Would you move to Hither Green if you had the choice to live in Kew/Barnes?

[Sarahhhh5]

Hello!
For those living in Hither Green, would you still recommend it? We are looking there; however, we are toying with giving up on buying and renting instead. The main reason is safety. We were viewing a house yesterday and just missed the stabbing in Hither Green. Lane. The house we viewed was two streets over, so less than a two-minute walk. We live in Colliers Wood, so we are very familiar with stabbings and crime. It happens everywhere. Hither Green seems like the "last" place people can actually still afford to buy, but the safety issues keep coming up. There were two stabbings just weeks before. We are thinking of renting somewhere small just because it is "safe", like Kew/Barnes and throwing in the towel on ownership. Thoughts? Many thanks, Sarah

I’m slightly baffled - these are two completely different parts of London.

Pop some postcodes into this

https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2025/oct/30/how-deprived-is-your-area?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I was curious what made you randomly pick Hither Green @Sarahhhh5 ?
(just being nosy....you don't have to say)

What is your actual budget? Those two areas are miles apart in many ways. If you really have £1m to spend and are looking at South East London there are nicer areas.

tfank you for all the feedback. We started looking because the proximity to London Bridge for work, to get off the northern line, and because of the large homes between £800k to £1m on offer with little work needed. We also looked at Tulse Hill, Streatham. We live in SW London, and homes are well over £1m and will need work or are far from the tube.My partner’s sister lives in Barnes/kew area, so hence why we know that area but she is in another world from us. She thinks we are crazy and thinks we should rent. We want to get out of our flat with people above and no space. It is frustrating. A 1m budget would be cashing in everything and mortgaged to our ears but willing to do so for the right place.

Herne Hill is quite nice (same train line as Tulse Hill).

You can get a “done” house in Crofton Park for well under £1m. DBro just bought one. Beckenham/Penge/Sydenham too.

Herne Hill is a lot more expensive than Tulse Hill (and a lot nicer).

@Sarahhhh5 maybe look at Nunhead.

To be fair it’s hard to find a large family home in HH for under £1m. Smaller 3 bedroom places, absolutely (I live in one!). Fully extended period properties in good condition, no.

This house is Hither Green but down the hill towards Rushey Green. It has a huge garden with a fabulous garden office at the end although the photo suggests everything needs a trim! I used to know the people that lived here before the current owners and it's a lovely property. It's also below your budget (although I can't see why given the price of others on the same street).

We're in SE20 and there's a lush 'done' 4 bed for sale on our street for less than 1m.

Kew is bloody miles from London Bridge, that's not a good commute.

Look at the Dover House estate (postcode SW15 5AD and surrounding). Near Barnes station and walkable to Barnes. Can cycle or bus to the tube in Putney if needed. Houses approx £800k. East Sheen Primary is Outstanding. Secondary options are not amazing.

But London Bridge isn't the best commute. Train to Waterloo and a good walk. Or cycle the whole way.

You could get very close to a train station that takes 15-20 minutes into LB for that budget. Charlton, Eltham (huge houses for under that), Maze Hill (house but wouldn’t be huge). Not as gritty as Hither Green but not as nice as Kee/Barnes though.

Thank you for all the replies. It helps immensely. I don’t actually mind grit if my house is “nice”. I live in grit now but can’t afford to buy in grit in here.. My concern is safety. For those in Hither Green. Do you feel safe? Have you been broken into! Is that a concern of yours? mugged? My concern is safety. The houses we like tend to be on the Catford side, so the Hither Green side. Does that matter? Thank you

This side is "worse" imo.

If you want london bridge I dont get why you arent looking at crystal palace / forest hill etc.
I'd live there a thousand times over vs hither green.

Or just go for north london you can get something decent in high barnet / east Barnet or finchley for £1m.

Its not like you dont have options with a 1m budget.

You need to decide if safety of the area or latch key properties are a priority - you cant afford both at the size you want.
The alternative is a smaller property in a more preferred area.

To answer your original question id choose kew / Richmond over hither green all day, every day. But i wouldnt actually live there because i'd hate the commute via district line / those national rail trains.

If you are looking for a forever home in Hither Green, find somewhere close to Brindishe Manor School; one of the most over-subscribed schools in Lewisham borough and one of my favourite schools (I am a supply teacher). Although I am not that familiar with the area, it has some nice independent shops and cafes. I wouldn't be put off by recent stabbings because that can happen anywhere, and Lewisham reports high crime levels because it has the largest police station in London and covers a huge area. I know nothing about Kew, but I think your commute would be worse to London Bridge and you'll get more bang for your buck in HG.

Like @SalmonOnFinnCrispi can’t understand why you’ve zoomed in on Hither Green as the place to buy! No offence meant to HG, but there are many other equally well connected and good value places in south london, around Dulwich, Forest Hill, Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill amongst them.

I don't like Hither Green, I think it's too expensive for what's actually there if that makes sense.

Kew & Barnes are much nicer but I would look for somewhere to buy.

There are decent houses in Colliers Wood for under 1m.

Do you feel safe? Yes. There are always people around and those people step up and help fallen down old ladies, hold onto escaped dogs to stop them running into the road, take in parcels and do all the things neighbourly folk do.

Have you been broken into! No.
Is that a concern of yours? Not especially. It's an area where there are always people around, police horses passing en route to the park and a general sense of busyness, so would take an efficient burglar to break in and get out again. My car did have a side window smashed in about ten years ago and a cloth bag containing a child's PE kit was taken. It was parked on the Lee side of the station at the time.

Mugged? No. And neither has any member of my family, friends or neighbours. I am aware of muggings that have taken place around the station but I think they've been on the Lee side, near the cashpoint.

It's unlikely I'm the only mumsnetter who lives on the Catford side of Hither Green station as it's an area full of families, the primary schools are excellent, the parks are plentiful, the commute into central London is quick and there is a diverse, active community. I'm surprised there haven't been more MNers jumping on to defend our area!

I'm in Blackheath so Lewisham is my closest town. I had heard about the shopping centre but didn't think they would really do it, what will happen to the Sainsbury's in there? They can't fit in any more blocks of flats, they've built loads already.

I think they want to knock down the shopping centre and get rid of the car parking and then rebuild it but with "outdoor community space" on the roof and surrounded by high rise flats.
It actually sounds horrible and claustrophobic.
All those new flats by the station apparently can't be lived in because they're unsafe (I think it's those flats).
I wish they'd leave it alone.
@Sarahhhh5 I know a few people that live/lived in the Hither Green, Catford, Lewisham area.
I'd describe it as "ok I suppose". Some of the properties and residential areas are nice but some are dreadful and it just feels a fairly "meh" area and nothing special.
Sorry 🙁
@SE13Mummy is the Catford shopping area still depressing? The best thing there is the giant cat 😂

Hither Green is the only place I've ever been mugged. It was over 45 years ago though so I accept the place may have changed since then. 😁

@Needmorelego the shopping precinct in Catford houses the new library and has a yoga centre, both of which are anything but depressing. Until this time last year there was the fabulous Catford Mews cinema along with street food outlets, space to hang out on comfy sofas and work space. Sadly, that's gone but there have been a couple of pop-up cafés in its place whilst plans are made. When we first moved here the Catford Gun Shop was still over the road from the shopping centre. My DCs can't believe that was ever a thing!

Which part of Colliers Wood are you in now? You've been extremely unlucky to be broken into twice - we've lived in Mitcham for nearly 10years, which has a much worse rep than CW and have not had an experience like yours.