Best places for diverse, professional families near London?

[Paniconthestreetsof]

Cross post with AIBU, as I didn’t know there was a Black MN Board!

DH and I currently live (very happily) in Zone 1. We’re now looking to move for more space (house + garden), access to green space, and good schools. Budget is around £1.5m.

We’re after somewhere that’s:

• Genuinely diverse, especially with a visible Black community (we’d rather our children weren’t the only ones in their class)
• Made up of a range of middle-class professionals, not just super high earners
• Family-friendly, with a relaxed feel and decent access to central London a few days a week

We’re not from the UK originally and don’t have ties outside London, so wide open to ideas.

Worth saying upfront: well-meaning replies like “it’s not very diverse but everyone’s friendly” or “there are lots of Asians here” aren’t what we’re after. We’re specifically looking for places where Black families are part of the community, not just tolerated anomalies.

If you’re Black or mixed race and living somewhere you love outside Zones 1–2 (especially if you moved from central), I’d love to know where you are and what you like about it.

I’d go south east.

Lewisham, Catford, Brockley, Ladywell. Out to Forest Hill and Crystal Palace depending on budget and house type.

basically look along the DLR and East London line.

last time I looked the ratio was 75% black African and Caribbean descent. Bore out in my dc schools where the majority of children were Black or mixed race.

se London is often perceived as rough but there’s been a big boom in the last 20 years and most areas have up and come and are decent.

Agree with Whosenameisthis. I'm mixed-heritage (African/European) and have lived in East Dulwich SE22 since 2007.

My children's primary and secondary schools are very diverse, as are many of the local schools. It was also important to us that they have diverse leadership as role models, and we've always had that. I'd highly recommend all those areas mentioned above.

PS: lots of green spaces too!

If thinking of somewhere outside of London, maybe look towards Harpenden, St Alban's and to a lesser extent perhaps Gerrards Cross

Outside of zone 1-2 won’t be a problem. Plenty of suburbs to choose from. Agree that south of the river might be your best bet. Although we live in the borough of Barnet - Zone 4 north London. Our area has good schools and is seen as a ‘solid middle class area’ but not a fashionable sort of place . A semi detached 4 bed house will set you back about 900k - 1.25 mil. Detached or higher spec houses more.

Our DCs (state secondary, good results) school is roughly 60% non-white children, majority of those are black or mixed with African/Caribbean heritage. There are some high performing grammar schools in the area that are fairly diverse.

Its going further afield than London that becomes the challenge. We have friends (professional black families) who live in bits of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and south of London into Kent who are happy with where they live.

May be helpful for posters to cross reference your earlier thread, @Paniconthestreetsof? (Not for any bad reason - just to know what’s already been said!)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5376891-best-places-for-diverse-professional-families-near-london?reply=145822775

I’d say Harpenden and St Albans are predominantly white, and are wealthy, high earning towns. However, they have the feel you are looking for in terms of somewhere to live.

West Ealing (Zone 3)

White and old (Harpenden at least ); last time I was there I was definitely the youngest around the high street and I’m nearly 50!

st Albans youngish but super white and very English

@Paniconthestreetsof outside of London you won’t even get non English speaking let alone non white

west London is lovely, good schools with strong black community

Dulwich is absolutely lovely, but I’m not sure we have Dulwich money, unfortunately!

That’s very sensible! Thank you.

Ealing has come up on both threads. We’re definitely going to check it out.

Oooh, they are upsetti spaghetti on your AIBU thread. ‘Unpleasant attitude’ and ‘hate working class people’. 🤣🤣🤣

They really really don’t like the idea of wealthy Black people. It seems to mess with their world view.

I think you should check out Beckenham. It ticks all your boxes.

I posted on the other Mumsnet group about Beckenham and agreed with BeRubyLurker

Do you know these areas? They are very very white.

Yes, I live about 10 mins from St Alban's centre. Perhaps I mis-understood but I didn't read the OP as wanting to live in a predominantly white or black area but considering %age of population, I think St Alban's is reflective of that %age i.e schools. Gerrards Cross and Harpenden are granted less so but I have family and friends African and West Indian in both locations and they have a great network around them.

@Paniconthestreetsof I think if you're looking for an area that over indexes in numbers of black and mixed raced people then a South East London postcode is probably your best bet! There are areas outside of London that have great black communities but its such a personal choice and a balancing act vs. what you want...house, schools, safety, affluency, e.g there are areas in and around Watford e.g Nascot Wood or Cassiobury that are middle class and diverse (also has some amazing schools) but like most of the South East of England it seems to depend on what road you live on - i.e we are one of 5 black families on our cul-de-sac but the next road along...none. Good luck with your search though...all food for thought for you!

I'm not in your demographic but have been looking at ethnic makeup for my DD secondary school. I saw some people mentioned boarding schools on the other thread. You may not be aware there are state boarding schools (we live relatively rurally and there are actually a couple near us), which are likely to be more diverse in the boarding cohort even if not in the rest of the school - often the boarding component is mainly 6th form. They are a LOT more affordable than independent boarding for obvious reasons!

I was looking at the website for a Harpenden school and the photos to gauge the population. I’d say it was at least 85% white.

I would echo SE London but can see from your other thread you’d rather go further out and have been considering Oxford. It’s a lovely, liberal place with a lot of educated people and there are lots of people of colour in the student and tourist populations.

However, I would look into how diverse it is in the neighbourhoods and schools, particularly for Afro-Caribbean and African kids/people. Sadly my family member has experienced a bit of ‘othering’ there and there have only been a handful of black kids in each year at their secondary school.

This link gives some data about ethnicity in Oxfordshire schools;
https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/%28S%2832mmycb5lvrecdmia1z4qbyg%29%29/documents/s71081/Revised%20Outcome%20Data.pdf

When I visit, it’s quite conspicuous to me how different it feels, for example if you’re eating in an upmarket restaurant, compared to London. Could be to do with the socio-economic background of people in Oxford who can afford those places (mostly older, white?).

I'd give harpenden a wide berth if you're looking at diversity.

Definitely SE London - even Greenwich and Bexley boroughs now have high visibility.

We used to live in Bromley and I'd say that or Beckenham would fit the bill.

You could start looking at new build housing estates at the price you want to pay.

You may be more likely to meet people with the same professional outlook and standard of living.

You have to decide whether colour and race are more important than living standards. Only you can decide that.

New build housing estates in London?

Leyton / Leytonstone