Thoughts on Feltham (Area/Schools/etc...)

[GBonxx]

Looking for some advice ~

I'm a single mom looking to relocate to South-West London. I have family in Hanworth and my employer has their main office in Sunbury.

My DD is 4 and will be starting school next September. I've been looking at 2-bed flats in the Feltham area, and wondered if anyone could offer their opinion on my thinking.

It seems to me that Feltham offers great value-for-money for a first time buyer like me with a young child. Sunbury itself (especially Lower Sunbury) looks great, but it's a bit too pricey for me. Plus, it seems that if I stick around Feltham town centre, I'll be in catchment for four Outstanding primary schools, walking distance from the new (fast) train service to London and walking distance to plenty of supermarkets. I'm happy to sacrifice a more "leafy" feel for the convenience of this, especially when Hanworth Park is just around the corner and Bushy park is a short drive away.

So, any Mumsnet readers in the area who could share their two-pence, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you, kindly!

G xx

I have only ever visited Feltham, so don't know what it's like to live there. I have always appreciated that there is both an Aldi and a Lidl there. There is a strong sense of community, with a fair number of community projects. If you want to get a sense of this, they have a Facebook page - Feltham Community. It might also be useful to post some of your questions there.

Can your budget stretch to Whitton or Sunbury?

I grew up near the area you're looking at, and I'm not sure if I'm prejudiced against it for that reason, but it's historically not been very nice.

*meant to say Islewoth not Sunbury as you already said that!

@Springquartet thank you for the Facebook group suggestion! And yes, I've already looked at a community arts project that I really want to get involved with!

@AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings I have had a lot at those areas, but I don't get the feeling that they're as convinient as Feltham. For example, there's is nothing like this flat www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/104125061#/ for this price within those areas, which offers the same level of convenience AND selection of outstanding schools.

My feeling is that Feltham is up-and-coming, and maybe has been for a while - but it seems to be progressing nicely in the right direction (granted, within my affordability).

It's been marked as up and coming for about 15 years - ever since the station and town centre was given a mini makeover. It's never quite slid over the line - but that's not to say it won't do that at some point. There will probably be a large community of people there who want to make it a nice place. And you'll get people who can't afford Twickenham etc gradually moving out there.

Feltham is a lot, lot cheaper than anywhere near it on the train line. But that's because historically it's been quite undesirable. There's a reason why the property is quite cheap despite, on paper, it being convenient with the fast train.

What do your Hanworth family say about it?

It’s rough. That’s why it’s cheap.

Ashford is a bit nicer and on the train line. There is a world of difference between lower Sunbury and Sunbury, but much of Sunbury is nice. I personally have always felt Feltham has a bit of an atmosphere.

Thank you @AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings - likewise, my mom says a similar things about Feltham, it's improved over the years, but is this up-and-coming.

Another couple of positives for me is that two of the schools I'm looking at have been really supportive with applying for a place now. I did't plan it like this, but this job opportunity came up and it's going to give me a good career path for progression. Plus, I've learnt today that my employer has a shuttle service from Feltham station to their office in Bedfont Lakes - yay!

@AngeloMysterioso thank you for your comment. Agree, there are places in Feltham that don't feel that nice, but I found that around the town centre it's fine (although I appriciate that it's all about perspective).

I guess at this point I rather focus on a smaller mortgage, a convenient location and good primary schools. As I develop in my career I can then think about my next move.

@SinisterBumFacedCat Thank you for your comment. Must admit: I didn't really get a good feeling for Ashford (especially not the train station!). Again, I agree that parts of Feltham leave something to be desired, but in general around the town centre it seems ok to me.

Ladies, you are great, thank you so much for sharing!!

To put it bluntly- I wouldn't want to live there. Like the pp said, it's very rough and aggressive. It's quite druggy and used to be where problem families were dumped.

The airparcs bit is a crime hotspot and has had problems with travellers using it for boxing fights.

You'd probably find your tribe quickly though as newbies will tend to be quite community minded and will be setting up Facebook and WhatsApp groups etc and the station area has had millions ploughed in to it.

It's annoying because feltham and Hounslow SHOULD be great spots but have almost got worse rather than improved. Hounslow high street area especially

@GBonxx hi where did u end up? What school did u settle in? In the same boat and Feltham reach and Edward p are just oversubscribed