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Original poster

Bringing up child in central london- anyone else feel central London becoming a “dump”

40 replies

Newparent01 · 16/12/2023 14:36

Hi everyone, new member here keen to hear opinions. I was brought up in the London suburbs and lucky enough to have a privileged education(JAGS, Westminster). Now a parent I would like to offer our child the same kind of education. I appreciate it depends on his future talents, personality, and an academic school may not be the best fit. However, a recent concern is how London has changed over the years. Even in the 90s when I was at school there seemed to be a safer feel, more polite interactions. I commuted by train to both my schools and the idea now doesn’t feel appealing. We live in central London, and I’m wondering if we should consider moving out to consider schools which are more “sheltered” and have more extensive grounds. We are currently looking at moving to a house from our central London flat as have outgrown our current space, hence already thinking about schools. Would appreciate advice from those who have stayed /left central London.

OP posts:
TheSquareMile · 16/12/2023 18:25

Newparent01 · 16/12/2023 14:36

Hi everyone, new member here keen to hear opinions. I was brought up in the London suburbs and lucky enough to have a privileged education(JAGS, Westminster). Now a parent I would like to offer our child the same kind of education. I appreciate it depends on his future talents, personality, and an academic school may not be the best fit. However, a recent concern is how London has changed over the years. Even in the 90s when I was at school there seemed to be a safer feel, more polite interactions. I commuted by train to both my schools and the idea now doesn’t feel appealing. We live in central London, and I’m wondering if we should consider moving out to consider schools which are more “sheltered” and have more extensive grounds. We are currently looking at moving to a house from our central London flat as have outgrown our current space, hence already thinking about schools. Would appreciate advice from those who have stayed /left central London.

Can you say more about why you feel that Central London has become a dump?

I say that as someone who lives there too. It's certainly changed, but my perception is that it's become more built-up, with several tall buildings going up in the last 10 years or so.

It doesn't feel like a dump to me, although there are streets which are looking a little faded in places because of shops closing, Cheapside for example.

I'm assuming that you don't live in the Barbican at the moment and was wondering whether that is an area which would suit you. There are some good schools around there and things to do at the weekend.

kinglent · 16/12/2023 23:53

We moved from a zone 1 location near the City further out to a mid-zone 2 location. Still very bustling and excellent transport links, but private schools have more space (some preps we viewed in zone 1 had no playgrounds at all). Wouldnt like to live any further out as we can both walk to work from where we are, and we like the diversity and easy access to leisure facilities.

We moved from a 2 bed flat to a 4 bed terraced house with a tiny garden. It would be nicer to have a bigger detached property which we could have got int the suburbs but it meets our needs as a family of 5 and I would have found the longer commute and distance from central facilities frustrating.

I grew up in London and I'm not sure I remember it being that much nicer before. There are rude people everywhere but also perfectly nice people, and mostly people who are indifferent (which is my preference). The streets are dirty but I care less about litter and am more bothered about dog mess but I don't see anything that will change that and I think it's still a problem even in nice towns.

I do think most people who grew up jn the suburbs tend to head back there when they have dcs in school and you wouldn't be unusual for doing that.

sherahprincessofpower · 17/12/2023 00:02

Last time I went to central London my kids saw someone defecating on a doorstep on brood daylight, which is something they've never seen in Buckinghamshire.

Does that help? I'm

Showmethesunny · 17/12/2023 00:04

Yeah. Go. Go far away. All of us in London would appreciate it

TizerorFizz · 17/12/2023 09:15

@Newparent01 It depends which bit of London you are in! Some areas look lovely to me.

I live in Bucks too. You could easily get a very nice house here. A few very decent preps with space and fantastic grammar schools if dc is good enough. If you think London day schools are what you want, then life is far more competitive. Dc from Bucks get to the same unis though! Obviously we have Wycombe Abbey for girls. Boys tend to go out of county for private education.

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 17/12/2023 09:20

If you went to Alleyns and had a good experience, then maybe Dulwich / West Dulwich?

gawditswindy · 17/12/2023 10:36

Showmethesunny · 17/12/2023 00:04

Yeah. Go. Go far away. All of us in London would appreciate it

Point proved.

Startingagainandagain · 17/12/2023 10:42

'@Showmethesunny

Yeah. Go. Go far away. All of us in London would appreciate it'

Did you really need to be that unpleasant? and you don't speak for all Londoners either...

OP, I moved out of London almost 2 years ago after living there for most of my life (over 30 years). I am so glad I did. I could no longer deal with the noise, crime, relentless pace of life, how expensive and soulless everything was and the general unfriendliness.

I can completely understand that you want what is best for your kids and that it might be a better option to move away from central London or you might even want to consider somewhere still commutable but where you don't have to deal with the daily chaos of living in the capital...

Verite1 · 17/12/2023 10:47

We live in a central London authority though zone 2, not 1. We love it. Close enough to get most places in 20-30 mins but access to loads of gorgeous parks and can also get out of London in about 20 mins. Trade off is that we have flat rather than a house. But it’s 3 bedroom and a garden so it’s worth it to us.

Angrycat2768 · 17/12/2023 10:49

I was born in London and moved to the suburbs when I had children. IMO London suburbs are the worst of all worlds. Parochial and expensive, with all the London problems and expense, but not the advantages of living in London and a PITA to get into London with buggies fighting against angry commuters who think only they have a right to use a train. If you can afford it, I would second Dulwich/Forest Hill or somewhere on a tube line/ zone 3. Otherwise other cities are available.

naughtynine · 17/12/2023 11:04

I grew up in z 2/3 which I considered the suburbs! 😆 In some ways it was worse than now but I also feel I had quite a sheltered upbringing. I know so many young boys who have been mugged & it stressed me out in my part of z3 so we moved to z4.

I like it, see more young dc in groups going out together which I just didn't see in my old area. I assume you only want private but state schools are seeing big falls in rolls which was another reason we moved as I haven't ruled out state.

Torganer · 17/12/2023 11:08

I can’t imagine moving out. I love it and I don’t think it’s changed for the worse. I feel like there is more community spirit.

naughtynine · 17/12/2023 11:16

I think there is less community spirit but maybe it's area dependent. As a dc I played out with most other dc on my road, same for DH in his part of z3. I never see dc do that now, I only know half my neighbours because loads you never see although a lot of that is to with gentrification

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/12/2023 11:19

You'll have shitloads of money from selling a Central London flat.

Why not move out of the Southeast altogether?

LittleBearPad · 17/12/2023 11:20

Whereabouts in London are you.

Motnight · 17/12/2023 11:21

sherahprincessofpower · 17/12/2023 00:02

Last time I went to central London my kids saw someone defecating on a doorstep on brood daylight, which is something they've never seen in Buckinghamshire.

Does that help? I'm

To be fair I have lived in London most of my life and have never seen anything like that!

FestiveFrederica · 17/12/2023 11:24

sherahprincessofpower · 17/12/2023 00:02

Last time I went to central London my kids saw someone defecating on a doorstep on brood daylight, which is something they've never seen in Buckinghamshire.

Does that help? I'm

Sorry to add to the grissness, but I lived in London ages ago and saw someone shit in the street. Not sure that's a new phenomenon unfortunately! I lived in Paris for a year and saw the same. Also saw people shooting up in the middle of the street in daytime in Brussels. Also Bath.

I'm sure we could all come up with these horrible stories about anywhere if we wanted!

If I could afford to live in Central London with kids and send them to private school I probably would! But that said, I do see how in central London you have access to everything except outdoor space. Depends what matters most to you I think. I did start to prefer the country once I had my dcs. We're in Berkshire now. It isn't perfect but it's nice. Good schools including lots of good private options around here. Not sure about London suburbs tbh. I do agree they can sometimes be the worst of both worlds.

Motti · 17/12/2023 11:26

I’m sorry but what on earth are you on about?! How can you describe the whole of central London as a dump? What a ridiculous generalisation. If you think central London is a dump you have lived a very sheltered life indeed!

TheWayTheLightFalls · 17/12/2023 11:28

How are you defining central London OP? If what you want is a Dulwich school, is that an option?

PaintBySticker · 17/12/2023 11:30

As a child you maybe weren’t aware of some of the grittier side of London that you see as an adult. London has always been a place of contrasts.

I also have never seen someone shit on a doorstep / the street. And for those who have I think it’s a bit of a stretch to draw a conclusion about the whole of London from that unfortunate (and no doubt unpleasant) experience.

naughtynine · 17/12/2023 11:31

I've seen prostitution, drug deals, theft, fights but never someone defecating 😆

Wasitalwaysgoingtobelikethis · 17/12/2023 11:46

OP where do you live in central london? If you can afford Central London you can very well afford Chelsea, Hampstead etc which are nice and won’t feel like a dump.

GreatGateauxsby · 17/12/2023 11:55

We lived more central but not zone 1
(Maida vale, primrose hill etc)

We moved further out (but still on tube) before kids and have no regrets.
Contrary to other posters I really feel we have the best of both worlds.
House and garden are a good size.
I love all the parks and greenspace. Good schools (primary and secondary / state and private)
We still have nice restaurant options

Depending on your budget I would have thought somewhere like Hampstead or east Finchley could be a great shout

MyBlueDiary · 17/12/2023 11:57

I do think parts seem a bit more run down than they used to, but I think that in most city centres. Local authorities don’t have the money to fund proper repairs and street sweeping these days.

Other than that, I still love central London (although I live in zone 2). I think you’ll find Westminster’s changed though- more international, many more banky/financey types whereas in my day there were still lots of children with parents in the arts, academia, medicine etc etc. So it’s a slightly less interesting place (IMO). That’s probably true of most London indies though.

Comedycook · 17/12/2023 11:58

Central London areas vary drastically so it's hard to tell without knowing where you mean.

My concern with living in central London is, is there a community feel or other families with similar aged children? Often central London has a transient population and not many families particularly at secondary age.