Moving from Wimbledon to Crystal Palace / Upper Norwood

[LondonWanderer]

Hello, I'm very new to Mumsnet, but a friend of mine recommended this website :)

We are a young couple planning to start a family soon! We are currently renting in Wimbledon (near Wimbledon Village - a really great family oriented area with some great restaurants and most importantly very safe but too expensive to buy!). We're now wanting to buy a property in a similar area where we can start a family with good connections into London. We've set our eyes on a very spacious apartment in the new development in Sylvan Hill - Alto Hill - it ticks all our boxes - spacious, some great views, within budget etc etc.

BUT we're not familiar with the upper Norwood / Crystal Palace area (particularly sylvan hill) although the triangle looks amazing. We've also noticed that there is a ymca hostel close by on sylvan hill - just wondering whether anyone from the area could share their thoughts about this area! Is it safe? Is it safe for a young family with kids? Is it quite safe at night?

I'd really appreciate if anyone can share their thoughts about the area!

Hi, I grew up in Wimbledon and we bought our first property in the Crystal Palace triangle many years ago, although we only lived there for two years before buying somewhere bigger and then moving out a few miles. CP has changed a lot since we lived there, it's certainly a lot trendier and property prices have rocketed, but it is not Wimbledon Village by any stretch of the imagination. If you moved out a bit, you could get a lot more for your money:
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/44519678?search_identifier=ca403ab0eac3960f78f079d5eef47a4c
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/41775154

I also used to live in Wimbledon and CP is much more multicultural and socially mixed than the village and feels much more like London that Bromley or other suburbs further out.

It's great for families lots of lovely green space with 2 boating lakes within walking distance, the dinosaurs and great schools. Really lovely community with lots going on for children and plenty of cool bars and cafes now it's become trendier.

In terms of safety, you can have a look at the Met police website. They have crime maps with detailed info. I had a look at the area where the flat in question is and the the crime is 3x that of my local area (very safe suburban location).

Also, a great big block isn't that ideal for little kids. Similarly to LadyLapsang, I think it'd be worth considering moving further out. In boroughs such as Bexley or Sutton, it's extremely safe (least crime in London) and the schools are as good as they get (nationwide). The borough of Bromley is not far off either. The areas are full of family housing so very popular with families, with tons of green spaces and activities for children. They all have town centres with restaurants and shops too. The areas are also cheaper so for a similar budget you could get a house with a garden and off-street parking.

However, I do agree with Popkids - suburbs have a different feel to inner London areas. It's calmer, greener and more spacious and not so trendy so a very different place to live.

In contrast I'd say Sylvan Hill or anywhere within walking distance of CP Triangle is fine with much of it aspiring to Wimbledon levels of yummy mumminess, if not Wimbledon Village poshness. Lovely area for kids with loads of small parks as well as CP Park. Never seen any rowdiness on Sylvan Hill. Can be a wait for buses - consider how commutes would work if you need to get to the station first.

It isn't a suburban feel like Bromley or Sutton - personally I'm very happy about that.

I lived in cp and was happy there with DC, however I probably would have moved further out before secondary school as was not keen on secondary schools in the area. The primaries are v good though.

I'd be wary of living in a new build flat with kids unless well insulated as some of the most unhappy times I had were with shitty neighbours who didn't like noise of children.