Relocating to North London with one year old - Where to live?

[AnouchHa]

Hi mums,
My partner and I are relocating to London with our 1 year old after two years in France where I am from. I was hoping to stay in France, but unfortunately that's not a possibility and we are finding ourselves quite urgently looking for a place in London. We are looking to rent a 2 or 3 bedrooms with good connections to Kings cross where we work. I don't want my commute to Kings cross to be longer than 30 minutes because I work a lot and I want to make the most of my free time to be with my daughter. So we've identified areas along the Victoria line (Highbury, Finsbury Park and potentially Stoke Newington), Northern line (Chalk Farm, Mornington Crescent, Hampstead station, Tufnell Park) and Piccadilly (Arsenal). One of our big priority is of course to find a child friendly neighbourhood, with good green spaces and lots of families. Schools are not really a criteria for us for the moment.
Rent prices and availability are obviously a real issue at the moment, not to mention that we are still in France so it's not easy to visit. That's why I want ot be as knowledgeable about the areas as possible so I can streamline the search...
Would any of you live in one of the areas mentioned and would be willing to tell me more about what they love about it, and what parts of it are best for a small family vs what parts to avoid? Or have any tips on how to look for a property there outside of traditional ways maybe? Or would you have any other areas to recommend that I've missed?
Thanks so much for reading me !
Anouch

I think Gaisford Street is fine. I like that one

Thank you! The house was gone in a few hours so... Back to square 1 :)

Rentals will go quickly around Gaisford Street as families gear up for renting a place to be in with a chance of getting into CSG for October-January admissions.

Good intel! I know the market is crazy right now but this seemed particularly fast!!!

Are you registered with an estate agent? I think you need to know what’s on the market befure it goes on Rightmove.

Yes I think that may be what happened there, I had registered with all Tufnell Park agents but not Kentish Town. Have started registering with all the Kentish Town ones as well now!

Would you recommend this location for Tufnell Park (where the purple pin is)? Thank you!!

Saw a place on Huddleston road, see purple pin on pictures, would you recommend it there? Thank you!!

Hi Helen, I saw a nice place on Huddleston road in Tufnell Park; would you recommend it there? Thank you! PS: see purple pin on picture

Huddleston Road is very nice. I know two different people who have lived there

I recommend!

I am a bit out of date with my school knowledge but people rent for Yerbury Primary. I think that house may be on the boarders of being a bit too far for certainty. Good for you!

Huddlestone Rd is nice but it's a long road and I'm not as keen on that end of it. Personally I would look at places the other side of Tufnell Park Rd or further down Tufnell Park Rd (the streets behind the Tufnell Park Tavern are lovely, like Tytherton Rd).

I see Wherearewenow’s point but if you went for rentals in those streets you may be competing with people who are renting a property to get into Yerbury.

Definitely Hampstead if you can afford it!

West Hampstead is on the Thamslink and only a few stops from Kings X.

Hi all, just wanted to give you an update as you've all been so helpful. I ended up finding a really nice flat in Highbury / Arsenal! Unfortunately not walking distance to any bilingual nursery, but had to make trade-offs... And I do love the area. If any of you live there and have recommendations around there with a 15 months old baby, I'm all ears :). Thank you again for all your precious guidance and help.

Great update, I hope you will all be very happy. 💐

I'm afraid all my Highbury / Arsenal recommendations are a couple of decades out of date, but it's great part of town! Wishing you all the best in your new home :)

Ah great to hear. Definitely check out the little city farm and water play area in paradise park and clissod park is also good for kids.

Loads of nice restaurants. Zia Lucia, sambol shiok, westerns laundry, Jolene’s for brunch and a look at the nearby banksy. Tootoomoo is a good takeaway.

Hope your move has gone well

Great news @AnouchHa .
Lovely area. You'll be near the playground in Highbury Fields and all the lovely shops and cafes on Upper St. You're also near Clissold Park which has a great playground and cute deer. Finsbury Park has a nice playground, cafe and a boating lake. On Upper Street there's a lovely puppet theatre called the Little Angel theatre.
Sounds like a great choice.
Oh and you're a bus ride away from the amazing canelé at L'authentique deli in Tufnell Park if you're missing good French cakes 😊

Thanks for the update - that's a nice area! There used to be a one o'clock club in Highbury fields, which would be ideal for a 15-month-old, not sure it's still there though.

There's also a stay'n'play session on Tuesday mornings at the St Joan of Arc church on Kelross rd.

I would add my vote for Islington as well. There's a bilingual nursery there as well. https://lpe.uk/en/les-petites-etoiles-bilingual-montessori-angel/

Hi,

I have not read all the responses, however, there is a French nursery in Angel, which is only one stop from king cross.

https://lpe.uk/en/les-petites-etoiles-bilingual-montessori-angel/