Where should I move to london as single mother ?

[TianTianMa]

Dear Friends,

I need to move to London because of my job. I am moving with my 5 years old daughter. Where is the best place (affordable accommodation, good commute to UCL, good primary school, and not so bad school run)?

looking for all advice!

i think you need to be a bit more specific about area/commute! I'm not sure if UCL is in Westminster or Camden local authority, but if you can afford to be central, Westminster is fantastic. There are lots of good state primaries and for girls there are some good state secondaries too. What you lack space-wise is made up for in terms of fee stuff like museums, galleries, parks etc and veasy to travel about on buses and tubes.

Somewhere with lots of rich, available, good looking men who love children!

Sorry, not helpful

Near me, I want new friends who are single mums! Realistically. I'm too far west for your commute, way out on the Piccadilly Line

It's close to Euston square.

re Pineapplechunks,

This is the best advice ever heard. so any idea where it is?

When I went to UCL (as a student many moons ago) I lived in Angel, Islington. Great, if you like it a bit "industrial and quaint". Other friends lived up in Finsbury Park, which is not so far away. However, as you can take the Norther Line to Euston, you can live anywhere from Camden Town to Kennington, and you will still be in a good commuting distance. After Angel, we moved to Kennington, which in fact I loved as it was south of the river, green, close to the city, close to uni, and with great shopping and some good restaurants nearby. And not to mention the south bank centre for quality music.

You know, Brixton is an idea. But you would have to be prepared to move into the teeny tiny catchment of Sudbourne school.

But Sudbourne has lots of lovely liberal parents. And is a good school.

Brixton is a good place to be a single parent, too.

But ... you wouldn't meet that many rich, eligible men.

And it is (still) a bit edgy. But that does keep prices down when you consider you have a good hospital, a beautiful park, a great cinema, cafes and bars, and a tube. I think it's only about 14 mins or something to Warren Street (UCL tube stop).

Islington is pricey and schools are still not so fab.

Kentish town/Camden. Without a doubt. Great for kids, good community feel and dead close to UCL.

I am in Bethnal Green now and love it- but if you have the budget, I'd go for Kentish town.

Sorry to disagree, hbfac, but I still find Brixton terrifying- I suppose you come to know one area and feel comfortable there I suppose. I hate Brixton.

Agree with you about Islington, though...

Tethersend:
What is your evidence for finding Brixton terrifying?? There is a fantastic market some good shops and as hbfca said it is extremely central - 10mins to Oxford circus and this will get quicker with the new Vic line trains this year. Am I right in assuming that you live in North London and have no concept of south london (there be demons over the river!!).......Only joking.
School wise Sudbourne is not the holy Grail. Stockwell Prinary is an outstanding (Ofsted) school. The men might not be wealthy but it is a friendly community (if you give it a chance and make the effort)

JJ6, I lived in Kennington about 10 years ago (and other prime south London locations such as Norwood, Tooting and Forest hill ), and used to work in Brixton, down Coldharbour road. My opinions of it were formed then, but I still can't bear the place; there's just always an 'edge' for me there which I don't like. (Has that estate on Coldharbour road been pulled down yet?)

Mind you, since my defection, I lived in Camden for a number of years and feel totally safe and at home there- I know that many people would disagree with me on that one

Coldharbour Lane. It's been a while

I have to say, I know what Tethersend means.

I lived in Brixton and loved it, have friends who still live there, and love it. I still love it. The park is beautiful. The cinema is great. I love Brixtonites. I had a wonderful experience at the Lido a few months back, when a complete stranger offered to go home and fetch her yoga mat for me to borrow. It's a really special place.

But it still has a bit of an edge. Which is probably what keeps house-prices from reaching the astronomical heights they otherwise would.

Mind you, I'd say it's v. similar to Hackney - which you're on the borders of tethersend.

And so maybe not the place to recommend without some context to someone unfamiliar with the villages of London.

The "Barrier Block" - that was an interesting building experiment, wasn't it?

So, JJ6 and tethersend - do you remember the Alabama3 before they became famous? [bit of S. London nostalgia]

You know, this is a bit of a fantasy-live-anywhere-in-London opportunity. My favourite would be the Barbican.

I think you would see a big difference in the 10 years; Morleys has a Cafe Nero now!! Norwood is still awful, Tooting has gone upmarket (can't comment on Forest Hill). Coldharbour Lane (and other parts of Brixton) still have some unappealing estates, however my work takes me to the estates and I have never felt threatened during the day. I woulden't want to live on one of them. Brixton has some lovely Victorian streets and as long as you steer clear of the 'dodgy estates you should be fine. I would rather live here than Kennington which has a few beautiful georgian squares suounded by dire high rise estates.
Brixton is a bit mad but usually I see that as a positive, shopping is rarely dull and as long as you don't get involved or look for trouble it brightens up my day. It attracts nutters but there are also a lot of really nice people living here and a real sense of community, and great primary schools (don't mention secondary education that is another story!!)

Peckham is a nice place to live, i know many people have the same view of it as they do of brixton. But i have lived here for 2 yrs now and i love it, i have made a lot of friends. lets face it trouble is everywhere - if you look for it you will find it in any given area.

The primary schools are good as well, secondaries well you would need/want to go a bit further than peckham for them.

I love the idea of the barbican so central and close to whitcross market old street etc. The grounds are lovely and the idea of when I am an older person having a tube staion of my own and entertainment on tap!! Yes I agree the perfect location but expensive?? and I belive not easy to find a flat when you want one.
The other thing about Brixton (sorry to go on) is the academy ( In saw the specials ther this year and the alabama 3 have played there) and the hootnany which has some great bands often for free, generally ska type

take a look here on gumtree

Secondary schools ...

Be warned TianTianMa - there is an issue with secondary schooling in London ... .

In fact, I think it's almost a joke that the answer to "Where shall I live, for my work in London, that's affordable, with a good secondary?" is "Cambridge". Though that's not affordable, either, really ... .

hbfac, I managed to find a good secondary school after ds1 spent a month in hell!!! they aren't all bad

Where?

You know you have to share information like that!

Actually, no, you don't have to - I'm guessing it could lead to identification.

You'll have to discreetly recommend it some time, though.

Yes please your daughter is in now and mine is only 5 so please spill the beans?? It can't be Harris!!! that is the only Southwark school I know. I have heard of the globe acadamy, not sure of any others

hfbac, its ok I will share,if you look at my profile the secone photos is ds1 in his uniform, might give you a clue lol.

He does fencing on Mondays after school, chess on wednesdays and dance on thursdays, if the pupils are late twice in a week they get a saturday detention...the little sod just won't leave late enough to give me a weekend break !!! (disclaimer : i am joking here!!)...it is a brilliant school with ZERO tolerence for bullying!

JJ6, for primaries in southwark, i would look at
St pauls in liverpool grove, se17,
Crampton school, se17,
oliver goldsmiths,
peckham park
lyndhurst
st john the divine , se5

they are all good schools.

JJ6 he was offered harris and i said i would not send a dog there, not even a stray!!!