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.

Walthamstow used to be a proper shithole, now it's just a bit of a shithole. Parts have been taken over by hipsters and others are just the same as before.

It's not the worst place you could move to, but there are better areas.

What about Southgate, Cockfosters or Oakwood? Or Barnet even?

I know a couple of people - early 30s - who live in Walthamstow. and have done for years. They like it. I've only visited a couple of times ( I live in London too and Walthamstow isn't near where I live) and it seems fine to me.

I have lived in Walthamstow for 8 or 9 years now and absolutely love it. I've been living in London for nearly 20 years and never lived anywhere that has as much of a community feel as here and where it was so easy to meet new, local friends.

We have issues with knife crime amongst teenagers, homelessness and other social issues but you get that everywhere in London.

If you want to pm me the road name I am happy to tell you what I know of it

You won't get much for £450k in Loughton.

Lived there for a long while and loved it. Left there last year and still miss it.

I love Walthamstow! I used to live there and still have lots of friends there. If you’re near Forest Road you’re not in the village but that area’s nice too, very near Lloyd Park and the William Morris gallery. Lovely quick journey into London from either Blackhorse Road or Walthamstow as well. Go for it!

We lived in Walthamstow for 3 years but left 2 years ago, couple in late 20s, no kids. We moved when we decided to start a family. We lived closer to blackhorse Road and the marshes in a Warner flat. We really liked it and it was getting even trendier when we left. We worked central London and was an easy quick commute by London standards.

Thanks for the messages. I checked out a couple of properties in Harringay on Rightmove. It seems lovely. Our budget is £450k but would take on project houses that need renovation/heavy modernisation

Lots of gangs there. I know someone who lives near to the station and someone was recently shot outside her house.

No. I was born round those parts and lived there all my life. I have just moved out of Leyton, which neighbours Walthamstow. I think these sorts of 'regenerated' areas are fine if you are young single or a couple. There is definitely an artsy, hip scene. However, I would not want my child growing up there. No good schools and too much of a subculture that I would worry about teens being influenced by. Despite the hipsters moving in these are still very diverse areas and can be rough. I have moved further along the central line to Woodford which is lovely and money goes further.

I lived in Walthamstow Village for a couple of month (hanging previously lived in Brixton and Clapton over 10 years).

I quite liked it. It had a nice vibe. Being at the end of the V line was a huge plus.

Hi OP, I have lived there (not in Walthamstow village, more like in an area that would be described as "shit" and "hellhole" by some PPs here) and it is nice and cheap for London. There is a very good open market in the high street and I used to enjoy walking or foraging in the marshes. I never felt unsafe there but then again I am not middle class ;) There are lots of immigrants and ethnic minorities and you can find food from all over the world. I would say it's a typical, poor London neighbourhood.

Horrible place.

Just because a few coffee shops have popped up this hasn't stopped it being a shithole.

It's really far out too more Essex.

It's absolutely horrible, but some people seem to love it. The village area is ok, but very small. and you have to go through the grotty bits to get in/out of it.
It also smells disgusting, the last time I was there I went to Camden Town straight afterwards and the air in Walthamstow made Camden smell positively fragrant. And Camden STINKS!

Oh dear I really don't know now. How do I know where the 'village area ' is ?

I lived there just as it made the turn from shit hole to gentrified.
Where i was (hoe street) was a dive. The village part i guess is nice but just feels like some weird home counties wannabe place.

So its like....a weird home counties centre surrounded by divey parts with a scattering of half arsed hipster stuff. On the plus side, its great for getting into central by tube or getting buses to hackney stratford etc.

The village part is basically one villagey type high street with bunting and little chichi shops and the streets around it

I think the pub was actually called the village. Its around that pub.

Whats the street name in walthamstow OP?

Leytonstone is better and has increased in community feel recently, Wanstead if you can stretch the budget. Both on Central line. www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54916692.html

Walthamstow is ok, not as bad as it used to be. Leytonstone is better, South Woodford and Wanstead more middle class. All easy commute to central London.

My DH’s brother and partner own a little two bedroom house there. They live abroad so we have used the flat as a London base for things with the DC on occasion. I thought Walthamstow was lovely. There was a lovely park, pubs, interesting shops and it was easy for us to walk to Blackhorse station and get about London. I have no other experience of staying in any other residential part of London but DH and I have wondered whether we could sell our large 4 bedroom house in Scotland and scrape together enough for a 2 bed in Walthamstow.

I have lived in Walthamstow for five years now. We bought a two bedroom cottage in the village for the same money as a tiny one bedroom flat in hackney. I’m really surprised at the number of negative comments on this thread. Granted, I live in a nice part of Walthamstow, and if I had a larger family I would need more space, but every area has its dodgy parts, and problems with youth violence. I can’t think of a single area that doesn’t, and I really don’t think that Walthamstow feels any less safe than other more affluent areas. The earlier comments about there being a strong sense of community really chime. I have never had more local friends (true friends) in an area before. We cannot leave the house without bumping into people we know, and that’s something we absolutely adore about living here. Really feels as though people are watching out for you and your property too. There are some fantastic schools here – you only need to google that. Plus loads of things to do: wetlands centre, epping forest, William Morris gallery, the breweries, the village, the cinema, little museums… plus you always get a seat on the tube if you’re heading into town! It’s so well-connected. Lots of places to eat and drink. The area you mentioned is a little further out, but personally I think Walthamstow has loads going for it, and I think it’s much better connected than Leyton (and definitely better connected than Harringay / crouch end etc.). Plus you have a wonderful balance of city / country, in that you have pubs / restaurants / breweries / climbing centres etc. AND you have ready access to lovely outdoor space – epping forest etc.

This article is worth a read: www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/aug/02/family-day-trips-uk-gardens-beaches-museums

Deadcat - it definitely does not feel as far out as Essex. That's rubbish. And Isadora - what you've said about it smelling must have been a one-off, that's absolute rubbish too :-)

PeachFamily - the village area is basically a square half mile around Orford Road. It's probably bordered at the top by St Mary Road, to the west by Hoe Street, to the East by Shernall street, and to the south by lea bridge road, very broadly speaking. It is one small part of walthamstow, but there are lots of other lovely pockets of walthamstow. Stow Brothers are a great local estate agent, maybe speak to them for more advice.

I prefer Wanstead and Leytonstone too. But the Victoria line is potentially nicer than the central line. Depends where you want to commute too.

450k for 2 bed you’d be looking at a flat not a house in all by the worst places in London TBH.

Leyton you might get a 2 bed house with a downstairs bathroom but only out of catchment for the half decent schools.