Brentford vs Shepherds Bush

[letsmakecupcakes]

Hello, I'm hoping I'v posted this in the right place...... In need of some information regards moving to either Brentford or Shepherds Bush. Streetchecker is throwing up some serious crime stats in Shepherds Bush around the Richmond Way where we have found a place. Great location and in catchment for secondary schools but slightly concerned re safety for teenager coming home at night.
Also found a great place in Brentford near The Butts (not on the butts - couldn't afford that) and lots of talk of gentrification and development has already begun. Crime stats much lower in comparison but further out and not as connected as SheBu. Anyone have experience living in these areas or a preference?

Shepherd Bush is great for transport links but not a nice place to live.
Brentford doesn’t have as good public transport links but is better in every other way.

No tube in Brentford.

Shepherds Bush very "edgy".

I'm a SheBu fan.

Yes it's a bit rough around the edges. But it's got brilliant shops (I'm an equal fan of Westfield and the market / fabric shops on Goldhawk Rd); transport links are excellent; and some lovely houses. Great food, especially middle eastern option. I've never felt unsafe there.

Brentford seems a bit dullsville...sorry to those who love it!

Shepherds Bush is not that bad, crime tends to be gang related. Ive lived nearby for years. However if you can push a few streets up towards Hammersmith/Chiswick/Acton there's a big difference and it literally is a matter of a few streets, basically divided by The Uxbridge Road, stay south of that if you can. What schools are you looking at?

Agree about Brentford. Very little to recommend it.

Just looked where Richmond Way is on Google Maps, I know that area well, quiet and lovely big houses. You could do much worse.

Oh wow thank you everyone for replies!

The stats on street checker for violent/sexual offences has put me off a bit as our daughter is a teenager and will be walking home on her own quite late some eves but other than that we really like the area. Crime stats is my biggest concern but I know sometimes it can look worse that it actually is.

www.streetcheck.co.uk/crime/w140eb

HollyGibney - we've been looking at Holland Park School because she loves art as well as Sacred Heart - so great catchment for both without the hefty Holland Park prices which we just couldn't afford.

Brentford too have a few great schools and we're able to get a bit more house within our price bracket.

Falafells I agree it doesn't feel as dynamic as Shebu and we love that everything is so easily accessible and can walk to Holland Park.

So !

Why not look at Ealing instead of Brentford?

How about Northfields?

We moved from Shepherds Bush to Northfields and have been very happy. I actually know a few other families that made the same move that are equally happy.

If you can afford a house in SB you'll definitely be able to afford Northfields/South Ealing both on the tube and ok for schools. My DD is a teenager and I'm much happier about her being out & about here than I would be back there.

Also one of DD's friends who lives round the corner goes to Holland Park because she is arty. Bit of a schlep but totally doable.

P.S. I forgot to add that Brentford has supposedly been on the up for years but nothing very much has changed in the last 10 - except more and more quite dense housing development and there is even more planned for the Morrison's site.

Brentford is a bit grim and under the flight path with nothing to redeem it, such as good transport links, etc.

It has a beautiful library with lovely staff 😉

Agree with other PPs about considering Ealing and Northfields. Both are very family friendly and have fantastic schools. I would not let my DC walk alone at night in SheBu, no way in hell.

I’ve never heard so much rubbish about SHeBu!!! It’s great. My DDs have lived there for several years as students in my flat and lots of children are round and about. They are all safe. Everyone needs their wits about them a bit in London late at night but not coming home from school! That’s just plain scaremongering!

We are nearer to Ravenscourt Park and just off the Goldhawk Road but the tree lined avenues are lovely and so is the community. It’s full of families and we have two primaries very close with children walking to and fro all the time to school and coming home from school. The secondary a bit further away has many children attending from the neighbourhood. They too are safe.

Like most of London, there is the odd person you would avoid - usually after Notting Hill Carnival. However other areas of London are no different and it’s becoming more and more gentrified. It really isn’t crime central against young women. My DDs have walked safely. The transport links are excellent. You would also be near Brook Green so what’s not to like? Ealing is so much further out. Although it is very pleasant. It’s just not handy for much.,

The worst DD saw was fighting outside the CAB when not everyone would be seen. Generally people get on with life and the area has many plus points for families and YoPros. It’s not edgy at all!

I've lived in both. Shepherd's Bush was edgy with police helicopters over all the time but, you know, it's not Harlesden or Kilburn- where I've also lived and they felt much more edgy. I moved from SB to Brentford then to isleworth because once you've moved out of the tube line you may as well go a little further and get more for your money. That was YEARS ago and Brentford was supposedly being gentrified then.

Out of those two choices I'd say ideally neither- go to Hammersmith instead- but if I had to pick it would be SB. You wouldn't get bored and it's so easy to get to and from.

Never seen police helicopters! Never seen any police! Police station has closed. It’s very easy going in nice roads now!