To want to escape the ghetto

[N15]

I have name changed for this for obvious reasons.

I live in a part of London that has long resisted gentrification, and has a stubbornly high (and rising) crime rate. Stabbings, and even shootings, are far too common. Neighbours have witnessed shootings, with their children. The local secondaries are seen as finishing schools for criminals, with a lot of gang involvement, and knives carried around.

I really worry about my children when they reach secondary school age. I would sooner home school than send them to the local secondaries, but I don't have the ability to home school due to working. I work as a junior doctor, but the wages are low, especially for London.

Any suggestions for an area with decent schools that doesn't break the bank? I would need 4+ bedrooms. Even open to buying land and building, anything to escape.

Well I would not suggest Shepherds Bush (much as I actually like it!) There have been shootings plus a few days ago a boy was stabbed and chucked in the canal.

I did like Lee and Hither Green but perhaps too close to Lewisham? Both are nice areas. My friends (mixed race) lived in both Hither Green and Lee.

My family is originally from Tottenham so I understand your point OP.

I think a lot of posters haven’t seen your update explaining you need to stay in North London.

You just need to spend some time on Rightmove looking at areas, and get out into different neighbourhoods to see if they feel right for you and your family.

Good luck.

Just some of the shootings in the Hackney area in 2022:
https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/23009532.man-hospitalised-hackney-wick-shooting/
https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/20675021.two-shootings-hackney-walthamstow-murder-probe-launched/
https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/20677133.man-life-threatening-condition-hackney-shooting/
https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/20684620.woman-shot-green-lanes/
https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/20685969.appeal-launched-gunshots-heard-homerton-road/

Sorry, forgot to say, I have friends in Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill which you could afford a four bed house in.

The word ghetto is extremely loaded. It is associated with racial segregation, right back to the Jewish ghettos.

This entire thread is such an non-issue. Why don’t you just move to suburbs? I know someone recently who bought a large 5 bed house in Surrey for around 800k. No stabbings. Just get on RightMove.

I'm from those areas OP probably lives in. I am still fond of it but, it's rough for some I guess.

Alexandra Palace
Crouch End
Muswell Hill
Highgate
Southgate
Finchley
Friern Barnet

You'll get good schools and a good house for that budget.

sw london & Surrey suburbs? st georges / kingston / epsom / st helier hospitals all within reach.

I moved from Stoke Newington to Suffolk

I have a 4-bed house in a GU postcode. Fairly quiet village, lots of green spaces locally, good schools, good communications links (M3, trains to London in @35 minutes) - I couldn't sell it!

Move away from London and start afresh?
So many beautiful cities and towns in uk.

If you need to be in commuting distance to North London I'd suggest Hertford or Ware. Or you could head towards Berkhampsted and Tring.
Bernet? Arkley?

Whoops Berkhamsted - no P.

I lived in Tottenham and moved out when my child was 1 as i didnt want them to get roots such as friendships and connections in the area because that would have been hard to take them away from imo. We moved to rural Essex, very close to stations that go Into london. I do rent so didn't buy but it was the best decision I made.
I say rural, there's so many developments going up that it's gone from countryside to tiny town but it is still beautiful.

1 million would get you a lovely place where I am.

If you want easy access to North London with good schools, what about St Albans?

Try N8 or around Alexandra park. You could get a 4 bed flat. The flat would be the compromise but at least the area is nice and the schools are good.

Surely with that budget the country is your oyster. If I had that I'd move to Cambridge. Cambridge/Peterborough/Stamford. Decent schools, 1 hour commute to London if you need it. Loads of hospitals to choose from.

I'm outer north west London (where Met line hits the m25) and you'd get a semi with a garden for that here.

It's 25 minutes to Marylebone (good for St Mary's) or 3O minutes to Baker Street on the Met (less to Harrow if Northwick Park is in your trust).

Alternatively Pinner and Northwood are nearer on the Met Line.

Hounslow. Lots of good and outstanding secondary schools, relatively cheap, super posh Richmond on your doorstep and excellent travel links.

Sorry just seen your update. Going from your username I'd assume you're in tottenham yourself, I'm a 40min drive from tottenham but a world away. The local train stations go straight into tottenham hale and Liverpool Street.
You could definitely look further afield and still get to work.

I dont think moving elsewhere in London is going to be such a massive change and I have family still in tottenham, in Hackney, Barnet etc.
If you're going to move you need to do it properly I'd say.

I lived in East London all my life before I met my daughters Father, moved out to a remote village (wouldn't recommend) we split up and now I live in a really nice part of Essex.

I would recommend Essex. Its safe and a nice place to raise a family (as are a lot of other Counties)

I guess Tottenham 🥲

Or Edmonton

You have a decent budget

I'd think Drs could work in many places outside London. Perhaps best finish your training in London and then look to move elsewhere

Northumberland?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133198880#/?channel=RES_NEW

Sutton. Some lovely areas and schools, half an hour from Central London.

Your title is racist (who even uses that word seriously in the UK?).

You have a budget of £1 million and you are a doctor and you apparently know London, yet your post is written as if you're a desperate refugee in a strange land.

Something is off to me.