Blackheath/Greenwich

[800msprint]

Hello
Anyone live here with children? Do you like it? Any downsides? Great things? I know the area pretty well. I used to live in Maze Hill years ago.
Situation is we live out in Surrey. Commute not horrendous - maybe 1hour15 but DH works super long hours. We're considering moving back closer (he works in Cannon St) so this would make the commute a game changer. He could run in too. I'm freelance now but may well work again in London in the future.
Obviously know it's pricier. Aware primary catchments tiny and secondaries not great. Anything else I need to know about the area as a place to bring up kids? We liked it also as it feels quite easy to get out again unlike somewhere like Forest Hill. Also friends in Kent and family in Suffolk. Plus the green space and river. I do prefer Richmond but it's mega pricey and commute not that much better (though more frequent) and also somewhere likeTufnell Park but again not sure if too pricey and also too big a move with kids as not as villagey? I adore London but I'm a bit nervous of having rose tinted glasses and have got a bit used to being able to drive/no traffic/quiet etc!

Me! In Westcombe Park with 3 primary age kids. Absolutely love it and wouldn't move if I could help it. I also run/cycle to work often (near Cannon Street too)....it's a nice route along the river. Its true primary catchments are small but there are lots of decent primaries. We are just doing secondary applications this year. I'm happy for you to pm me if you have any questions

I'm also in blackheath. Absolutely love it here. We moved here to have our family and I'm never moving again. It's a fantastic place to raise kids with a great quality of life. I only have one child currently in yr 1 so I can't talk about secondaries yet, but if your children are strong academically plenty of children from the blackheath area go to the bexley/bromley/Kent grammar schools.

Great place to live but secondaries not so great (Thomas Tallis the best imo). Several private schools by bus and your child can be eligible for neighbouring boroughs grammar schools but this may depend on scores so tutoring is rife in the area. Love the park, the villages feel of Blackheath, transport connections good. Beware IKEA is coming soon so traffic around Maze Hill/Greenwich/Blackwell tunnel will be even worse than it is now with resultant pollution!

Oh this is very promising thank you!
Have you found it easy to make friends? I know this is a very personal question though and doesn't really depend on area!
And I know there is On Blackheath now - is there much else in the way of 'stuff going on' eg I was in Crouch end before and it was a real community vibe where there was a Crouch end festival and lots of vintage fairs and farmers markets which I loved pottering about in.
Are there any streets/areas to avoid or not as nice, again e.g we knew that hornsey wasn't as 'naice' as Crouch end but was still fine

Farmers market every Sunday in Blackheath village. Lots going on in Greenwich too of course....comedy festival next week, annual book festival.
Popularity/price of streets vary but there is nowhere I'd actively avoid. What sort of budget for what type of property?
I moved here from 200 miles away with a young child and knowing noone. Now one of the key reasons I wouldn't move apart from just loving the area is the great friends I have. There are active Facebook groups for local parents that are a good way to find out what is going on.

There's way too much to do! Anything you can think of really. For kids there is music at the Conservatoire or at the newish Greenwich music school at Charlton House plus lots of sports clubs in the area - cricket, rugby, athletics, gymnastics, rowing etc. Loads of parent and baby clubs and activities.

You will make friends at the school gates, in the gym, clubs, neighbours etc. Then of course you have Central London a 10 minute hop away from Maze Hill station for example. It's the best of all worlds I think and as safe as London ever gets.

Downside is housing costs - about £600,000 for a small two bed terrace in Maze Hill now.

Absolutely gorgeous areas. Personally prefer Greenwich to blackheath as there is more gong on.

Over the past 10 years it has really change in vibe and has a lot more people. As more companies move to canary wharf , I've found Greenwich to get busier as it is one of the only real villages within a very ashort commute of the wharf.