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Original poster

Does anyone know a nice not too expensive area in North London?

60 replies

Booklover · 03/05/2005 15:14

We currently live in Islington and have to move as we need a bigger flat but unfortunately can't buy or rent a 2 bed flat in this area (we are renting at the moment). DS is one and I am not planning to return to work for a while so we would have to live on one salary. Would like to stay in North London and live somewhere that feels safe with a nice high street and is not too pricey.....Does anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
Booklover · 03/05/2005 15:51

Can't believe it, just checked my e-mails, went back to mumsnet and there were 25 messages, this website really works, doesn't it? We live in the cheaper end of Islington (off Essex Road) towards Mildmay but it is still a very nice area and only 10 mins walk from Upper Street. We are currently paying 850 for a very nice 1 bed flat (which I suppose is fairly cheap for this area) but can't really afford to spend more than 1100 pounds a months on rent for a 2 bed place. I like Stoke Newington but think it is still very expensive and so is Crouch end. Somebody mentioned Stamford Hill the other day (apparently 15 mins walk to Stoke Newington Church Street) does anyone know this area? My main concern is really to feel safe and live in a nice environment as you tend to spend quite a lot of time in your local area when you have a child....

OP posts:
bundle · 03/05/2005 15:51

suzy, i think i can see it, my friend lives on the sainsbury's side of the h.l. but the ahem passage is on the other side, yes? (up north where i come from passages are known as "entries" and where dh comes from they're called "twitterns")

bundle · 03/05/2005 15:54

booklover, that sounds v cheap for the area, we paid over £1000 pcm for a 1 bed flat in kentish town, 5 yrs ago but i suppose the market has flattened out a bit. i personally don't find stamford hill that comfortable, the closer you get to stokey, the more of a family feel it has. would you still be renting? or buying? we live close to arsenal but not sure what rental prices are like. i assume you'd want to move up to a 2-bed as well.

Beetroot · 03/05/2005 15:58

This reply has been deleted

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gggglimpopo · 03/05/2005 16:01

If you rented beetroots house you'd get five beds and a garden.... the commute would be a bit of a bind tho'

puddle · 03/05/2005 16:02

Booklover we used to live at the E5 side of Stoke Newington towards Clapton Station. Loads of families living there who couldn't afford the Church St prices - very up and coming at the time (nearly 4 years ago) no idea what it's like now. Near to green spaces - Hackney Downs, Springfield Park and only 15 mins to Church St, Clissold park. Some really nice roads though. Downside is the proximity to murder mile - not sure whether that is still an issue tho.

bundle · 03/05/2005 16:05

puddle, good friend of ours has just spent 2 years selling her lovely flat just off the murder mile..

spacedonkey · 03/05/2005 16:06

My sister lives between Wood Green and Bounds Green. Her neighbourhood is a) relatively cheap b) quiet and mainly populated by middle class professionals and families. It's much nicer than one might expect

puddle · 03/05/2005 16:07

Ah Bundle - said I had no idea what it's like now! Our flat sold in a day for £20k above asking price three years ago......Sorry booklover will butt out of thread now !

dinosaur · 03/05/2005 16:09

puddle I live near there - we like it but it doesn't meet any of Booklover's requirements apart from price!

Blu · 03/05/2005 16:11

Wood Grime it may be, but I know several arts professionals who moved there when they had families, and some of the side streets are really lovely - roomy houses, gardens, tube, and OBVIOUSLY being 100 miles N of Trafalgar Sq is better than moving South of the river

Woodside Park?

bundle · 03/05/2005 16:12

blu, i know my norf of the river obsession is irrational..am thinking of getting therapy

Doddle · 03/05/2005 16:15

I live just off murder mile too, i love it, good prices, but definitely no nice high street!!

motherinferior · 03/05/2005 16:15

You need forcible relocation, bundle. Lovely place, Sarf Lunnon. Especially the Inferiority Complex in the heart of grimy Catford (and hey, Blu, we are getting another cat).

galletti · 03/05/2005 16:17

I live in Bounds Green and think its great. Really close to the tube, lots of young families, green spaces are Durnsford Road which has playground, tennis courts and great cafe - has become a bit of a focus point for the area, Broomfield Park, a lovely big old fashioned park with 3 (or is it 4 ponds),which is just across the north circular towards Palmers Green (also nice), and Alexandra Palace is just up the road, as is Muswell Hill which has nice high street and villagey feel. I feel safe here and although close to the North Circ, it really is very quiet. Of course, closeness to North Cicular is also good for quit trips to Brent Cross, day trips east or west, or north! It is built up but where in London isnt unless very expensive. The downside is the area round the tube which could put people off, not unsafe just a bit grubby looking - we all wish for a few nice cafes instead of all the little convenience stores and takeaways!

bundle · 03/05/2005 16:17

if even the lovely MI and her inferiorettes can't tempt me across the river, i can't imagine what would

doddle, the houses look lovely and i'm sure we could afford something there...but just can't go East (transport, schools, etc - for all finsbury park's faults it does have some nice bits..)

spacedonkey · 03/05/2005 16:18

i used to live in the same area of islington as you booklover and i thought it was horrid. I would rather live in bounds green any day

FLUM · 03/05/2005 16:54

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Spitalfields is great. The market is wicked. Its lovely walking round the deserted city on the weekends.

High st I suppose would be Whitechapel road - pretty tatty. but you are 4 stops from Oxford St so there's your high street!

CountessDracula · 03/05/2005 16:56

Isn't Wanstead meant to be really nice? Never been there, I know it is further east but apparatnly has really nice villagey thing going on

spacedonkey · 03/05/2005 16:56

is spitalfields cheaper than islington though? i thought it was v trendy

hoxtonchick · 03/05/2005 16:59

wanstead is where my inlaws live... it is very nice, green, big houses, on the central line. i think it's a bit overwhelmingly middle class, but we live in deepest hackney (which i can't reccommend highly enough, & is relatively cheap).

FLUM · 03/05/2005 17:08

yeah Hackney is great but bit far out for me.

we had a flat off Bishopsgate it was a warehouse convo it was 2 bedroom with a massive lounge a total of 980 sq ft. 900 quid a month. thought it very reasonablen (for zone 1). we've just moved out (mind you they were upping the rent) it might still be available - see Foxtons website. rent will probably be going up though we had it at that price from coupla years ago

CountessDracula · 03/05/2005 19:55

How about Dalston?

CountessDracula · 03/05/2005 19:55

friends of mine have v nice 2 bed flat there nr London Fields. The main strip is pretty awful but the surrounding streets are lovely

Davros · 04/05/2005 09:03

Beetroot, did you mean to type cuntry?
What about Archway, Holloway? Kilburn?