because I can’t decide where to live in N London?

[FreedomIS]

... looking at Hampstead, Primrose Hill, Belsize and West Hampstead.

We’ve lived in our current home for 2 years but need to move because the landlord is selling(sigh). But we have to move to North London anyway because of the schools. Can’t move too far west or too far east. We do not have a car and use the underground mostly.

Does anyone have any advice about the villages I mentioned? More about the feel and vibe? Crime? Convenience? We know we can get a bigger house in West Hampstead but unsure about the area just because I don’t know it well. Never really go. It seemed more loud and busy when I visited.

I like highbury/Islington but seems like a pain to get to from N London.

Thank you🙏🏻

@Tootletum
Ah... isn’t London great! I know.
Yes because the school is in middle of belsize, I’m concerned about the school run and other things from W Hampstead. Again, no car. But many people say they love the area so it’s hard.

And I do love LA

Depends what you can afford. I loved Highgate and Crouch End.

@Emmie12345

Mill Hill Crouch End Muswell Hill

Not if school is in Belsize Park. Belsize Park is lovely - nice villagey feel, easy to get to Camden, Hampstead, Swiss Cottage, Primrose Hill and walking distance from the Heath.

You can be in Central London in 20 mins

@FreedomIS Have another look around. I think if you do like W hampstead might need to walk rather than take public transport (or bus which I know nothing about) , but when I lived there I only took tube or rode my bike around and had no kids. It never struck me as very child centred, whereas the posh side (primrose, Belsize, hampstead) is, and the traffic is quieter (mainly because it's gridlocked at Jack straws Castle) , which makes it nicer to walk around anyway.

Belsize Park is not transient but, like most areas in London, there is a level of transience. DH was born in BP over 60 years ago and has stayed mostly in the area since. We know lots of people who've lived in BP, PH and Hampstead for many years. Hampstead is very nice but more pretentious. BP is also good in terms of traffic because you reach home before it build up, either at Finchley Road/Fitzjohns or Haverstock. I've often thought how lucky we are to be home just before the worst traffic build up.
Primrose Hill is devine imo but you get huge numbers of visitors and there is some crime in the park. You have to use Chalk Farm tube station, 168 bus straight to Waterloo and beyond and there's a couple of other buses.

Have you looked at Fortune Green? Prices are more Kilburn-y, but it's got a nice feel and great bagel shops - and a bit less busy than West Hampstead!

I love Hampstead. It's so gorgeous, and the Heath is amazing. It might also be worth considering Gospel Oak.
I have lived in West Hampstead and Kilburn and I liked both areas too.

West Hampstead to Belsize Park is an easy walk so no car required. If you are living in central ( ish) London not needing a car is a positive and much as I like Crouch End and Highbury they are not near enough to BP and necessitate travelling sideways across London. As you can afford it I would stick to BP, WH , South End Green, or conceivably Highgate.

The problem with getting to Belsize Park is that the Northern line runs north to south (hence the name!) so you're limited to buses to get east to west (or the overground but that doesn't stop between Finchley Road and South End Green). That means you're stuck with the C11 bus which is a bloody nightmare at the best of times but now, with social distancing, and buses just for school children, it's a lot worse.

So I would go for either Hampstead or Belsize Park. You're renting so you're not committed for ever

I rented within a minute of Belsize Park station for a few years, leaving a few years ago...

Belsize Park High St has that lovely wide pavement and very quiet roads all around but particular towards Belsize Village. Hampstead is also gorgeous, however it’s very busy and narrow pavements, I wouldn’t want to navigate it every day with very young children.

With living in Belsize you are within 15 minutes walk of lovely high streets (with restaurants etc) in all directions... Belsize Park, Belsize Village, England’s lane, Hampstead, South-End Green, Steele’s village. Also 15 mins walk from both Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill.

If you need the Jubilee line then live between Belsize Park and Swiss Cottage, or if the overground is useful or green space is more important, look around the Heath in the Royal-Free / Gospel Oak direction.

I am assuming money is literally no object, the other places mentioned are fantastic places to live also, but I would say Belsize is perfect if you can afford it!

Belsize Park is great. Easy access to tube and walking distance to other stations on different lines (overground at Hampstead Heath, jubilee line at Swiss Cottage) but also has everything you need day to day in the neighbourhood. Walk to the Heath, walk to Primrose Hill, and even walk straight down the hill to central London/Oxford Street in about 40 minutes.

Thank you all!

Yes @Clymene the C11 bus does not look fun from West Hampstead to Belsize Park.

@Davros Crime in Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park?

@Tootletum @yikesanotherbooboo Thanks! We tried the walk from West Hampstead, closer to Fortune Greene and it was very hilly. Took around 35 minutes. It’s not a walk to do in the rain. I can’t see us doing that 2x per day.

@BelsizeNameChange Thank you very much! How is the community in Belsize Park, Hampstead and Primrose Hill? Pretty much the same?

The community in West Hampstead is younger, younger families? Is it nice or do people live there more for the commute, good transport links?

There is some crime in PH park, usually youth on youth. The Police keep a reasonable presence. I don't think it's worth worrying about too much, just be aware and stick to the busier areas if it's dark. A friend of mine walks her dog there and nearby twice a day and hasn't had any problems but DD knows people who've been mugged but youngsters are targeted. It's great when it snows, the whole neighbourhood turns up and has a good time. I definitely would not want to walk from W Hampstead to BP and back every day, especially with kids. I think it's quite a trek

@Davros I see. Thank you for the advice. Nice to hear about the neighborhood when it snows! So most people are friendly in Primrose Hill? Neighbors know each other?

Yes, the walk from WH to BP would be a haul. How is the community in W Hampstead? Is it transient? Friendly? Young I know.

West Hampstead is more young professionals I'd say rather than families. Lots of bars for singles!

And yes I completely agree that it's a dreadful trek from BP to WH. It's hilly and not what you'd want with primary aged kids.

It's very friendly and community orientated in PH (and BP!). There is a community centre in PH that puts on various events and there's usually a summer fair and Christmas fair. BP has carol singing in the village and our brilliant Budgens usually puts on food fairs a few times a year. Hampstead has big summer and Christmas fairs but we've stopped going, it's mayhem!!

I used to teach at a school on the C11 route when I lived in London, but I lived in Tufnell Park. I loved it there, and it was pretty easy to get to Belsize on the Northern Line. This is over 10 years ago now; I don't really know what it's like these days.

I’ve lived and and loved living in Belsize Park. Quick trot to the tube which I never found to be an overly busy station. Up the hill to Hampstead and the Heath and a pleasant walk over to Swiss Cottage for the library and the leisure centre.

I didn’t really integrate with the local established community, as I lived there pre-kids for just a few years, and hung out with then boyfriend and a few friends who lived in the vicinity (all of whom moved out pre-kids to buy homes).

I imagine with kids at school there, or if you joined any local groups or a church, you could get a settled group of friends. Could you join the local Facebook Groups and lurk there, see what kind of local conversations go on?

Having said I wasn’t integrated, I thought it was a novelty just being acquainted with the friendly local shop/cafe staff and knowing my immediate neighbours in Belsize Park, as I had moved from a more urban part of London where I hadn’t had that.

We lived in Crouch End a few years ago, and it was good, but a long slog from the nearest tube station. Buses to Turnpike Lane were good, but check out how far your house is from the tube. The same goes for Muswell Hill. We rented in Highgate for a couple of years too and that was fab. Tube station on the Northern Line, good pubs and restaurants, Waterlow Park and Highgate Cemetary. Bit expensive, but a great place to live.

Dartmouth Park worth a look - between Tufnell Park and Highgate and next to the heath. Nice community. PH always struck me as a more open community than BP. Hampstead feels totally unfriendly to me...

I'd go for one of the roads in South Hampstead, but less the Kilburn side. You;ll have a nice easy commute. Otherwise west Hampstead is lovely.

West Hampstead is nice, it has a vet villager feel along West End Lane. Kilburn is described usually as ‘vibrant’ which is polite way of saying not posh. I wouldn’t choose Crouch End as there’s no tube.