because we can't figure out where to live?

[Arty3542]

Hello!

I've posted before about moving to London from the NYC area with our 3 children. We are down to the wire and need to decide pronto! We have narrowed it down to two areas... Notting Hill/Holland Park OR Hampstead. These are where the schools that have places are.

I know that these areas are expensive and I'm sure people will laugh at our dilemma, but this decision will decide where we will be living for the next 5 years. I am the WORST when it comes to make a 50/50 decision. I think I'm driving my husband nuts.

Thank you mumsnet for all your help thus far!

*move the kids around.

Hampstead Heath is defintiely better than Hyde Park, in my opinion. Agree with people who say it has a magical feel.

My best friend lives in Notting Hill. She's single with no kids and its great for her. And I love visiting.

But you just can't beat Hampstead. It's the loveliest part of London, I think.

My best friend wouldn't agree, though. She has lived in Notting Hill for 10 years and is there to stay!

I am someone who loves the "buzz" of central, great restaurants and shops. But - I can't quite explain why - I would definitely rather live in Hampstead even despite the fact that it doesn't have as many of those things that Notting Hill does.

It's so hard though, OP, as it's such a personal thing. I am guessing you must be secretly more keen on Notting Hill if all these comments haven't persuaded you?

You can't make a bad choice between the two. Either you'll love!

Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful five-year-London adventure!

Thanks, Nickname. You're right, it is personal. I wish I had another chance to visit before we moved.

But I feel the same. I love the buzz but Hampstead is gorgeous. And it's still close to central London. And we have 3 kids! They need space to run around. :)

I would also go for Hampstead. Friends used to live practically next to the tube station and I loved visiting.

As PP have said, you're a New Yorker, what are you worried about?

I'm guessing the articles about muggings exist because it's a shock to have them happening in the area. Was it the Ham and High newspaper or the Camden Journal? They're the local freebie papers so they need to report on something to maintain their existence. I'd say that type of crime is not so newsworthy in HP/NH area iyswim. But, as already mentioned, no postcode is untouched by crime.

Seriously though, if you opt for the Hampstead school, you don't actually have to live right on the Hampstead tube doorstep. There's Belsize Park (where Gwynnie and Chris used to shack up) which is also very nice. The no 46 bus goes straight up Haverstock Hill, past BP and H stations then turns left onto FitzJohns Ave. School commute done in 15 mins. The other end of the bus route is Swiss Cottage (Jubilee line) which has some lovely streets to the east of the station. In fact, many of the streets in the triangle between Swiss Cottage, Hampstead and Chalk Farm stations are lovely. A bit further south and you have Primrose Hill, a very nice neighbourhood where a bunch of famous folk live. Heck, you could even opt for the Hampstead overground station as there are many buses (inc the 46) accessible from there.

Does your DH need a particular tube line?

Also meant to say... I suspect you prefer NH/HP. Haha.

My deciding factor is always the "vibe" of a place when it's dark (until 7:30am and from 4:30pm onwards in winter).

I would go with Hampstead!! Still near the city but definitely suburbs

Ha, thanks zoobaby!

DH will work in Mayfair... so whatever will get him there the quickest.

Can you tell me vibe of both Hampstead and HP/NP when it's dark? After 4pm during the winter? We've never visited the UK during this time.

Hampstead is really suburb-y? London suburbs are different then NYC suburbs. I would say that Hampstead is more like Brooklyn Heights.

Here's one article on Hampstead crime:
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/masked-robbers-strangled-mother-series-of-attacks-on-lone-women-in-london-a3181441.html

You could find articles like that about any part of any big city in the world, though. As a New Yorker, I'm sure you're quite used to keeping your wits about you and not obviously flaunting loads of expensive jewellery, waving your purse or cash around, etc - it's no different in London.

Hampstead is absolutely, definitely, not a dangerous area to live in. That's not to say that that there's no chance of you ever being a victim of crime in London, but it won't be because you've chosen to live in Hampstead, I assure you

After dark, no issues. Loads of people around, loads going on, no more dangerous than in broad daylight imo.

I wouldn't describe Hampstead as a suburb though. Suburbs are bland, dull, featureless (I can say that cos I live in one!) It's more like a beautiful village tacked onto the side of a city.

Fantastic!! Thanks, SF!

Oh, you lucky thing - days on the Heath, bathing at the ponds in the summer, nights in the Holly Bush

Stop it - you're making me want to move back there...

Actually no..

There are some parts that take an age to get into/out of... They are usually the poor parts like Hackney.

Some parts that take an age to get into? What do you mean?