Not sure about Notting Hill?

[CHope]

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.

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

I have rented in both areas.
Primrose Hill is by far more family friendly. You are smack on Regents Park, can walk the canal, go up to the health easily and have lots of lovely cafes pubs and restaurants in reach.

Notting Hill is busier, somewhat grimy and has the type of troubles tourist areas seem to attract.
The carnival is amazing but not for residents whose front gardens become urinals.There are lovely and expensive houses and squares but you don't really see children and families like you do in Primrose Hill plus the high street is a super spot for sleb watching and has the most amazing charity shops
What school are you targeting OP?

You are smack on Regents Park Holland and Hyde parks , can walk the canal, go up to the health oxford st/high st Ken/Paddington express easily and have lots of lovely cafes pubs and restaurants in reach.

Deffo the carnival is a nightmare and most people leave if possible. All the shop wonder I know but up boards and close for the weekend.

Thanks all! I keep hearing that Hampstead and primrose hill are pretty transient as well. Hampstead is way more international now and bustling on the weekends with tourists.

Are there areas in Notting Hill that have a community feel? I know around portobello is touristy.

Years ago when my DM lived in London. She said you wouldn’t dare go to Primrose Hill, it was a very scary place. She finds it amazing that it’s an expensive place to live. Things change and things move on, but it’s not that long ago.

LordPro, why did you cross out Regent’s Park, etc?

I’m still not sure. I’d love to be in central London, zone 1. Notting Hill is beautiful and ideally would love a communal garden.

School is closer to Ladbroke Grove.

And primrose Hill is great too.

Having lived in Notting hill when I was younger I wouldn’t move back,

Good school or no good school .
It’s snotty and grim in equal measures and I found primrose hill to be majorly poncey but it’s better than NH

Maybe Queen’s Park? But then would need to drive children to school.

Is Hampstead Belsize Park and Hampstead equally as Poncey? Maybe can live in Islington?

Notting Hill 100%

Notting Hill has changed a lot. I still smile when I see all the beautiful young things swan around covered in bling, in and out of their millions of pounds houses - I remember when the houses were run down and had bars on the windows (not because they were full of treasure) and the area was very dodgy (dammit why didn’t I buy them??). And of course the market is not good for ‘antiques’ but still has some decent fruit and veg stores. Very touristy though.

There are some ‘communities’ - like I said usually built up around a church where you will meet old residents who have been there for donkeys years (St Peter’s parish) and new people wanting to ‘join’.

If the kids are at school then maybe a church nursery will be more ‘community’ than a private one - they are usually a mix of rich and poor, and you do get more mums and dads doing the drop off than nannies and au pairs. There are a handful of ‘outstanding’ primaries but I think you have to be related to God to get a place.

However, there is still the seedier end (further down along portobello) where there are some estates that have ‘issues’. Or maybe I’m more aware as I worked for a charity along there?

I’d veer towards Holland Park (south side) or Bayswater - not as busy but still nice and central. I like Maida Vale and St Johns Wood but DH says they are too far out 🙄. But then I love having the parks across the road, and Regent’s Park within walking distance. I walk to work and sit in the park early mornings to get some peace and quiet.

I've lived in both and would choose primrose hill over Notting Hill anyday
particularly with children. NH still has some areas which are rough around the edges, it's quite dirty and highly populated. PH is quieter, has Primrose Hill and then Hampstead Heath not far and walkable. It is awkward to get to and from that's true. I wouldn't go for Islington, it's very much like Notting Hill with some very rough areas still. I've worked I Angel and can't tell you how many phones were stollen just from employees.

Belsize Park is great, it's a bit of a mix of the two. I've lived there too, if you go for there I would go for the village rather than near the station.

Primrose Hill every time although I'd go further up to Hampstead. Hampstead has pockets of niche communities left. The rest are busy taking each other to court over subterranean basements that reach halfway to hell and fuck the water table.

I've not lived in NH but we have lots of good friends who have and there really isn't much community to be had if you aren't putting your kids on local schools.

But, no way I'd take young kids on the tube every day to get to and from school during rush hour. It will not be pleasant to smashed into by people trying to get to work and you might as well light them a fag for all crap they'll suck into their lungs down there. Next time you take the tub blow your nose after....that would be in their lungs twice a day. No way.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/09/london-underground-air-pollution-report-concerns-northern-line-particulates

Are you expats that don't know London?

I know London. I’m trying to figure what is best.

We do plan to join a church wherever we go.

Which area is really gritty in NH? Ladbroke Grove? Is it unsafe?

Ladbroke Grove would be a nightmare .
Could you imagine the carnival every year for 2 days ?
I used to go and the sights I’ve seen!
My friends gran used to have to leave when it started until they’d packed up and would always come back to urine and worse outside or on her front door .

Yeah, wouldn’t live near Ladbroke Grove station. Maybe in between st James gardens and Ladbroke Grove rd?

Notting Hill is right by Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, also Holland Park - plenty of green space. Def not so arty or hip as it once was and only affordable to very wealthy people. Posher and more central than Primrose Hill which is also expensive.

I know both areas pretty well and would go for Primrose Hill personally - Notting Hill is okay but I always feel like it's a bit further away from the centre of town. The other option (as PP mentioned) is St John's Wood or Maida Vale. I live that side of Primrose Hill and love it and there are great transport links to the West End.

So it’s choose central and posh or further out and somewhat posh? Or commute to the kids’ school?

Yes, I do like Maida Vale.
Nice mix of people and not too far out of central

Would you say NH is similar to the west village in NYC?

Primrose Hill is closer to Chalk Farm rather than Camden Town town tube.
I love Primrose Hill, it’s beautiful and feels more suburban. Gorgeous walk along the canal from Kings X has people have said. Kings X itself is fab now. Camden Town is grimy though, especially at the weekend.

If money were no object however I’d live in Notting Hill every time. Around Westbourne Grove is lovely.
It’s more expensive so you’ll get more for your money in PH I’d say. Mind you PH certainly isn’t cheap. On a sunny Sunday in the summer, it’s buzzing. You’ve got the zoo in your doorstep too.

I wouldn’t say either is arty but Notting Hill is less so if I had to choose. Lots of Americans (bankers who work at Goldman Sachs) in Notting Hill. It feels more international generally.

Not a bad choice to have and you won’t be disappointed in either location, in my opinion.

I’m a through and through west Londoner but I would still say PH over NH any day. NH is so hit and miss; one street is beautiful and leafy, the next is gritty and grim. As NH is in Kensington borough, it also suffers from severe have/have nots issues.

Primrose Hill. I grew up around there and it was lovely. A great place to be a child / teenager.

I actually spent two years after college living in Kensington, which is close to Notting Hill and didn't like it as much. Great place to visit but not to live, especially with a family.

I know both areas well and would say Primrose Hill over Notting Hill any day. Primrose Hill has a great sense of community - people know eachother and you get to know the people who work in the shops, restaurants and pubs. It feels like a neighbourhood in a way Notting Hill doesn’t. It’s also much less polluted (with both car fumes and the fumes of weed!) than Notting Hill. I cannot understand why anyone would choose to live around Ladbroke Grove - I much prefer the Bayswater/ Westbourne Grove side if you want to be West so W2 rather than W11/W10.

I would pick Primrose Hill. Close enough to busy places but you can escape it. Chalk Farm tube is Zone 2 so not exactly out in the sticks.