Dulwich-Herne Hill/Blackheath/Clapham??

[N1MTB]

Hello,

We're currently considering moving to be near good primary schools and get more space for our money and also be near parks/green space etc. (We currently live at the Angel end of Islington.)

I grew up between Blackheath and Greenwich (and went to school in Blackheath) but would appreciate some thoughts about Dulwich/Herne Hill as I don't know the area very well. It looks lovely (and if we can be in the catchment area for the village infant and junior school that would be great) BUT I'm slightly worried there isn't that much on the doorstep shops/coffee places/restaurant-wise... I appreciate I am currently extremely spoilt, having Upper Street a couple of minues walk from my front door, but our perceived lack of places for "popping out" to in Dulwich, is putting us off a bit.

Commuting time to the city is important as we both work there - Herne Hill scores quite highly on that front because of the Thameslink but London Bridge/Cannon St is ok too.

Anyway, all three areas are lovely options but would appreciate any thoughts, especially from people who know a couple of the areas well! (For a bit more background, we have two children, DS (3) and DD (18 months), and would probably like to send them to independent secondaries after state primaries if we are still in a position to do so in a few years time! So, Dulwich has at least three very good options (that I know of off the top of my head).)

Thank you!

To be in the catchment for the Dulwich Village primaries you will need to spend £1m upwards on a house and / or be a regular attender at St Barnabas CoE church in the village.

Herne Hill has loads of cafes, restaurants and bars, interesting little shops, good pubs and micro-brewery, great access to Brockwell Park with it's lido and Lido cafe. It has vets, a DIY / timber merchant, cool second hand furniture shops, bookshop, children's bookshop, toyshop, pizza express, sainsbury's local, award inning chip shop, fabulous artisan bakery etc etc. BUT no state primary on the doorstep.

East Dulwich, with its shops, restaurants and bars as well as great shops, independent and Co-Op etc, is close to Upper St in vibe, but transport less speedy - Goodrich and Heber are popular primary choices.

Clapham - great High st - Clapham Manor a v popular high achieveing school, but you need to be close.

Cheaper areas; West Norwood - good high st, excellent fast links on Thameslink, v good if you are in the catchement for Julian's school.

Streatham Hill - great transport links from Tulse Hill (Thameslink / London Bridge) or Streatham Hill for Victoria and if you buy close in on Wavertree / Downton or Cricklade Rds, or palace rd , Kingsmead or Lanercost, access to 'Outstanding' Streatham Wells primary. Cheap property, good community feel - terrible high rd. (it has nice cafes, and shops but is the A23)

Thanks Blu! Much appreciated. Just been told by a friend that, actually, we missed the main part of Dulwich village when we went to have a quick look (with both children in tow) on Saturday...! Strangely, that friend has just had an offer accepted on a lovely Streatham house. (She is sending her boys to Dulwich College Prep though...!)

Yup - my sister lives near Clapham Manor primary and is trying to persuade me to move round there.

Hmmmm.

I think we could manage Dulwich village prices if we really liked it - just want to gather all the facts before we narrow the search area. Will check out the Ofsteds for those schools - thank you!!

Herne Hill through to Dulwich, locally known as "Nappy Valley". Very family friendly and a very nice place to live too.

Lots of cafes/bars/green spaces etc and some excellent schools. If you can afford it, do it.

Sounds lovely rightupmyrue... I think we just might!!

Crystal palace lovely too, check that out but remember to stay within the SE19 postcode.

I live in Dulwich Village and I like it . Although I'm not a great popper-out for coffee - since DS started school I tend to find it easier to invite friends /their kids over here for coffee so the boys can run around and we can chat in peace....

Just don't do what we did - buy a place in the catchment area with a view to state primary schooling, and then have your DS fall in love with one of the private schools.... at least we only have one child! PM me if you have any specific questions, by all means...

I think of Clapham SW4 as more early to mid 20s rather than a family area, though the area round Clapham Old Town is more family friendly. Wix state primary school is decent.

Clapham South (SW12) and Between the Commons (SW12/SW11) are very (VERY) family focused, with loads of restaurants and chi chi shops. Honeywell and Belleville are the sought after primaries, but you have to live within spitting distance to get in and prices are £1m+.

You'll get more for your money in Herne Hill and East Dulwich. Dulwich Village is pricier and further away from the transport, but is smarter and quieter.

Thanks legalalien and minipie - yup, I had that impression about Clapham. We were really looking between the commons - don't really like the clapham north end quite so much but you do get more house for your money there... It's a bit of a warren between the commons. But Honeywell and Belleville do look really brilliant. Even for £1m+ you hardly get any garden at all though... v depressing!

Legalalien - might well pm you, thanks! I like the look of Alleyn's junior school (have a boy and a girl so would like them to go to same school) but DH will never allow that - especially if we are in the catchment area for the c of e infant school/dulwich hamlet. I think I'm living in a dream world about popping out for coffee anyway. I work full time and the children can't sit still for more than 30 seconds at a time so cafes aren't really an option at weekends.

Thanks again everybody!

PMSL - was just here thinking: moving from Islington, working full time, must be a lawyer. And see from your profile that you are. DV full of lawyers (including DH and I) - we all like to think we're individual and end up doing the same thing...

There are certain areas city professionals all end up, aren't there?? So predictable. Thanks legal alien - just PM-ed you.

i used to live in Dulwich Village and would second the comments made about the catchment/need for churchgoing for the village school...

it's been a while since i lived there, but east dulwich lordship lane had TONS of nice places for coffee and i would imagine it's gone upmarket rather than down in the few years since i was there

Ha ha - I am also a lawyer... !

But then I know I'm not particularly individual. Quite happy being a cliche

that's really funny minipie...

thanks mrs ravelstein - we did see that end of lordship lane at the weekend (actually persuaded super-fussy toddler to eat something other than pasta in the gourmet burger kitchen) and it seemed v nice! just trying to work out commuting times but tfl site is great for that.

There aren't any proper shops in DV, though. You could buy a roll of Cath Kidston oilcloth for the table, but not a toilet roll, any number of expensive cheeses but not a mousetrap...There is a small post office and a chemist, but otherwise it is chi chi gift and objets and expensive children's clothes.

Another South London lawyer here! We're in Balham - have you considered this far south? (Northern line straight into the City, get a seat most days) Henry Cavendish and Ravenstone are both excellent state primary schools. Plenty of family friendly coffee shops and eateries, Waitrose and walking distance to all 3 commons.

oooh, Balham is a v good contender. Excellent all-round shopping, cafes, restaurants and transport. Excellent range of houses - doesn't Telferscott have a v good reputation, too?

Oh yes, Telferscott too. I think it's v. close to Henry Cavendish which is the no.1 choice but has a catchment area of about 200m.

I love Balham, lovely but not too fancy!

Ooh - I ruled out Balham as I thought the scools weren't good but that's really interesting - thank you! I'll have a look.

Blu - v funny - I know what you mean... But as long as I can buy a pint of milk I think that's ok...!

I do Bumblequeen, I do...

Also live in DV. Beautiful area with plenty of parks. Having lived in Angel myself I can say that it is very different in terms of vibe but definitely very pleasant and family friendly. Agree with the lack of useful shops. If you are in need of a few groceries you easily spend over a tenner in the local shop for practically nothing.
Enough cafes and pubs if you're just thinking of going out once a week or so.
Love Herne Hill too. Slightly edgier and busier.
Property prices high (we're renting) but if you can afford it great!
Transport fine (once you got used to not having the tube).
Also check out
www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk and
www.westdulwichforum.co.uk

I know people don't think to do it, but you can actually walk from DV to the large Sainsbury's in East Dulwich in about 15 mins (or 10-12 minutes to the smaller one in Herne Hill) ;)

But in our house milk comes in glass bottles from Norman the milkman. I love glass milk bottles.

Hmm - well, I think DH and I are sold on the idea of Dulwich Village. We'll just have to try to be organised with the online food shopping (although nipping to Sainsbury doesn't sound like too bad a trek - sure I saw a "Sainsbury local" on Lordship Lane last weekend that didn't seem too far away).

Now, just have the small matter of finding a house we like that is within the catchment area for a good primary and within our budget... Oh yes, and putting out house in Angel on the market and selling it.

Might have to rent if necessary to get out of a chain...

(Love glass milk bottles too...)

Would suggest you spend quite a bit of time in Dulwich if you're seriously thinking about buying here. I'm in East Dulwich and tbh I really really hate it. It has no buzz or atmosphere at all - I think that it you're used to being in Islington you might miss that, esp as the village part is much quieter than ED. OTOH, if you're in Angel, perhaps we could just swap houses...