Walthamstow?

[PeachFamily]

It's more of a simple question than an 'AIBU' but not sure where to post this.

Would you move to Walthamstow? We're a young couple, no kids si it's just the two of us. Fortunately my partner doesn't have an office as works from home or travels abroad with his work. I'm currently changing careers and by living in London I'd have loads more work opportunities. We found a house in Walthamstow that's more or less what we are looking for. But ... we don't know London well enough and was wondering what others think of it?

The house is about a 15 minute walk away from Walthamstow Central station. We have been living in a small town, not much to do here... it's been definitely very boring here and I thought Walthamstow have good transport links, easy to get anywhere. Any pros or cons? The house is near Waltham Forest.

Waltamstow used to be an absolute dive but now many young couples/families are moving there so it's become quite gentrified. I'd say it's a reasonable mix of both nice and a bit shit.

Transport links are good, it's about 20ish minutes to Oxford Circus on the Walthamstow train.

It's very popular for some reason. There is a chintzy, bunting-y sub-culture thing going. But it's mostly an overpriced hell-hole. But it does have good transport links and a goth chapter of the Womens Institute.

Its not somewhere I would pick if I had the option.

It really depends exactly where it is tbh... The "village" is lovely but crazy expensive and there are some other really nice bits but some of it can be pretty crappy and not feel safe, especially if you are used to living somewhere much quieter Definitely visit in the evening and see how you feel. You can also check crime rates by postcode on the met police website.

When you say it's near "Waltham forest" do you mean it's near Epping Forest? I.e. upper Walthamstow/highams park type area?

No, I wouldn't. I grew up in Chingford which is next to Walthamstow so I know the area quite well, I might consider it if it's just the two of you but I think the area is just too dangerous for teenagers.

I lived there my whole life then left to move to the Essex countryside. In my opinion it's a horrible place to live and bring up children. The amount of youth crime and murders there recently have been shocking.

I witnessed a mob of about 50 children chasing about 2 or 3 other children through Walthamstow Central Station and then attack them. After that I convinced my husband to leave.

You'll get a few, maybe who live in the village, who say how lovely it is, but as someone who lived in East London their whole life, I was happy to leave and never look back!

There are so many lovely places to live, choose somewhere else!

No I wouldn't. I'm from round that area and escaped to Kent in 2011, went back recently and it confirmed I made a great decision. What a hell hole.

@GingerCatBigBalls I'm not sure 🙄When I looked on google maps it said Waltham Forest. The house is a few roads from Waltham Forest College.

I live near there I wouldn't recommend it. There's nothing happening here

Peach Family and Gingercatbigballs

Waltham Forest is the borough Walthamstow is in. Not to be confused with Epping Forest!

Absolute dump of a place imo

Peach the borough is Waltham Forest and includes Walthamstow, Chingford and Leyton.

Oh dear last few comments are not so good! Gutted tho the house is a lovely Victorian house. Anywhere else you guys would suggest in London tho? Good transport links are essential. Looking for a 2 Bed house or 3 . £450,000ish

Yes Celestia26 - it was the OP saying it was "near" WF that confused me.. I guess she means it's in WF.

Harringay / Alexandra Palace? Parts of Crouch End that are a bit cheaper? I love Crouch End!

Loughton is lovely!

So sorry guys I don't know London well 😳🙄...

It isn’t awful and it’s getting better.

OP I'm in Leytonstone, near to Wanstead flats. I doubt you could get a 3 bed house here for £450k but you could get a nice 2 bed garden flat. I'm sure there are lots of mners who would hate it here but DP and I love it here. It's close to a huge park so doesn't feel super "urban" but there's loads going on (community events, supper clubs, bars, cafes, art etc) and it's easy to get into town on the central line.

North Chingford is nice and has a train station on the Victoria line but no tube. Loughton is lovely as another poster said. Hainault is nice but a bit further out, it has a tube station but not as frequent.

Some parts of East London are nice, Loughton, Wanstead, North Chingford, Woodford. North London you have Islington, Highgate, Angel. These are only the areas I have personal experience of being lovely places.

It used to be terrible (or so I heard) but when I lived there (2.5 years ago) it was fine.

The suburban streets were quite leafy and quiet but central Walthamstow, around the station, was quite tacky/ chavy. The shopping centre was full of shops that looked kinda like cheap market stalls. Lots of phone repair, hair extension and take out food shops.

I (early 20’s girl) never ran into trouble, never got harassed or assaulted and often case home late on the Victoria.

It’s a good location, big regeneration (was starting when I left) quite overpriced for what it is though x

Born in Walthamstow. Also grew up in Chingford. Don't do it!

Used to be an utter shithole, now quite gentrified