Shabby area of SE London or peaceful "posh" suburbs?

[littlecrystal]

Our options:
Currently: a lovely period house with lots of potential (not that we have money for that). "Up and coming" SE London area, can be described as inoffensive, cheap, convenient, family friendly.
Potentially we are looking at similarly sized townhouse in London suburbs, smaller space, no garden, but "posh" area and good schools.

We cannot afford SE London that everyone is talking about (Crystal Palace, Brockley, Forrest Hill etc), so really it is a question with 2 boys: stay a SE Londoner and take all risks coming with having the boys in London, or move to a quiet peaceful suburb, have a suburban life in a tiny town house and take the advantage of a good schools.

Which one would you choose?
I have been thinking about this for the last 4 years - since the minute I bought my house... (depressing really)

Area & education would be my priority. I know how seducative and nice house can be,( trust me) but area is so important for overall quality of life.

I suspect we live in the same area, or very close by.

Very much agree with angel.

Completely agree, it is very hard to let my house go when I compare a spacious period, character house with a smaller town 1970s house. If I didn't have the boys, this may be less of dilemma - SE London hasn't done anything bad for me personally...

I was watching a tv prog the other day about se London gangs and was saying to dh that if I lived there I would do absolutely anything to get out of the area, I would live in a box if it reduced the risk of DS getting involved with gangs. So if you're in an area where this is a possibility, then I would pick the suburbs every time.

Well there is se london and there is se london. Are you already on the boarders? If it is onoffensive and family friendly it doesnt sound like a gang haven? Are you just listening to hype?

There are 20 odd se london postcodes. Some I would do anything to avoid. Others are fine. Others are bloody lovely. You cant lump them all together.

Oh dear. It sounds bad *HarderToKidnap". I did not see that program so it is hard to comment, but I imagine that the gangs exist. Just as an adult I never see them. Deep in my heart I know that I need to focus of getting out of here for the sake of the boys but then everyone on MN brags about Crystal Palace and I think "oh we are just nearby and have a lovely house" and the prospect of moving to a remote suburb to a smaller house just seems daunting. But we have to. We must.

I am in SE25. The nicer bit. Still lots of worry.

If you are just nearby then surely in a few years your area will be the new Crystal Palace? Can you say where you do live and where you're thinking of moving and maybe get some more specific advice?

I knew you were in SE25. It's a no-no from me if I had kids.

I think it really depends where in SE London, to a certain extent. Some of the areas close to crystal palace have some of the best schools in the uk. We live in one if those shabby, cheap places close to there and have a choice of several good schools. While I'm aware that there are gangs (although I've never seen any) I'm assuming you're not currently living, or planning to live in a high rise flat on a housing estate in one of the particularly bad areas and letting your boys roam the streets at night...

Sorry, x posts.
Why is se25 a no no?

Yes where are you looking to go to. There maybe a nice compromise place you havent thought of.

Jesus! listen to you all for heaven's sake. Its hardly downtown Beirut.

What is SE25 in terms that we will all understand (ie. name of area)?

Looks like its south Norwood/woodside.

Bromley is great IMO.

Got to consider the commute time though, if you are SAHM and DH is to be part of the family and not home late knackered every evening, or if you both work. The transport links matter a lot.

I admit going by the hype and listen to what other people say especially on MN Although my neighbors and the social network around are nice and I have not experienced any issue myself and have been happy here. But it is... London, it feels like London, and I am sure it comes with all typical London problems.

I am looking to move to Bromley direction (Hayes/West Wickham/Beckenham) and while I understand that it is nicer, I would be compromising with space and character. So the question is, is it really that bad here for the kids (teens) that it is worth compromising?

My gut feeling says yes it is worth and partially because I prefer "villagey" rather than "London", but people who don't know the areas do not understand the choice of losing a nice house for a better area.

Try Hither Green SE13

Oh I misunderstood your post OP.

There are areas in SE London that are nice like Hither Green for instance... However, I have every intention of moving out of London and into the suburbs soon.

Personally I'd say move out and enjoy a more peaceful life out of London.

That's only my opinion though and that's because I grew up out of London in the countryside and would prefer to my children to do the same.

Try orpington, mottingham, chistlehurst, petts wood, some parts of eltham,new eltham, blackheath, sidcup. (Got family around there moved fron cp sydnem way)

Some are naice areas. Some are ok. Depends on your budget and what you are looking for.

As someone who grew up in the less salubrious parts of SE London, OP you are being ridiculous. Do you think there are no gangs in Crystal Palace or Brockley? Do you think your teenage sons are going to live their lives contained in one postcode?
London is a big hodgepodge with the rough and the smooth bumped up against each other. Gentrification of an area through inflated houseprices and some expensive coffee shops doesn't eradicate the social problems that lead to gangs. When I was growing up I had friends in Naice postcodes and in scuzzy ones and we all moved around between them all. For the record I think every single one of my male teenage friends was mugged at some point, and unless you are going to chaperone your children in the car until they are adults that's just part and parcel of growing up in a city.

Also areas change. The idea of lusting after living in Crystal Palace was hilarious a few years ago.