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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:
Eateneasterchocsalready · 24/04/2019 23:09

OP one tiny part of an street is posh in London and then Dodgy. I don't get this fear of posh. Are you sending kid's local schools not private.

Magissa · 24/04/2019 23:26

I live in Notting hill in a small flat. I love our block, fab neighbours. There are alot of tourists around but I like that. Not too keen on Friday and Saturdays as the market is very busy and it's annoying if I have to fight my way through crowds to get home. Bars are also busier at the weekend so it gets quite rowdy though on the whole just people having fun. It has a community vibe to me but not as much as Chiswick where some of my family live. If your DC are young I think Chiswick would be perfect.

Woofbloodywoof · 24/04/2019 23:35

Have lived in both, Primrose Hill wine by a country mile. NH is filthy these days and it has one or two pretty streets and then dirty, run down streets immediately adjacent. PH is a village; friendly, safe, our kids were happy there, a real community feel. Also a lovely walk across the hill and Regent’s Park into town. Somewhere you will make friends in the local cafes and such. It’s no contest if you ask me. Having said that, I’d still pick Chelsea over NH or PH but can see you might want to be more central.

stealthbanana · 24/04/2019 23:37

I live in notting hill with 2 young kids and it’s great. It’s FULL of families; we have a garden, access to a garden square and are less than 10mins walk to kensington gardens so lots of green space. Loads to do. Super central. And a mixed community which I like - I don’t want to live in a white person enclave.

Primrose Hill is very beautiful too and am sure you’d have a great time living there. I find it a bit awkward to get to but if you’re going to centre your life around the area that doesn’t matter so much.

coolwalking · 25/04/2019 01:34

South of Ladbroke Grove station is nice towards Holland Park. North Kensington is awful so avoid anything near that.

Central Line is great too and would choose Central line option over the dreaded Northern Line.

Original poster
CHope · 25/04/2019 10:32

Thank you all, again!

Stealthbanana, are the families friendly? Are some down to earth?

I guess I can't make a wrong decision... I wish my way of thinking was different.

Coolwalking, the northern line is loud, right? Then it splits into 2 different directions and there's no way of connecting unless you go back to camden town or Euston.

OP posts:
LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 25/04/2019 10:59

I think central line is best.

Smumzo · 25/04/2019 11:11

I think you'd be best off with a prep school in Hampstead that goes to 13 otherwise you're going to get stuck in the 11+ madness for your older kid. And you realllllly don't want to do that if you don't have to. American School London is a great school but getting places can be hard. I can't recommend enough doing a mock school run at rush hour wherever you choose. Our school run was 2.7 miles in London and it took me 45 minutes. It was a life sucking few years!

Original poster
CHope · 25/04/2019 11:34

I’m not looking forward to doing the 11+. ASL is way too expensive. When we called the to 13 schools, they almost laughed. They’re totally full.
Which school are you talking about in Hampstead?

OP posts:
Original poster
CHope · 25/04/2019 11:36

And isn’t Hampstead even more expensive? Plus farther out of London? More established/older crowd?

OP posts:
Smumzo · 25/04/2019 12:23

Hampstead is zone 2. It really is by no stretch far out of London. Hampstead Heath is absolutely gorgeous and it's chock full of families and kids. It's much wilder than say Regents or Hyde park.

If you tell us a little more about your kids: gender and academic ability mainly, people can point you at schools. Hampstead has a lot of preps and you could walk. Being able to walk to school will be so much nicer. It's by far my favourite place we've lived in London. You aren't going to find "down to Earth" anywhere inside zone 3 I don't think.

stealthbanana · 25/04/2019 12:39

Classic mumnsmst - OP says should I do A or B,Mn says do C!

OP down to earth is obv a matter of perspective but I think I have a good normal group of local friends.

Would def prioritise being close go school though - if ASL is too expensive which schools are you looking at?

sunshinesupermum · 25/04/2019 13:05

Hi OP - you are getting so many options thrown at you - let's get back to basics:

Your DCs have places at school(s) you and DP are happy with in the area of Notting Hill. Any other location mentioned will involve travelling to and from school in rush hour. I don't know how well you know London but rush hour is the pits and if children can go to school locally it will be easier for you and them. On top of that your DP wants to move to NH.

Make life easier for your (understandably anxious) self - rent a house in Notting Hill. Best of luck - it's a great area, near to town and plenty of green space with the parks so nearby.

Pa1oma · 25/04/2019 13:41

OP, I don’t think you can go wrong with either of these locations, to be honest, but surely this will come down to where you find the right property?

NH had some stunning streets, full of £20 million mansions a la the Beckhams, etc. But you could wander to the next block and you’re in a scruffy street, graffiti and rubbish. Ladbroke Grove is not exactly dire by London standards (far from it)! but may not be what you’re looking for.

PH, I don’t know so well, but again, you don’t have to wander far to end up in Camden Market, which can br fantastic or a nightmare depending on which way you look at it!

Which school are you looking at? PM me if you need to.

Could I suggest Chelsea / South Kensington? More villagey, more central and not bordered by any grungy bits! We’ve been here with kids for years and love it. Plus there is the river.

But as I say, it’s all much of a muchness really. Find the right house and go from there...

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 25/04/2019 13:57

I’d agree with thinking about the commute. Transport is a bloody nightmare at rush hour these days and dragging kids across town for school and nursery is exhausting. My last commute was 4 hours a day: home-school-work and back again and when the strikes were on I spent so much on taxis.

If you don’t have a garden think about local open spaces and leisure facilities, or access to a good road out of town! Grocery shopping isn’t too much of a concern as we have loads of ‘local’ supermarkets (mini versions of the main ones) and delivery services for most of the supermarkets.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 25/04/2019 13:58

OP - PM me of you want to know about West London area.

Original poster
CHope · 25/04/2019 16:49

LOL! Thank you, ladies. Honestly this is all very helpful.

There are only two areas we can stick to. Primrose Hill/Belsize Park or Notting Hill(if we don’t want a long commute).

We’re waiting for more homes to come on the market for rent. Seems like there isn’t much on right now.

OP posts:
Original poster
CHope · 25/04/2019 17:08

About the Heath, it is really beautiful. But I find myself going to the more “city-type” parks.

OP posts:
SunsetBunny · 25/04/2019 17:17

What on Earth is a “type-a person” ?

Original poster
CHope · 25/04/2019 17:19

www.verywellmind.com/type-a-personality-traits-3145240

OP posts:
user1480880826 · 25/04/2019 17:20

I was in primrose hill at the weekend and would love to live there. However, it is unimaginably expensive. Especially if you need enough space for two kids.

Notting Hill is far more diverse with a lot more going on.

Perhaps consider the practicality of the location of one vs the other. Do you have family/friends closer to one than the other? Do you regularly travel outside London? If you do, do you go north, south, east or west? Do you drive or get the train? I would never live in east London because I regularly travel from Paddington station and it would add ages to the journey. Where do you both work?

Original poster
CHope · 25/04/2019 19:03

All good points, User! We don’t have a car so never drive. Friends are all over the place really. No family near us.

OP posts:
Original poster
CHope · 25/04/2019 19:04

The pressure is on! We need to let the schools know ASAP, probably tomorrow. Shock

OP posts:
Carblover · 25/04/2019 20:52

Hi i live NH in one of the crescents... i love it and we back on to a communal garden lived here 20+ years its changed but still a wonderful place.. lots of houses now flats

Carblover · 25/04/2019 20:57

Hi I'm pretty Byers I've lived in Notting Hill over 20 years in one of the presents we have the advantage of a communal garden as well as a small back garden parking is always a problem but it's still a wonderful place to live yes it's changed and most of the houses have been turned into flats but I wouldn't live anywhere else both my children live in Holland Park and are very happy although children did go to school nr Barbican and so do GC

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