School run to Hampstead / Belsize Park

[SupermamaV]

hi all the lovely parents in NW London.
We are looking at a house in Golders Green (next to Golders Hill park). We have a baby boy and looking for private boys schools for him in the near future. Is the school run from Golders Green to Hampstead / Belsize Park sensible? Google maps says 20-25mins bus and tube ride to most of the schools we registered our son at (hopefully he would get into one of them!). Is 30mins bus ride bearable for a 4/5 y/o on a daily basis? I am told that driving during school run time in Hampstead is not possible. Any feedback would be appreciated!

Absolutely don't ever try and drive through Hampstead in rush hour, madness! Many London kids have a 30 min commute or longer so I would have thought he'll be fine, he may be tired the first term but he'll get used to it, if he's likely to be tired and whingy particularly at the end of the day bring a scooter for him for any walking elements - but please do keep an eye on him or rather, an eye on the safety of any passing pedestrians, dodging the out of control scooter kids is as much of a hazard as the traffic some mornings round that way!

Thanks so much @maxelly ! That is great to know. Seems like tube and busses are the ways to go around in Hampstead. Not easy to have a house that is walking distance to schools so scouter will come to rescue in due course. Very helpful to hear the first hand feedback 🙏!

Which school? The walk from Golders Green to say UCS is do-able and it's a nice time to chat - good that you have the downhill on the way home when they are tired!

Also lots do drive, as long as you plan for early it's no problem. I left this morning at 7.30 from near where you live to a school in Hampstead and was there by 7.50. Residents parking starts at 9am so no problem to park and drop. What you can't do is leave at 8 because by then the traffic is solid.

Thanks so much @passport123 ! Sorry for the late reply. Didn’t expect more response after two weeks! That is very helpful! Don’t mind doing early drive as long as the schools are open to take in kids (do they open that early?) some early rise and planing will do. There is always a tube or bus as an alternative. 🙏

They vary. UCS starts officially at 7.45 but the caretaker is there from 7 and they are very chilled if boys come early and hang out in the cage playground! Others may vary