Streatham Common - yay or nay?

[charitygirl]

We viewed a great house in SC today - but don't know the area (currently in Oval so not new to Lambeth). It looks much nicer than Streatham HIll where we'd been focussing - and the primary schools mostly look good. But tell me if you think differently!

Rumour (?) about the council planning a 'temporary' ice rink on the Common to allow Tesco to convert the current ice rink is a bit worrisome - info on that welcome

Do you love it? Are there small local shops? Things for parents and toddlers? Anything appreciated!

Streatham common is lovely - especially the Rookery up at the top = and there are some gorgeous houses round there

afaik the 'temporary' ice rink is going to be in the carpark in Brixton market - hadn't heard about one on the common??

not many small local shops (we're a little bit further towards Tooting) - to be honest, Streatham and shopping aren't natural companions

lots of children's centres and quite a few toddler groups - some good schools but beware I know some bits of Streatham Common are in a bit of a 'black hole' as far as catchment areas go

Temp ice rink is going on Popes Rd carpark in Brixton to speed up the Streatham Hub development which will see big new Tesco, ice rink, flats, station facade etc.

Are you looking at the roads south of Streatham Common or the roads nr to Streatham Common station? Quite a difference in terms of convenience in getting into town etc.

Nr to Streatham Common station there are some small local shops and two good family pubs serving lovely food (Earl Ferrers and Railway). Nothing really like that south of the common but the houses are beautiful.

Common itself is lovely, Rookery and Norwood Grove like hidden paradises.

With a family I prefer being a bit further north - where we are it's 10 mins walk to Streatham Common, 10 to Tooting Common with the brilliant Lido, 10 to Streatham station and 10 to Streatham Hill, and 20 min walk to Balham for a bit more poshery (Waitrose, Trinity Stores etc). Some good independent shops and coffee places on Streatham High Rd now. Mostly up Streatham Hill end (Korona Deli, Thompson Deli, PB, Hamlet, Earl Grey & Rose, Streatham Fruiterers, Fish Tale, Kennedy's to name a few). Gorgeous French deli on Sunnyhill Rd too.

Loads to do with small children in the whole Streatham area. Excellent playgroups in Streatham Hill at Palace Rd, in Streatham at Sunnyhill Children's Centre and in Furzedown at St Albans Church. In fact there are so many I can't even list them but (sssh) check out Netmums local pages too.

Don't know about schools... tbh even those that get a good/outstanding Ofsted have big challenges and the social/cultural mix is very ghetto-ised. We're going for private as a result I think. Unless you are Christian/Catholic in which case you'll have no trouble at all. Lots of excellent state options.

Thank you both - so helpful. The house was just on the north side of Streatham Common (just round the corner from Sunnyhill Rd), with the road sort of opening onto the Rookery, so I think 5 mins to Streatham Rail, 15 to streatham Common etc.

Schools are worrying me - but they seem to be good for Lambeth (may have to force the baptised catholic hisband to rediscover hos roots tho..). But as ours is only 2 I am thrilled to hear about all the mother and toddler things.

There is an excellent Catholic primary on Streatham Common Northside called St Andrews. Our neighbours send their children there and absolutely love it. So if your husband is up for rediscovering his faith then that might be an option!