Penge or Catford... or East Dulwich??

[rungichungi]

We've got a tiny house with a tiny north facing garden (under a flight path) in East Dulwich but now we're expecting our second child, I want space!! We are near a highly thought of primary school, but it did get an unsatisfactory in its Ofstead report last year, which is obviously not ideal.

Should we extend up into the loft and stay in ED, for say another five years? Or should we bite the bullet, extend our mortgage and move now to get a bigger house and garden? Was looking at some beasts of houses on Rightmove in Penge and Catford, which could be our 'forever' house... or stay put in our tinsywinsy house in zone 2??? Help!

I would move. East Dulwich is definitely insanely over priced. Either Penge or Catford would be great!

I would pick Penge over Catford, a million times. You're much closer to nicer areas (Beckenham, Crystal Palace), loads more green space, and good transport links. Catford is very urban and has the south circular running right through it.

Penge over Catford any day. I grew up near Catford. It was a no mans land- not Lewisham and not Forest Hill. Just nasty. (granted, it might have changed, I only drive through it now, at speed when I go to my parents house)

Thanks guys, the thought of getting the loft done only to move in five years seems crazy imho.

Work like that involves a LOT of upheaval. We had our kitchen done and knocked through when I was 6mo pregnant and it was awful, to be honest. I really wouldn't suggest it

• particularly if it's not then going to turn it into your 'forever' home.

Another who would advise penge over catford, catford traffic awful, shopping not great & a lot of the larger houses are quite far away from transport, penge great transport links, really good parks, couple of really nice pubs, good butchers & turkish deli, beckenham only down the road, which has good coffee shops & restaurants, good luck with what ever you decide.

I lived in Clockhouse, just over the Beckenham border of Penge and I would say that Penge is nice and convenient. Moved to Kent for family reasons and I was homesick for the transport, butchers, best pizza delivery place ever, and just the general convenience for ages!

I loved living in Catford but no way would I bring kids up there. Penge is (I believe) 'up and coming' and would be a good place to invest in. Penge East to Victoria is a pretty good line as well.