another where to live thread - Osborne Road

[migolapland]

hello, getting slightly ahead of myself again as haven't had an offer on our flat yet (been on the market since last may , but we are hoping to move to preston park but have seen something (online) that we like on Osborne Road, Ditchling Road end. It is further out than we hoped to be, further from the parks but closer to the school complex. Haven't really been looking that far up until now - anyone know what it's like that end? It's quite close to Ditchling Road. Do we go for a bigger house up there or a smaller house in Preston Park?

thanks for your thoughts

Hi Migolapland

we have only just moved down to Brighton and are renting a Victorian terrace on Hythe Road which is closeish to where you are talking about. We really love it around here and love being close to the shops, main bus into town and the parks. You would be close to Blakers Park and also Hollingbury Park which is great. The only thing we don't like about the roads in Fiveways is the parking which is very bad - if we have been out on a sunday and get back in the evening we generally have to park about 3 road away from our house as it is so busy. hope you get an offer soon, rachelx

Hi Rachel,

(have changed back to my normal name, forgot I still had a christmas name when I posted)

The house we wanted & missed out on was on Havelock Road, which is closer to town and also close to Preston and Blakers Park, but I suppose a little walk wouldn't do me any harm - I don't know Hollingbury Park, will have a look next time we're visiting.

I knew parking was bad in the town centre but didn't realise that was the case further out too... do you think/know if Preston Park is any better than Fiveways for parking? I would imagine not? If so, I guess it's just something we'll have to live with. Would you say that the area is a safe one? Preston Park felt very safe, is Fiveways similar?

A potential buyer had a second viewing on Thurs & she seems very keen & is getting back to us on Monday so fingers crossed she'll make us a decent offer...

Hi, hope your viewing went well.

I think Preston Park is better for parking, our road is particularly bad as I think people park there and then get the bus into town for work. I wouldn't worry about how far you are from the parks anywhere in Fiveways, it really doesn't take long to walk to any of them from any of the streets.

Havelock Road is a really nice one, I think it is nicer than Osborne Road but it is more expensive.

As for safety, I guess everyone has their own ideas about what is safe - we feel safe here but we used to live in a dodgy part of East London and also one in Manchester so it is all relative!

well we got an offer on our flat, it was low, managed to get them up a bit, hummed and ha'd and decided to just bite the bullet and accept!!! She's keen to move quickly so there's someone coming round on Monday to do the survey! Can't believe it's actually happening! So now I'm worrying where the hell we're going to live!

The house I liked on paper on Osborne road has been taken off the market, so we're back to square one.

So have been looking at rental properties online today! Do you mind me asking how much you are paying in rent, and whether there are any agencies that you would recommend?

We're in Camden so have our fair share of dodgy characters so I guess (hope) fiveways/PP is relatively safer

Fiveways is lovely. We used to live on Osborne Road and yes, the parking is awful. But the street is lovely and a perfect location. Everything you need a walk away. The schools are fab there too.

I live there too 5ways not osborne.So convenient and lovely place to live

Can't wait to move, coming down next w/e to view a few more properties, none of which are 'the one' I don't think but need to keep the momentum going.

migola, we moved from Camden and haven't stopped laughing yet

Get this: you can leave things on your doorstep and they don't get stolen! AND people smile at you in the street (and they aren't even nutters...mostly). And I haven't had to drive the buggy over a semi-conscious drug addict for weeks.

Fiveways, 7 Dials and Roundhill conservation areas are great for nice houses and good schools.

Word of warning though, the schools are very popular so make sure you're in the catchment area if you need to get a place (i.e. sleeping by the front gate).

We had our buggy stolen from practically outsidde our frint door in Seven Dials...we're in Fiveways now = where are you Dubh?

wow dubh, people actually SMILING?!!
I hear the school thing is a nightmare, but I thought the catchment areas didn't even mean that much anymore. Does this apply to primary too? DD is only 2 so a while to go yet but don't want to have to move again. I assume Osborne road is within the catchment area but what if we end up around Havelock, Waldegrave etc?

Migola, the catchment areas still apply for infants and junior schools. (no idea if it's due to change).

If you're going to be more than a 10 minute walk from the school, I'd check it out before you buy.... you can get the figures for previous years' admissions from the schools admissions office (the phone number should be on the B&H council website). They'll tell you the distance the furthest child admitted lived, and how far a given postcode is from the school.

But, anyway, compared to the situation in Camden/Kentish Town (where we were), the school situation is sheer bliss.

furrycat, we're quite a way north of seven dials near preston park station. It's so civilised I sometimes feel like screaming! Everyone's so damn DECENT. Right, off to do some mugging...

nightmare,it's difficult enough finding a house we like & can afford, let alone whether it's in the right place!
we're in kentish town too, and actually happen to be within a catchment area for eleanor palmers which is meant to be a lovely school, but we can't afford a bigger place where we are plus I am desperate to move out of london (even though i'll miss friends & all the activities going on for toddlers around this area)