Norbury

[MsPickle]

Anyone know it and can share what it's like? Our corner of SE London has, we fear, got too expensive for us to 'second step'. We're in a two bed flat with two children, two cats (and a goldfish). We love living where we are and would rather stay than move to a new area we didn't like just for more space-this weekend's recce is Norbury; what's it like to live there? 3 bed house prices look to be in our range and there seems to be some decent schools but thoughts very gratefully welcomed!

Used to be nice.... I lived there for 26 years and moved to Norfolk in 2005.

Horrid now... very very rough. I and several people I know have been mugged in broad daylight.. I've been flashed at and stalked too! Hence the moving. Honestly I wouldn't even want to visit now.

Sorry !

Norbury in Shropshire is nice... But I guess you're not talking about that one!

Just another point I forgot to mention - the 250 bus route runs along green lane in norbury linking brixton to streatham and then norbury to Thornton heath ... it'sthe bus all the gangs use to get about! That and the 109 which runs the other way through norbury towards croydon. Seriously just don't. Please.

Thanks both, yes, it's Norbury in London I'm talking about, not Shropshire. Fairylea, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Do you know anyone that's still there? I ask because in 2005 where we are now could have fitted that description (and 10 years ago we loved on Coldharbour lane and have watched Loughborough Junction smarten up considerably in that time).

I think that's a tad of an exaggeration from Fairylea.We live on the borders of Streatham and Norbury near Streatham Common. There are some lovely houses, great schools and good transport links (albeit no tubes). I have lived in the area for around 2o years and its definitely improving. I love it.

Thanks Abuhamzamouse (brilliant name btw!). We're Tulse Hill/West Norwood but prices are climbing. It's a sunny day, I think we'll go ahead with the recce. Do you know anything about preschool places? We got really lucky with one for ds but it was skin of teeth and one of my hesitations about moving is losing that. Honestly I wish we could afford to buy the flat above us and knock them into half a house. That would solve everything. But we couldn't afford what the one above sold for last year.

All my family and friends still live there. And it's still rough. I suggest reading some of the local papers (I suggest that to anyone wanting to move anywhere!)

Sorry it's my opinion and clearly some won't agree but everyone I've known has had some sort of hassle or problem. We rented out to students as well for a bit and nearly all of them were either mugged, phones stolen, eggs thrown at them in norbury park by groups of idiots and whatever else. My bil got off the bus one night and had a group of men follow him home steal his wallet and beat him up. And it wasn't a bad area of norbury, we had a nice 5 bed semi detached house backing onto norbury park.

I may be biased because I moved to south Norfolk (downsized and gave up my job and just hoped I'd find something).... here in south Norfolk the most we ever have is someone running over a duck. But I guess that is reflective of city country divide.

It just got to the point in norbury where I didn't feel safe even going out during the day anywhere. And when we visit family now we go and leave as quickly as possible and always keep our car doors locked in traffic.

Croydon riots were not that long ago ! It's a 15-20 min bus ride away.

This may be interesting... you can also search and compare other areas...

www.croydonguardian.co.uk/li/crime.in.Norbury/

Sorry to hear that fairylea, but maybe it's just a case of the fact that we live more the Streatham Common end.

No idea about preschool places as we used a private nursery but school places are tight as they are across London.

Mspickle'Would you consider Streatham Common?

Abu, yes we might. Our absolute preference is to stay where we are tbh and I can see us deciding to stay squashed and try and get some more purchasing power (cash) together rather than move somewhere we don't love. We've great friends here, great childcare, great transport, great regeneration etc. it's such a tough decision. I worked hard to create a network after having ds, we knew no one with children and I was pretty isolated. The prospect of having to start again is daunting especially as I've been really lucky to make a couple of 'real' new friends, not just those friendships of convenience that happen when you've small children. That's aside from the daunting decluttering/tidying/juggling children and viewings/dealing with EAs/solicitors/moving thing. Maybe we'll get lucky.

I've fingers crossed for a lottery win :)

Hi MsPickle - what did you decide to do in the end? We are thinking about making the same move (West Norwood to Norbury) and I'm interested in what you decided!

Hi, I currently live in Norbury about 5 minutes from the train station. It used to be a lovely place to live, but I don't feel safe anymore (am moving soon hopefully). There are a lot of daylight muggings, youths riding bikes mugging people. There are certain areas like the roads behind london road that are being targeted. Not sure about the quality of schools in Norbury, but depends on the age of your kids.

Though I have to point out that my sister works for the met police, so unfortunately I get to hear about all sorts of crime in Norbury, even if I don't want to know.

Have you got in mind any specific roads/areas in Norbury? As there are some nice parts, as you find with most places.

Hi reese123 we are thinking about a house on pollard hill east which I think is a bit further down the london road from you. Is that the area you mean which is being targeted? It looks and feels like a lovely area when you walk around, trees everywhere, big detached houses, nice cars........but I don't want to move somewhere where we will be at risk. We've got two small children. Any advice would be welcome! Thx.

No, that area is nicer, it's a bit further away from london road. Though you must be buying a pretty decent sized house, just think there are nicer areas in the south like purley, shirley where crime is far less. I always think that when you see a house you like, speak to one if the neighbours (not your immediate neighbours) and they will give you an honest opinion about the area.

My family lived in Norbury for around 50 years. My dad was born and bred there. Was such a lovely place, I was also born there.

It's horrible now. Such a shame. I guess it might smarten up again but right now I wouldn't live there.

Drove past our old family home a while back and it's been broken up into bedsits.

I wouldn't live there, it is rough and I feel nervous walking around. it is not a nice place to bring up children at all.

I live between Streatham Common and Norbury. Which is fine, ditto west towards Pollards Hill which is a pain to get to but ok suburb. The main road through Norbury is rather dreary and gets rougher going south. The nearby schools in Croydon borough have poor reputations but if you could get just over the border into Lambeth, their nearby ones are good.

Goes to show that you can live close to somewhere for years and never notice the things that residents do. DDs school is just off Green Lane so I get the 250 all the time to get to work in Croydon and I've never seen anything even vaguely gang related. DS2 goes down there to visit a friend who lives near the station, and I've never considered it to be an issue - mainly because we live in West Norwood and I always assumed Norbury was slightly more upmarket than us! Although having said that, MIL lives in Streatham Vale and since I first met DH (26 years ago) that's deteriorated quite a bit.

The other side of Green Lane (the Americas) is nice, but I think a big jump in price from the Norbury side, ditto the area Notcitrus says (some lovely houses there, we like to daydream about them when we walk to MILs)

these places are fine for adults, I feel a million times safer as an adult in south London than I did as a teenager. but as a teenager you are much more likely to get mugged or beaten up.

hardboiled do you live in Norbury?

no! but my friend lives between norbury and streatham common and I know it well. I also dislike brixton peckham and camberwell.

Would it be worth putting a question on the Mumsnet Local page for Croydon: local.mumsnet.com/croydon

I've been reading this with interest as I've lived in Norbury for over a year now and my husband has been here for 7 years. I have to say I've not been mugged or anything, although you do hear of stuff going on.

We've also just had a baby and I've been pleasantly surprised at what there is on offer, such as a few Montessori schools and lovely little play groups. You just need to scratch the surface. Also, St. James the Great primary school is 'outstanding' according to ofsted.

I spoke to an estate agent just yesterday and house prices are rising rapidly (just in the last few months) due to people being pushed out of London further, so it might be a great place to buy...

The high street isnt great, pretty mono cultural and it needs more variety, but there appears to be a new Italian Deli opening soon, (which may be a sign of things to come) and we have the best fish and chip shop I've seen in London!

Hope that helps...

We moved to South Norwood recently for similar reasons, MsPickle, and I think that's def worth considering if you haven't already.

Good property prices (we bought a 3-bed house with garden for under 250k earlier this year), good transport links (11 mins to London Bridge from Norwood Junction station, or into Victoria, and on Overground extension) and lovely parks with good schools nearby.

I live north of the station up the hill towards Crystal Palace and the streets are quiet and have lovely views. I've never felt uneasy or witnessed any problems. The good thing is that lots of people are moving here from pricier parts of London for more space, so there are young families etc. and prices are starting to rise because of proximity to Crystal Palace.

I really like it, and we came from Brixton. PM me if you want more info.