Muswell Hill - what type of folks live there?

[Pinkypurply88]

Contemplating moving to this neighbourhood. Visited a few times and it looks very pretty. But what are the people like who live there? I’m at home with kids so it matters to me.

Thinking because it’s fairly £££ it’ll be big job and nanny-ville? Meaning it’ll be harder to make friends? (As there won’t be many meandering mums!)

Anyone?

Well I don't know the area, but from what I know of it by hearsay, from Londoners, I'd say you're right.

Thanks, Jorgezaunders! What I suspected! Damn - I need the meandering mums (I’m pregnant and have older kids!)

The people I know there are lovely - loaded, private schools, etc

But quite a few meandering mums all the same

I don't think I'd be put off by the area

I worked in Muswell Hill for 20 years. The people there are nice but have no concept of real life as it is a fairly affluent area. One of our sayings at work was “she is a muswell hillian u have to excuse her”. I liked the area overpriced but nice.

Is it artsy? Or fairly conservative, does anyone know?

Ok I know it well.

It is a lovely area to live, lots of green space around, good schools, great high street and local facilities, plenty of activities for kids. I love it and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

It is very middle class. Most of the school mums I know work, though the majority are part time. It is not all lawyers and city people, there are a fair few media / artsy / academic types around, though less than say Crouch End.

As in any relatively wealthy area there can be a bit of middle class angst - chat about 11+, tutors, Ofsted etc. It is definitely a bit of a middle class bubble.

Parents tend to be quite involved in school life so it's very easy to make friends through school if you want to, at my school at least there's a lot of social stuff happening particularly in the early years when people are trying to get to know each other.

It's very left wing (currently Labour, was Lib Dem, the Tories don't get much of a look-in, strong Remain vote on Brexit)

Hope that helps

It's expensive, has a large Chassidic community comprising various sects, some quite poor, some extremely prosperous.

It's a pleasant, decent place to live.

If pregnant there are plenty of mums on mat leave going to baby groups (of which there are a billion) etc. After having our son in nursery a couple of years we are starting to feel we are really part of a lovely community here, the mums might work (as do I but two mat leaves is a lot of time not working ) but are around. The Facebook group Muswell Hill mums and dads is very helpful. Not arguing with the middle class bubble but I love it here!

Hasidic? I've lived there for years and haven't seen any significant community of that type? Where exactly?

It’s lovely. Very leafy and well healed.

Super state schools, great high street and plenty to do.

I don't live there but relatives do... I've seen a LOT of Jewish families when visiting

My cousins friends were 80% made up of Jewish children

Yes there's a Jewish community but not a Hasidic one as far as I've noticed.

@jessstan2 might you be thinking of Stamford Hill rather than Muswell Hill?

Both are in Haringey I think?

I think the PP may be getting confused with Stamford Hill.

I lived there when on maternity leave. Yes when going to baby classes etc it felt like I was there with mostly nannies. I never made any mummy friends there. Luckily I am good with my own company and I actually loved the area and found plenty to do every day there. Practically every day I would visit the park, shops and cafes and for me that was good enough. I did like it there but it was hard to make friends easily (& I don’t usually struggle socially or anything like that).

I had a glorious night of amazing sex with a very attractive man in Muswell Hill

Lol slinky! That’s a positive association!

That’s what I fear, user. I’m really not satisfied with my own company enough I definitely need the pals!

crummy - I am definitely not a worried-about-11-plus-type, or one to get a whole load of tutors or find the perfect private school. Perhaps I won’t fit?!! I went to a Steiner school somewhere very hippie and it has stuck with me a little 😂

Hmm perhaps I need to take my kids to the playground in Highgate Wood one day and see what the folks are like...

Lovely part of London. Have some friends round that way and they love it - kids in state rather than private. Wouldn’t mind at all living there and would happily swop my current patch!

State primary schools here are great and I know many people using them. I don’t actually personally know a lot of people sending their kids to private primary schools.

Nice area, crap public transport.

Not crap public transport if you live Highgate side near the tube. We were walking distance to tube for a few years and still are in an emergency eg if buses not running. Also could live with easy access to Finsbury Park/ Turnpike Lane I guess.

Fantastic schools - primary and secondary. Really friendly community - quite middle class, yes, but an interesting bunch. There is so much going on for children of all ages that you'll definitely find some kindred spirits amongst them!

Yes transport can be a bind but buses are frequent to Highgate, East Finchley, Bounds Green, Alexandra Palace.

House prices are steep, mind, although flatlining somewhat.