Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not sure about Notting Hill?

115 replies

CHope · 24/04/2019 13:33

Hello!

My husband wants to move to Notting Hill. We have two children(ages 9 and 5) who have a place at a school there. I heard it's very posh and not so 'artsy' anymore. I am more easy-going, artistic, and not a type-a person.

The other option is Primrose Hill. I know these are expensive areas. We are going with where the children are accepted into school.

I walked around both areas but can't seem to figure out where I would like to live best. Confused

I'd like to be able to walk to most places but have some quiet as well.

Anyone live in these areas who can help?

Thanks in advance Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
CHope · 24/04/2019 14:31

Anyone?Blush

OP posts:
LesLavandes · 24/04/2019 14:35

I love Notting Hill area. I don't know much about Primrose Hill. You will get an international mix in both and very well off people. Both areas are very expensive. Artsy... there will still be an element of this but not so much these days. If you can afford it, go for it!

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 24/04/2019 14:37

It depends if you are very wealthy and can afford on one of the nicer streets. Plus closer to the marked is a bit of a nightmare (especially at carnival).

Excited101 · 24/04/2019 14:38

Have you looked at living costs in both?? ‘Going where the children get into schools’ would not be affordable for the vast majority of Londoners...

Original poster
CHope · 24/04/2019 14:38

Ah, thanks leslavandes! Appreciate it. Are they friendly areas? Would love to find a good community. I like the queens park area but the commute to school would be hard.

I’m a little trendy but don’t wear expensive designer clothing!

OP posts:
Original poster
CHope · 24/04/2019 14:40

Yes, we looked into it. We’re willing to pay a little more to live closer to the schools. Or hopefully off the tube line at least!

OP posts:
MaitreKarlsson · 24/04/2019 14:44

Not an expert but i think Primrose Hill has an actual hill and green space while Notting Hill doesn't. Primrose Hill is lovely IMHO. Friends who live in Notting Hill leave town for the Carnival weekend, total nightmare apparently....

Original poster
CHope · 24/04/2019 14:46

We would leave the carnival too. Do your friends like the area?

OP posts:
MaitreKarlsson · 24/04/2019 14:50

Yes but different priorities to me...important to them to be in zone 1, on tube and with nice shops/coffee at the end of the road. They don't mind the noise and bustle. No DC either so different lifestyle to us.

Atalune · 24/04/2019 14:52

As a complete voyeur here please tell me your house budget? Grin

I don’t know the areas- but I like them both as a tourist!

Lifecraft · 24/04/2019 14:56

As a general rule, West London trumps North London, but in this particular case, Primrose Hill is far nicer than Notting Hill. Not that Notting Hill is awful, it's very pleasant.

Enb76 · 24/04/2019 14:57

I would totally go Primrose Hill over Notting Hill.

I've lived all over London and I always preferred North to West. That said, my favourite place to live was EC1 but you're right up against Islington so, practically N1.

badlydrawnperson · 24/04/2019 14:57

YABVU

Thecoffee · 24/04/2019 14:58

Notting Hill is buzzier, Primrose Hill greener. Both are expensive and I wouldn't call either particularly arty. I know people who live in both and seem to like them. Is this one school or two? If you really can't see the difference I'd get the school sorted and go with the closer one.

Lifecraft · 24/04/2019 14:59

Atalune, I'm going to guess at budget, for a nice-ish family home, nothing spectacular but decent and spacious, Primrose Hill £3.5m, Notting Hill £2.75m

Original poster
CHope · 24/04/2019 15:04

Thank you! We will rent and not buy. Primrose hill is leafy but seems far from south and west London. It’s only off the northern line, correct? That’s the only con. And maybe too quiet?

OP posts:
BlueSkiesLies · 24/04/2019 15:05

I prefer NH over PH but the tourists standing on the wrong side of the escalator and walking slowly piss me off

N has a slightly more seedy underbelly vibe but much better restaurants and bars.

Not sure either would be my first choice for a family home TBH though even if I did have £3m to buy one.

Lifeaback · 24/04/2019 15:07

Definitely a bit biased here but I would recommend primrose hill over Notting hill. I lived there for 2 years before moving out to zone 3 when DD1 was born- we would quite happily have stayed could we have afforded a house! This was 7 years ago and the artsy buzz that was there then can’t have disappeared completely. I would almost go as far as describing primrose hill as feeling like it’s own little village, or as close to it as you can get in London.

Like a PP I also have friends living in Notting hill, and the carnival (and week of cleaning up after) would be more than enough to put me off. Also , having both the hill and Regent’s Park right on your doorstep is a huge bonus especially with kids.

DramaSchoolMums · 24/04/2019 15:09

Primrose Hill is slap bang next to Camden Town OP, so you have the best of both worlds - quiet village bit and lots of buzz closeby. You also have Swiss Cottage and Finchley Road which have good transport links, West Hampstead (young families), Kilburn (getting trendy now), and posh Hampstead village and the Heath. Plus from primrose Hill it's a quick walk through Regents Park to Baker Street / Marylebone and Oxford Street. Finally 20 mins walk along the canal is Kings Cross Granary Square and the new artisan shopping centre which is a brilliant area too.

Lifecraft · 24/04/2019 15:13

It’s only off the northern line, correct? That’s the only con

You've got Camden Town on the Northern Line or Swiss Cottage on the Jubilee Line. Or a little further to Finchley Rd on the Met Line.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 24/04/2019 15:19

Notting hill isn’t very ‘community’ these days unless you find a home next to a square and maybe go to a local church. It’s a very transient area (it wasn’t all that long ago or was really rough and some parts are still are).

I can’t think of many places centrally that are ‘community’ in the private sector to be honest. There is just too much movement.

But you can’t beat Notting hill or Bayswater of being central. (NB Ladbroke Grove is not Notting Hill!) Holland Park is ok - the bit between Bayswater road and high street ken is quite leafy (if you don’t mind the beckhams, the bloke from led zeppelin and his Robbie Williams as neighbours).

BigusBumus · 24/04/2019 15:21

Primrose Hill any day over Notting Hill. I lived in Camden Square for a while and loved being in that area as a young person with no cares but used to look enviously towards Primrose Hill and always wanted to live there with a family. Notting Hill is too full on for a family imo.

Liverbird77 · 24/04/2019 15:24

Primrose Hill without a doubt. There are loads of great bars, restaurants, open spaces within a stone's throw. I love the atmosphere round there.
I don't like Notting Hill.
Just personal preference.

Spideryplant · 24/04/2019 15:27

Notting Hill has some really dodgy areas. I'd suggest Primrose Hill if you have children.

BossAssBitch · 24/04/2019 15:43

Lived on Portobello Road for 5 years, loved it at first, then both properties either side became ‘ghost’ properties, ie bought by investors but not resided in, lots of Nott Hill is like this now, it’s lost its sense of community. Was v happy to move from ‘Nothing Hill’. Primrose Hill is much nicer.