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!)

Lived there for a bit and in decades past family on both sides did. Public transport limited to buses, so worse than many areas .
Nice, middle class area. Bit more artsy than some.
Parking really shocking as no tube.
Schools used to grim but sounds like they have improved.
Not very Jewish area compared to Mill Hill for example.

They’re usually quite boring a materialistic. But I may be biased because my MIL lived there for a while and never quite shook it off. I found it very uninspiring. Lots of chain restaurants and the like. Quite suburban.

I used to live there. Loved it but you need to be prepared to get a bus down to Finsbury Park or Highgate for the tube. Not awful but can make commuting a bit hit and miss. Safe, middle class, good schools etc.

I’m not in love with the chain restaurant/ chain shop thing. But struggling to find a “naice” London spot that’s folksy and shop local etc... so difficult! Why can’t an area have everything?

Tale a look at Crouch End perhaps?

Doesn’t quite seem as green as Muswell Hill (all the woods etc) - but I don’t know it well st all! Will take another look!

OP, the Alexandra Palace side of MH is nice too. It's not as gentrified as the centre of MH but the houses are nice and the local parade of shops on Alexandra Park Road is more independent.

I've lived here for ten years now and have two young children. I don't see us leaving for a long time. There's a really nice mix of working parents and stay at home parents and I've made some firm friends through the children. There's also plenty for the children to do during the holidays all within the locality.

Yes there are an increasing number of chains on the Broadway but that's a small price to pay in my view!

My friend lives there and loves the area but it’s pretty much what you said. She is a SAHM and arranges play dates with nannies rather than parents.

One of the Instagram mums lives in MH.

Ooh which one of the Instagrammers, chocolate? I can stalk her profile and see if i’d see myself as friends with her

I agree the shops are mostly chains but the independent cafes are working very hard to get by and crouch end is very close. We used to walk there regularly.

But struggling to find a “naice” London spot that’s folksy and shop local etc.

Depending on your budget, have a look around the north side of Victoria Park in east London. Very nice (there's a Ginger Pig and a Gail's Bakery amongst other shops) and a real community feel. No chain shops. The Pavilion cafe in Victoria Park does an excellent breakfast.

I lived opposite Highgate Woods (technically I was in Highgate rather than Muswell Hill) when I first moved to London many years ago. I really liked the area. Very green and leafy. Buses were fast and frequent but the Northern line was a law unto itself at times. I didn't find people in the area to be particularly friendly though (although I didn't have kids so...).

But compared to near Victoria Park where I am now, people are MUCH more friendly in east London (massive generalisation I know!). I visit the park a lot and it's very common for some random person to start up a conversation. It's more arty than Muswell Hill, but still tons of kids (and a lot of SAHDs - of which my artist cousin is one). Nearly got knocked over by the Nappy Laundry Collection man on his hipster tricycle last week. Looked like he had a full load as well so could have been very messy

I agree, look at Crouch End. I think it was cheaper than MH in my day.

I used to live in East Finchley so I was on the tube but used to go to Muswell Hill to shop. I used to love that church pub and Crocodile coffee shop (?) Are they still there?!

I used to see so many slebs wandering around, mostly Eastenders slebs, ha! Does that count/

a few more thoughts...

Transport - it's better over the Ally Pally side as you have both Ally Pally overground and Bounds Green underground.

High Street - I don't find the high street that chain-y - plenty of independent cafes and shops. As a PP said there's a nice (small) parade of shops near Albert Rd.

Schools - a lot of people go for state as they are v good - don't know the age of your kids but be careful about catchment areas as some are very small indeed.

Personally I find Crouch End more crowded than Muswell Hill (narrower roads, less green open space) and a bit too pretentious / trying-to-be-hipster-y... but lots of people love it.... has a reputation as being rather more media / artsy whereas M Hill more suburban. Both equally pricey I think.

It's similar to Crouch End, in that - you'll be fine if you have a car.

Ooh I didn't know there was an Instagrammer! There are loads of celebs which makes the school run / supermarket dash a bit more entertaining.

It's not very hipster but it doesn't pretend to be. But there is a friendly inclusive vibe with plenty of non lawyers/accountants/doctors around.