. There's quite a bit of local political activism if that's your thing as well as lots of groups including some that take care of the community (planting empty spaces etc).
Highams Park is changing a lot (in a good way I think) and again there's some nice property but for me, North Chingford has so much more to offer.