to be afraid to move to north London?

[Samsean]

Hi

We are relocating to north London (harringay/hackney) due to DP's work. Having just visited the place, it feels scary and unfriendly. Is there anything to be afraid of or is it just in my head?

In your head- where are u coming from though?

Uh, depends which road you go and look down, same as any area in london silly!

There are some really nice areas and some not so nice bits. Hoxton is nice. Not technically hackney but the W side of Victoria park is nice. W of kings land road around Hagerston has some super nice houses.

YANBU (writing from South London).

Well ... yes, parts of Haringey and Hackney do have higher than average crime rates, particularly gun crime. No denying that. But the risk of anything happening to you are still very low, I would have thought.

Hello. I rarely post on mumsnet but this topic has made me want to comment.

I moved from Clapton (E5) last year and although I do not regret the move (we're in Wales now) I miss the area. There are lovely parks (Springfield being the nicest - has a great cafe, a river and leads onto the Walthamstow Marshes for great walks. You wouldn't believe you were in London). A couple of pubs on the river too.

It is built up and there is crime but I lived there for 5 years and loved it.

Good luck!

I'm definitely a south of the river girl. But the place I have felt least safe in North London is Holloway Road area where I worked for a year.

How weird...me and dh are just having the same convo. We're SE11, contemplating E17 but weirded out by going north of the river!

I would not move over to north London.

Some bits of Haringey and Hackney are lovely... others less so. Tell us where exactly you're thinking of and I'm sure people will have useful advice.

We are in Clapton E5 (waves to 3of5) and I luffs it here. I love London so much and am obvs biased but Hackney is a great place to live, schools are great, crime is no worse than anywhere else in the city and there is a strong and fab sense of community too, I could not think of moving away.

Depends what part of Hackney- shoreditch, dalston, stoke newington, parts of Clapton, Victoria park area, are full of hipsters and young families. Lot of parks, cafes etc

I group up in dalston in the 80's when it was an absolute shithole. I can't believe it's the same place when I go there now. Funnily enough I'm not sure if I like all the changes. It felt more 'real' back then and I do wonder what's happening to all the locals when the trendy people and shops move in but hey ho

Haringey is still shit tbh.

I lived happily in Haringey for 15 years then moved four miles east to Walthamstow (E17) which is virtually countryside for London. Now when I go back to Haringey it feels a bit edgy in comparison.

I think you probably just need time to adjust.

• grew up

I lived and worked in hackney for years, loved it. Amazing arts scene, lovely baby and mum groups, great people, great pubs, great restaurants. I still miss it! Enjoy xxx

If you're talking about crouch end, Stroud green muswell hill etc fine. Seven sisters no way

Hackney is in East London though...

YANBU.

I've never "got" north london. And I think the younger folks there have a funny accent, different from the older folks. What's that about?

Whereabouts did you visit and where are you living now?

Hackney is in East London

Walthamstow is the new 'it' place of east London. My DH grew up there and is amazed at the house prices for an area which was also a bit shit in the 80's/90's.
I wouldn't say it's the countryside of London! My inlaws live there and I still wouldn't wander around too late at night.

We're 10 mins away in south woodford. It is totally dead in comparison though.

I lived by Vicky park in Hackney for years - loved it! Miss it every day now I am in a more "sedate" part of London.

What a re you all on about? North London is the place to live. What about Highgate, Hampstead, Finchley, Muswell Hill, Camden Town - all lovely friendly places.

If you are talking about the Hackney/Harringay (as opposed to Haringey) area, you may be referring to the Green Lanes/Seven Sisters junction which consists of two very busy roads and isn't very appealing.

I don't know Hackney but can do Haringey:

Good - Highgate, Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Stroud Green, Bounds Green

Ok - most of Finsbury Park, Harringay Ladder is quite nice, most of Holloway, Wood Green though I wouldn't hang around there at 2 in the morning

Avoid - Edmonton, Tottenham, West Green

I got very lost in Muswell Hill once. There is a bloody stupid one way road, and I drove past the same church 5 times in my desperation to get back south .