Winchmore hill and surrounding areas - opinions please

[badkitty]

We are thinking of moving to Winchmore Hill or somewhere similar in (outer) North London - we like the sound of Winchmore Hill, have a couple of friends there, and it looks like a pleasant area, good commute, easy/quick to get out of london (my parents are in Herts and I would like to be nearer them) and I like the 1930s type houses - seem to be quite big with good gardens etc. However, we have lived south of the river for 10 years and know very little about North London so at the moment are only basing this fairly big decision on a couple of visits to friends! Anyone live there/nearby who could give me opinions or suggest any similar areas nearby which we should consider? What is the rest of Enfield like? Also what primary schools would we want to look at being near ideally?

I grew up in Enfield and my parents and sister still live there. Winchmore Hill is a nice area and my friends with houses there would agree with the idea that they are relatively big with nice biggish, flat gardens. The commute into central London is easy and quick and you will be able to get out to Herts really easily. There are some good local shops and restaurants and Enfield shopping is pretty good. As far as I can tell from my sister there are a few decent pubs with food etc but maybe not that social scene for non teens that some areas of South London have.

I'm not sure about primary schools though, sorry.

We're in Enfield Town and previously lived in W Hill. I really like both areas, loads of young families and green space. Enfield is a good deal cheaper ime. If looking in Enfield, make sure you stay west of the A10.

Re: primaries, the good ones are all hideously oversubscribed I'm afraid, you really need to be close to be sure of a place (catchments as small as 0.2 miles in some cases). In WH St Pauls is in demand but you need to go the whole churchgoing, vicar-schmoozing route. In Enfield Raglan, Chase Side and George Spicer are all v good community primaries but you want to be v v close.

It is the schools in WH. There are none basically, apart from St Paul's C of E which involves much church going to get into and very near location. If RC there is St Monica's in Southgate.

Depends on what you are looking for. I have lived in N. London (Highgate, Barnet, New Barnet) all my life and have friends in WH and the surrounding area's. Are you looking for outside London living but inside London (community feel, child friendly etc.) ....or Inside London living (people, meals out, fashionable, Chic etc.)?

My friends kids go to school in WH (i will find out the name) and she has had a nightmare being bullied (and hit) by another parent....she has moved her kids.

I got to say - i really like high Barnet (last station on Northan line), New Barnet (on the over ground)and Cockfosters Last station on the picadilly line) - good parks, great schools, Hadley woods.

Post codes get a bit funny up here - Barnet (the borough of) is in London ...but New Barnet is a EN (Enfield) post code and Herts not London ...but inside the m25! it also comes under Barnet in terms of schools.

We are looking for "outside london living' definately - don't get out that much these days! Schools sound like they could be an issue although this seems to be the same pretty much everywhere in London... I might investigate Barnet then although would prefer overland to long trek into the city on northern line.

What's your budget and how many rooms do you need?

New Barnet is on the over ground ... how about 3 miles up the road - Potters Bar (on over ground) ?? Good primary school - and really fantastic secondary schools

I taught in WH school can't say it was a good experience.