Relocating to Upminster / Hirnchurch

[Sheep6349]

I'm considering relocating to Upminster from a town in the Peak District (the countryside!). I currently live in a middle class leafy area and my child has amazing access to clubs and schools. I know the schools are good in Upminster and when I've visited it seems quite safe and family friendly.

1. Can anyone tell me about the children's clubs on offer around there? Scouts, football, dancing,. Are these walkable and are there many?

2.Where do people go for days out with their children? E.g. are there local decent events or do you need to travel to London for things like children's theatre and craft sessions

3.is there a community or is it full of disconnected commuters?

4.Where are decent places for a dog walk?

5.What do teenager do in the evening?! My child would probably be out on his bike or at a friend's house if we were up here. Is it generally quite safe in Upminster?

Thank you in advance ;)

I wouldn’t unless you really needed too, spent half my life trying to get away from there, used to be a nice place not anymore!

Oh dear! Is there anything specially that you think has changed? When I visited the park seemed nice and there were some good shops. Really appreciate any info!

I don’t know Upminster specifically so don’t want to cast aspersions on it, but I live in a similar ‘London outskirts’ location and we have spent the past five years plotting our escape (which will finally be happening early in the new year). As @Growuppeoplesays, lots of these suburban areas used to be nice (I grew up very happily here) but have changed dramatically in the past few years - more crime, more grime, more congestion, less community cohesion. I’d definitely do my homework and proceed with caution, especially as where you live now sounds lovely.

I will add though that The Coopers’ Company and Coborn in particular is a great school (I work in education).

Thank you for being honest - that's really helpful. I've done quite a bit of research but it's so hard to know until you actually speak to people! I'm planning another trip soon to do some people watching and try chat to the locals.

I read in the Coopers admissions policy that they now mainly accept religious students which would discount my son. I'm not sure if you've heard about that? The schools are a real pull for us so this would be disappointing.

Hi I live in that area. It will feel quite urban for you in comparison to where you are moving from.
I like it!
there are some good schools. It’s not grammars. It’s a London Borough, which impacts schooling and health. Ie if you need a choose and book appointment you have all the London hospitals to chose from. Any further out and you are in Essex proper so that’s Essex county council schooling.

will you be commuting into London? C2C line into Fenchurch St station is pretty good. Ie trains every 10 mins or so. And not too far to Harold Wood to get the Elizabeth Line.

Cranham is seen as cheaper, but it’s a more village feel. Avon road shops are handy. There’s even a dentist taking on NHS patients.

ask away to find out more!

Coopers is v strict on admissions policy. If you don’t meet the criteria you won’t get in. It is a bit pushy though, doesn’t suit everyone.
2 Catholic single sex schools and 1 comp. All good imo.

children's clubs on offer around there? Scouts, football, dancing,. Are these walkable and are there many?
yes and yes

2.Where do people go for days out with their children? E.g. are there local decent events or do you need to travel to London for things like children's theatre and craft sessions
local and london

3.is there a community or is it full of disconnected commuters?
a bit of both

4.Where are decent places for a dog walk?
loads of parks.

5.What do teenager do in the evening?! My child would probably be out on his bike or at a friend's house if we were up here. Is it generally quite safe in Upminster?
Well yes in general. But I wouldn’t let
him hang around the park etc. as kids come down to Upminster from inner london on the district line to cause trouble. But if he’s just cycling to a friends house I’d say he should be ok.

please note people do NOT talk to each other. Like if you don’t know them and you speak to them they will think you are mad.
I find this odd, but it’s tire way it is

It sounds delightful where you are, with kids well setup. What makes you want to move? Is it work in London?

That's so helpful, thank you for all of this! I wasn't aware of the Catholic schools. I have looked into Hall Mead and can see it has a good reputation. What about Gaynes secondary, is that also a good school?

I'm hoping to be working in the charity sector so good connections to central London are really important. Do you know how late the trains run - is it until around midnight? (Not that I am planning many late nights!)

Yes it is a nice place here but our family are down there - my husband's family and some of mine. Upminster is well connected to them. It is a difficult decision so we really want to make sure this will be suitable.

Yes trains run to around midnight.
Gaynes has a great new headteacher but they do struggle to keep teachers. It wasn’t the top school on many people’s applications tbh.

from fenchurch st station you have a short walk to tower hill tube station for circle and district lines. Or a slightly longer walk to Bank for the central line.

and as everyone here knows- if it’s late and you are drunkenly making your way home- if you see a district line tube train with ‘Upminster’ on the front. Then you hop on and that’s you getting home ok - eventually!

I’ve also lived and worked in west london. Upminster is way nicer than west.
south london has pretty much no tube lines and the Dartford tunnel or Heathrow m25 hell to get up north.
north london I don’t know too much about. Other than the north circular road is pretty terrifying to drive on.

Op what did you decide in the end?