Calling north Londoners, where would you move to out of...

[Feedtheducks]

... Stoke Newington and Tufnell Park

TP - greener, more and quieter parks, airier, good schools with bigger catchments, better transport

SN - stronger sense of community? more cafes and shops to mooch in, more arty? but schools very over subscribed, park action more limited and a bit crowded.

Anything to add and where gets your vote?

We moved out of SN to Crouch End and haven't looked back. Out of the 2 I would definitely prefer Tufnell Park, but I'm happier where we are now- would only move in order to move out of London completely.

That's realy interesting Prism, can I ask why you prefer it? We like Crouch End too but transport is too tricky for dp's work. I think SN is a bit crowded but worried that TP a bit sleepy...

Tufnell Park always seems to me like a bit of a no mans land. There's no centre (unless you count the crossroads by the tube )

BUT there are pockets of artiness, some lovely gastropubs and having lived in both TP and SN, I would go for TP for the schools and the proximity to the Heath despite the fact that SN's 'villagey' feel is very nice

Plus transport links miles better

I used to live on Lady Margaret Road in Tufnell Park, albeit before I had school-age children.

I agree that it is a bit of a no-mans land between Kentish Town and Archway but I quite liked that aspect of it as it meant it wasn't too noisy at night. And there were more than enough shops and restaurants etc within easy walking distance no matter which direction you headed. I liked it there.

Disagree re TP being a no-mans land, there's a real sense of community. Also playing fields and near the heath and Highgate Wood. Also has a tube. Check school catchments if you have strong preferences though, the most fashionable schools (if you care about that) have quite tight catchments.

Stokey lovely also, bit more boho -- Hackney, innit. Noiser and busier. House prices cheaper for the equivalent accommodation. Clissold Park lovely as well. Houses tend to be smaller, on average. School catchments as above.

Different mindset to the two areas though, horses for courses. TP more affluent, established professionals, Stokey more alternative and arty.

I'd go for TP, personally if house prices no object.

To be fair we are half way between Crouch End and Archway so walking to the tube is not a problem. Actually I get around on a scooter which is far better than anything!

Coleridge school is awesome- didn't realise how lucky we were till the time came, and Highgate Wood is very good especially if you're into the arts or sport (DD excels at both).

Where we are is about as close to central London as you can get and still feel like you're not that urban- plenty of open space here, in fact we are about to walk en famille along the disused railway track to Finsbury Park.

Actually I would also be happy to move back to West Hampstead, FWIW.(!£!£!£)

We would have moved to Tufnell Park very happily, but we couldn't afford it- I'm quite happy, now, that we didn't, though if being closer to the middle of town is more attractive to you, TP might be better.

Stokey is so much more happening, but Tufnell Park is close to Camden so you don't have to travel far.
Only problem with TP is the cross roads where all the kids and hoodies hang out late at night. DS was chased and mugged twice there during the winter and DH abused a number of times .
Same thing could happen in stokey tho'.

Thanks all. Frogs, I think you've got it nailed in your descriptions. We're torn between the pull of alternative and arty and the more relaxed and green.

Prism had forgotten about the railway line. Lovely walk from FP to HW. Hmm. Anohter location to consider. Not sure that's helpful!

There is alternative and arty in TP as well, specially clustered around Y school. But it's a much more affluent type of arty (unsurprisingly, given that houses in the v. tight catchment usually top the £1M level).

other side of holloway road seems interesting, and cheaper, and grafton school now sought after and a bit more creative end of things rather than academic yerbury (based on heresay, haven't visited either...)

nothing much on the market anywhere which doesn't help, and house prices just seem to rise and rise while flat values lag behind, so less and less for money.