Moving to Epping or Buckhurst Hill

[Catswhiskers7]

My husband, our baby and I have decided to leave the big smoke, in favour of a more rural life which is still commutable to London (as we still work there). We are currently looking at Epping and Buckhurst Hill. Both seem lovely but would really appreciate some honest feedback on the area-positive and negative, we would love to know more about the schools, are there good parent & baby/Toddler groups, things to do...thank you.

Epping is quite a lot further out, which may make commuting longer or more difficult. IMO it is also more provincial.

Buckhurst Hill is lovely - we are Woodford Bridge and it's also lovely ;). Commute is fine. Loughton is nice too, still feels green but commute isn't bad.

Woodford here. Epping is far and if the central line is down your commute will be hell. Ironically prices also seem to go up. Woodford has tube plus access to mainline rail at chingford highams park and Ilford. Also Victoria line at Walthamstow is an easy bus or mini cab ride away. Buckhurst hill similar but not quite so convenient. Epping doesn't have enough upside it deal with the greater commute relative to these other areas. Have lived out here for 15 yrs, ex islington.

Thank you-that's great! Good point about the central line being down.
Would be great to hear more about the area, what the schools are like, is there lots to do with families? What is Woodford like too?

There's a fair amount to do - we never really bothered with baby groups, but there are loads in South woodford and woodford. Not sure about Buckhurst Hill, but it seems likely! Schools are mostly fine, although everyone raves about Churchfields, our local primary is doing really well at dealing with DD1 who has some additional needs. Lots of parks and green spaces, housing stock is nice but depends on budget really. Victorians are pricey, thirties terraces and semis less so. Fifties is pretty cheap. Some new builds right by us (next to Claybury Park) actually look really nice, weather boards and big windows.

we live in epping. it is lovely, the best part about your commute is that you will always get a seat. The central town area with shops is lovely. House prices are going up so great investment opportunity but housing market is moving fast here.
My most liked parts about epping is the balance between rural life and accessibility to amenities. The town is pretty much nice everywhere and the parts that a not as nice are currently getting redeveloped. They turn lights off at night I think it is 12-5 am and I really like that.
Negatives, there is currently just one full time day nursery here and it is not great. There is currently no good secondary state school in here.

I do like Buckhurst Hill and did look into buying there. It a lovely area, fantastics schools around but all cramped up and no you will probably not get a seat on the tube from there in the morning. House prices are higher and will not increase as fast as in Epping.

just to add there is a good Montessori nursery that is just 9:30 to 1pm and many baby toddler groups.

that is in epping, good luck deciding :)

also there is a very good independent school here from 2.5 years, my ds will go there once he is older.

We lived in Buckhurst Hill but just moved to Loughton as you get a bit more for your money house-wise.

I actually prefer Loughton as the high road has a lot more going on. Both have excellent access to Epping Forest, and transport is fine. I commute to the city 5 days pw and on the rare occasion the tube has been down, I've got a bus to Chingford or Walthamstow overground.

Schools: primaries are good on the whole but not all great. The schools everyone wants to get into (if we are talking state) are St John's in B hill and Staples Rd in loughton. Beware the catchments for both of these are TINY and they are massively oversubscribed.

High schools if you are church going then look no further than Davenant in Debden and for non-faith the preference seems to be Debden Park over Roding Valley (but who knows by the time you need to think about that!).

Lots of private schools esp in Buckhurst hill but I have no personal experience.

We love it here, I would recommend this neck of the wood!