Is the Camden/ Islington border a rough part of London?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Honestly, I am always amazingly wide of the mark when judging these things To me it looked fine though. It was about half a mile walk from Caledonian Road tube station, and a bit further from Camden Road overground - that sort of area? Sort of between Camden Square and Caledonian Park?

I've read some alarming things about Caledonian Road, how it's full of drugs and stabbings Currently been in Hampstead and been here for years and years now so compared to that a lot of other probably lovely places look a bit run down or seem a little edgy. I'm very out of touch.

Would you live there?

I really dislike it when people call areas shit and look down their nose. Most people in those areas are nice and live there because that's all they can afford. Not everyone can afford to live in Mayfair.

it's fine I think - a bit rough, but lots of places are. I live near there and my children go to school in Camden. They walk around all the time. Biggest risk is moped riders grabbing your mobile phone (unless you're in a gang maybe).

I lived in Hampstead too and much prefer it on the other side of the Heath.

Not everyone can afford to live in Mayfair

Parts of Mayfair are also shit, you get it with every area but some ARE worse than others, there's no getting away from that fact.

I doubt any areas of London are rough, judging by the prices for rentals. As a teacher, I live in Slough even though I work in London as I just can't afford it. People who can afford to pay over £1000 a month for a one bedroom flat are not who I would consider "rough" - they must all be making an absolute mint.

My uncle moved to Edmonton a few years ago and invited us round for a house warming. ..... The walk to his new house was genuinely terrifying, we ended up staying for 2 days because the riots started that night. Never again.”
You do know that we don’t riot in Edmonton every night?

I'd agree that Tottenham is (slowly) on the rise. They have been on the cusp of gentrification for a long time and have had a lot of investment recently. Tottenham Hale is unrecognisable from when I was young. I much prefer Tottenham to other "rough" areas but that may be nostalgia or familiarity!

I'm quite surprised by the list and by other areas mentioned. Completely accept the greater knowledge of people who live in them but I've walked around all over in the middle of the night in London and never given it a second thought - I think in my head I'm somehow safer because there's usually people around at all times. I shall start being a bit more careful perhaps!

I doubt any areas of London are rough, judging by the prices for rentals. As a teacher, I live in Slough even though I work in London as I just can't afford it. People who can afford to pay over £1000 a month for a one bedroom flat are not who I would consider "rough" - they must all be making an absolute mint

And yes, agree with this. I think is probably what made me think that all places were ok in most areas really. I'd give anything to live in London, it's my absolute dream - but it's a pipe dream. I'll never be able to afford it so I live 40 minutes out and go whenever I've got any free time.

I know that some people will get housing benefit - but there must still be a huge amount of affluence in all boroughs to fill all the private rents and owned houses.

I grew up in a 'shit' area but am now a lot wealthier. My DPs still live in the 'shit' area because they know it and know many people there.

I was introduced to a lady who moved just outside my area (because she can't afford it) which is desirable. She was impressed and told me she'd moved from a 'crap' area and went into a long story about why it was so crap. It wasn't where I had grown up but it was very similar and made me realise that if I was still living there she probably wouldn't have bothered to try and be friends with me although I'm still exactly the same person I was then just with more money. She's probably even seen my parents and looked down on them.

I think you can prefer some areas over others but I don't think it's right to call an area a 'shithole'. There are real people living there.

Capricorn - I can agree to an extent. Unless it's Harlesden, which truly is a hole

Most people in those areas are nice and live there because that's all they can afford.

Unless they actually move out of London - I often look down my nose because they're paying Mansion prices for Portakabin quality.

It's just not for me, prefer a "naice" house away from the big smoke that has a "vibe" & "scene" all of its own....

northlondon do you not? That’s disappointing, it was quite exciting really.

What's so 'genuinely terrifying' about walking in Edmonton?

Am asking seriously, not being goady or anything, would just like to know why it was so bad as have been there a lot and, whilst it's not gentrified, I haven't found it any worse than Dalston or most of London, tbh.

I remember the riots happening, I was working in the area and up until about 5ish in the evening even the 'rioty' parts of London were normal - just like any other day.

It's fine if you get a nice place. As for

• Harlesden
• Tottenham
• Edmonton
• Thornton Heath
• Newham (near hospital, Custom House etc)

Like somebody said, these whole areas arent rough. There are nice bits in plenty of these places... except Harlesden

You could find any place that's near somewhere naice that's rough. Notting Hill - Ladbroke Grove, walk round the corner from Holland Park and see what you find, same in Chelsea.

Its inner-city London. So there is traffic, crime, a late night culture and you certainly need your wits about you after dark. Its not down at heel, particularly, though. Not a cheap area to live in by any means and some beautiful houses and mansion blocks.

Depends what you're after, I suppose. I'd have loved it in my 20s, wouldn't be hugely keen now at 40 (unless I could live on Camden Square) .

Harlesden isnt all that rough anymore, just to add. Its like the Stoke Newington of NW London. Lots of middle class families who couldn't afford Ladbroke Grove or Kensal Rise bringing through that 'artisanal cafe' and 'gastro pub' vibe. I personally preferred the Jamaican pattie shops vibe of old .

Tottenham will be Shoreditch-a-fied within 10 years...mark my words.

Living anywhere in London would be my idea of hell...I live in a very safe rural beautiful part of Norfolk and count my blessings everyday....I would be terrified if my teens were out and about in London.

I wouldn’t live in Camden if you paid me.
Absolute dump.

Camden’s is a huge borough it includes Hampstead,Belsize Park,parts Covent Garden it’s not a dump

I live in Holloway & really love it. My children's school is great, I have a great group of (very diverse) friends that I made when I had DD1 8 years ago, we can get to woods & parks easily & generally enjoy being here. My children do lots of activities, all of them pretty reasonably priced. We're on a (very) tight budget, but we manage fine.
It's easy to get a GP/Dentist appointment, my experience with children's health services have been brilliant & access to various NHS based therapies/treatments that DH & I have needed has always been straight forward & easy.
I genuinely love where I live as do the people I hang out with, despite the lack of gardens & our small flats!

Pop a postcode in here to get an idea of reported rather than anecdotal crime www.police.uk/metropolitan/E05000368/

The one used in the link is this development's londonsquare.co.uk/developments/detail/caledonianroad

I’m talking about the streets off of Camden high street, that particular area ( Camden Market ) it’s grimy & druggy.
Hampstead / Belsize Park are a world away & the home of the mega rich.

I'm sorry but...

'Living anywhere in London would be my idea of hell...I live in a very safe rural beautiful part of Norfolk and count my blessings everyday....I would be terrified if my teens were out and about in London.'

Why bother posting? Nobody cares what a rural Norfolk dweller thinks about specific areas of London. I wouldn't ask someone from Smallsville, Wisconsin about their views on living in Brooklyn .

Also, just to couter act the Lonon-hating prickery...our teens have good transport and a wealth of positive activities they can access. Theyre very lucky.

You will be fine if you are streetwise i.e. Look like you know where you're going, not flashing nice belongings or actively hoping to score drugs. When I first moved to London it amazed me that very expensive areas would literally be a road apart from quite poor areas but everyone seem to rub along whilst going about their business.

I lived in Holloway, Dalston and Hackney about ten years ago. Felt fine. I think unless you are in with the wrong people you are generally left alone! The only things I'd say is that I felt Caledonian Road had a lot of dark lonely stretches, I always found that there were a lot more people about in Dalston at all hours and that made me feel safer.

Really great memories of living in London and I'd go back if I was on my own without kids.

You might die of boredom in Norfolk.

There are dangers everywhere

Yeah I have to say it's not particularly useful or nice to post purely to say how much you dislike London.

I love London. Sometimes it irritates the fuck out of me due to the relentless pace and the crowds, but overall I'm besotted. I'm a country girl at heart though and can also appreciate the idea of rural Norfolk.

Both can be great. They have different good qualities. No need to run down a place just because you don't like it. And the teenagers who grow up in Norfolk might love it there, and equally, soon they might be champing at the bit to get away to a city.

City life and rural life can both be wonderful.