Shepherd's Bush or South of the River?

[bushbabyblues]

Have namechanged as don't want to out myself.

We have lived off the Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush for over a decade. In the last six months or so, prices seem have gone through the roof on expectations of gentrification.

In fact, agents sold us gentrification when we bought in 2002, and the area is STILL riddled with crime and anti-social behaviour.

We moved here because we couldn't afford to live off the Northcote Road, which was our first choice when we moved to London.

Now, incredibly, asking prices are equal to the Northcote Road streets. (I don?t know about completion prices, though there are a few places at astronomical prices under offer in streets like Pennard Road and Lime Grove which no one who knows anything about Shepherd?s Bush would ever consider).

We need to upsize and can just about afford to do so, but given the new parity in prices we're finally comparing apples with apples, here and the Northcote Road.

We?d basically be trading the convenience of Shepherd?s Bush for the ?naiceness? of Northcote Road. We have friends in both places. We will be going private so that's one problem solved.

Is Shepherd's Bush always going to be this rough? I can't walk past Nando's without remembering the shooting. But I'm seeing improvements too. Yet I just can't imagine paying £1.6m to live on Ormiston Grove or Warbeck Road when the same money would buy me something turnkey south of the river.

Sorry, posted too early.

With inconsistencies like this, it's hard to get a true picture of what is selling and what isn't. THis makes it harder for me to work out whether agents are telling me the truth about the market and if so, what my own house might be worth.

As I said before, the choice was much easier when Shepherd's Bush was more affordable. Now it's more expensive and not as nice and that rings alarm bells.

I'm just hoping DH hears them equally loudly and realises we should get out whilst the going is good.

Blu and Levantine, I adore that neck of the woods in SE London but it's a pain for my commute, which at least half the time has to be done by car. DH's clients are all west and north of London so doesn't work for us any which way. Such a shame as DC and JAGS are such great schools and would suit our two down to the ground in years to come

Getting out of Shepherd's Bush is ALWAYS a good idea.

Tethers Help me persuade DH, do

Just take him to the 220 bus stop outside the W12 shopping centre at about 8 o clock on any given morning. Everything that's wrong with Shepherd's Bush is right there.

Job done

Ugh Shepherds Bush is absolutely vile, I will never understand why it it so expensive!

Tethers is spot on about the bus stop!

With your budget I'd look at other areas suggested here. I like Dulwich, Herne Hill, Pitzhanger in Ealing is very NAICE aswell.

People actually pay a million quid to live cheek by jowl with crack heads and criminals?

Gosh.

Born and brought up in The Bush - loved it as a young single woman but wouldn't have stayed to bring children up there. I would move to the Northcote road, the best house you can afford, save the money on private and go to Belleville.

Genuine question - why not move out entirely, buy a fabulous house in a safe, beautiful place near excellent schools with not a crackhead in sight?

My DH works in London, we live way outside in a huge farmhouse with acres of land and schools so good you wouldn't dream of paying.

The OP has a London job too. Commuting costs - in terms of tickets, childcare and time.

Yeah, not sure that argument cuts when you're -boasting- talking about naice areas, private schooling and north of 1.5 m houses but I suspect the OP was merely being vulgar anyway and not looking for suggestions.

Shepherds Bush is mediocre at best and I wouldn't consider bringing up a family there now. There's nothing outstanding about the area apart from the Westfield and the travel links. I am amazed property prices are what they are now.

Northcote Road is nice if a little sterile and if it's a considerable way from Clapham South, then you'll probably get sick of the walk there as the weather gets colder.

Agree that Herne Hill is a good choice and what about Brook Green or Ealing?

I think that you need to take a broader look at all this. Don't just move where the rest of the tribe is going. Look at north, look at north west. There are some lovely bits of north London that would be v convenient for your work.

We lived in the bush before settling down, then moved further west. However, to be honest, we probably should have moved north at that point, as it did make more sense for us.

I knew it was a good idea to namechange. The fucktards of Mumsnet always flock to take a pot shot at others without any understanding of how they've got where they are.

Yes, the houses I'm looking at are expensive. As you can see from my links, most of them are nothing special. We can afford them because we have no choice to afford them - our jobs only exist in a very few of the world's cities, and a massive mortgage and two full time jobs is a fact of life in London. Many - in fact most - of our friends live in more expensive homes. FWIW, DH's parent died when he was very young and his inheritance helped us buy this house. Would you swap a parent for a house? No you fucking wouldn't.

For those offering balanced advice, thank you, it's all being noted. South Brook Green is more epensive than Chiswick now.

I would move North at the drop of a hat - Highgate is gorgeous and where my grandmother lived - but doesn't work for DH's work. I'm interested in NW London though - do you mean Queen's Park and Kilburn way? Don't know those areas of London at all and would love to find out more.

Bard Please could you tell me more about Bellville? I'm interested in the catchment streets as I understand the area is tiny.

Tethers I remember getting the 207 bus once when it was a bendy bus and literally half the people getting on were ligging the fare.

I'm not surprised they've brought back the single bus, the fare-dodgers must have bankrupted TFL!

Maybe start a separate north-west London thread?

I don't know, but try Kensal rise, Brondesbury, possibly the better bits of Kilburn?

Queens Park is now very PLU, though less so than Northcote Rd. You'd be able to afford one of the terraced houses in the roads off the park - 3 beds and a bath on the first floor, a loft conversion, possibly a side extension to the kitchen. We were looking for a house recently and looked v briefly at Shepherds Bush before deciding it was far too scary.

Do PM me if you want to know more about QP, Kensal Rise, Brondesbury - don't want to say too much here. :)

A drunk man hit me in my (hugely) pregnant stomach outside that 220 bus stop last year because apparently I brushed past him. Luckily he was too pissed and too short to do any damage but it's put me off living west side a bit even though it's so convenient. YY to going NW everyone says it's fab

Belleville (and Honeywell) catchments were very small indeed this year - about 300m each I think. They'll undoubtedly increase by start of next academic year, but I think you'd need to be within about 400m to be counting on a place. How about Balham - esp Clapham South/Nightingale area? Still good transport links and schools, a (bit) more house for your money and less of a shlep to the tube?

How about Strand on the Green - I think houses are a bit cheaper there, or Kew? Queen's Park v. nice, but getting v. expensive. The bit of Chiswick more towards Acton? Although, I know Chiswick is crazily expensive, that bit might be better...Or even further out towards Twickenham?

Oh and I know you want to move out of Shepherd's Bush, but if your husband is desperate to stay - what about looking more towards Wendell Park? Uxbridge Road is pretty revolting - and I agree, I don't think it's ever going to change - but Askew Road has changed a lot in the last few years. If you have to stay -then maybe there would be a good option?

Or Ealing? A friend moved there last year (really didn't want to, but cheaper houses) and now loves it. She works near Oxford Street...