Loughton / Walthamstow Village

[Mimosa1]

Hi all,

DH and I are contemplating a move out of Zone 2 to Loughton or Walthamstow - more space for the kids, etc. I loathe commuting by could hack it 2 or 3 days week as my office isn't going back to full time office working any time soon or possibly ever. I'd love to hear from anyone who has moved to either place for pros and cons. It's a big decision !

Thanks very much!

You couldn’t drag me away from Walthamstow. I love the diversity. Living on wood street puts you 10 min walk from the village, 2 mins on train from Walthamstow Central, and on the edge of Epping Forest (Hollow Ponds). Live and work here. Won’t move. 100% the place I want to raise kids.

@beethecrackon24995

Sat in a cafe in loughton as I type this. Love loughton although I don't live here but come here a few times a week. Live nearby in similar place. Summary.. lived in e17 (walthamstow) 20 years ago for 5 years. HATED it. Lots of scary depressing shit expetienced. I think of it as a dog turd with some lively houses thrown in hence 'village area' where lots from stoke newington/Islington have moved from.

In direct contrast I think of places like Epping theydon bois and abridge (although you need a car) as 'grown up'/very straight and 'un edgy' which i love. Feels a lot safer. Some great schools. Blessed to live on top of a beautiful forest. Feels more friendly with good community spirit and neighbourly experience certainly been my experience compared to walthamstow. Best of luck with your decision

Good community spirit and neighbourly experience was sadly my exact opposite experience of Theydon Bois. Very insular. Also, Walthamstow has changed a lot in the last twenty years

I would choose places like Wanstead, South Woodford, Buckhurst Hill or Woodford Green over Walthamstow which I think it is over-priced and not without problems...

The above are closer than Loughton in term of commute, less urban than Walthamstow and are a good mix of green spaces while still being in or close to London.

needanewnamenow i should have been clearer in my post. to look at anyway, i think theydon' is lovely (fab cricket green.....) however i have never lived there (dd has a friend that does though..). i can imagine actually that it might be a bit 'stiff' so i don't think it would be on the top of my list of places to move to. i love the villages surrounding places like ongar & epping upland.....

Agree with all the above but decide what you want. I grew up in Loughton and wouldn’t live there if you paid me. It’s very Essex. The forest is nice and there are nice houses here and there but it’s the kind of place where a Range Rover Evoque with a personalized number plate is considered a desirable car rather than something very naff.
There’s not much of note in Buckhurst Hill (even in terms of pubs, there’s hardly any whereas Loughton has some nice ones tucked away from the high street).

Walthamstow Village is lovely but pretty much the opposite of Loughton. Wanstead is probably more expensive than both but nicer, and crucially has some larger houses. Walthamstow Village (not the rest of Walthamstow) mainly has small old cottages and terraces. You’ll not find much above 3 beds there. Wanstead there’s more choice. Leytonstone also has nice pockets but not as good amenity wise.

If you like false nails and going to Florida- Loughton or nearby
If you like Labour, having a holiday in Cornwall and artisan gin- Walthamstow
If you like Waitrose and the South of France, Wanstead.

Walthamstow was named as a village was named in the domesday book so it isn’t just estate agent hyperbole. It’s also lovely. But so is Lloyd park and upper Walthamstow. I’ve lived here 9 years and it’s a brilliant place to have kids. Lots of green space (marshes, 14 miles of Epping forest) and lovely places to eat. Soho theatre are developing the old cinema to be the biggest comedy venue in Europe. Also the best community of anywhere I have lived in london. People go out of their way to help you. And it is still inner london just so there is crime and dirt and busyness but you can avoid those things too. And 20 mins from central london!

Ha coffeeand. You’ve nailed it with your descriptions of the difference in locals in the 3 places

Have you considered Highams Park alongside North Chingford? HP is one stop along from Walthamstow so good for your commute, but cheaper, greener and nicer feel. You have the forest and HP itself and lots of good schools etc.

Walthamstow village is a very small area literally 5 streets in Walthamstow. Village it is not.EA really do big it opt

What about wanstead?

Hi Mimosa,
I lived in Walthamstow for 23 years and I liked it - the Village is the nicest part. Now I have a son, I have moved to Loughton and I LOVE it. From my house, I have the Central Line 5 mins away which takes me to Stratford, Liverpool St and the West End. I also have the beautiful Epping Forest 2 mins from my doorstep and a wonderful High Street. There are great restaurants in Loughton and very good people. I have no idea why people think it's like Towie - they obviously don't live here. I'd say Walthamstow is fun if your young but Loughton is much better if you have a family. There are much better schools in Loughton, including two outstanding secondary schools.

It depends-

if you want culturally diverse, middle class, Trendy but a bit rough round the edges then Walthamstow

If you want TOWIE, uncultured, but with nice houses and green space then Loughton