Is Abbey Wood a nice place to live?

[itsmehere1]

I was looking at Abbey Wood for buying a house. It seems like a good investment potential when the crossrail is complete.

How's it like to live there? Any mums out there who could give me the inside picture?

I don’t live there but I don’t like visiting, it has quite an.... uncomfortable feel to the place. Don’t know what it is, I just don’t like it.

I think there are some nicer areas but still a lot that are not so nice. But I do think for a long term investment you'd do well. Not far from the Bexley grammar schools either if you have dcs

@itbemay oh that’s good to know. Could you point me towards nice areas/lanes? We are looking for primary catchments as of now

It's known locally as Scabby Wood (sorry)

@QueenCity yikes yeah I have heard. Do you know of any roads to avoid or is it bad as a whole?

It's not desirable hence the low prices.

Otherwise known as scabby wood.

Why is it not desirable exactly? Is it because of street gangs/violence? Anything specific ?

I like Abbey Wood. There's some nice Victorian housing stock to the South of the station and towards Plumstead. Lot's of green space.
Abbey Wood to the North of the station is getting redeveloped. The high street has been done up (although it has its design flaws, it shows that money is being spent in the area.)

I've had lots of architect friends move to the area in the last couple of years, doing up their houses and building extensions. Actually, if you walk the streets, there's a lot of refurb/extension work going on, which is a good sign. Also look at Plumstead, it's lovely! Especially the streets around the common, but also the High Street has gotten funding to be improved and getting a new library.

All in all, I think Abbey Wood has the ingredients to become amazing once crossrail kicks off.

Abbeywood has some lovely housing stock although prices have already shot up due to the impending Crossrail. There are some large social housing estates in the area which have a bad reputation for anti social behaviour (but not stabbings etc). It is also blighted by its proximity to Thamesmead. There are no decent shops nearby really - you'd have a short drive/bus to Woolwich or the other way to Thamesmead. The roads around the Welling border are nice or by Plumstead Cemetry but these are further away from the station.

Plumstead Common has nice housing stock too and is a bit cheaper at the moment. Will be a 5 min drive to the Woolwich Crossrail station and closer to nicer areas like Blackheath and Greenwich.

Sorry, forgot to say I dont know anything much about primary schools but some of the Bexley Grammar secondary schools are within catchment and the Dartford Grammar schools too.

In London, cheap either means undesirable or poorly connected. Abby Wood is about to be really well connected. Make of that what you will.

Thanks for your replies BuildingThings and MrsPatmore.

I live in Abbey Wood for the past 10 years and I am raising four children. Its an excellent place to live. Yes 10 years ago I would not go to some places at certain time but things have changed and with the cross-rail coming in there is a lot of development. I have some excellent neighbours and there are a lot of young families moving in. The great thing about Abbey Wood you are so close to many excellent schools either in Bexleyheath or Dartford many grammar schools to choose from. This is what brought me to Abbey Wood in the first place. Plus the value of properties have almost tripled since I came to live here. Other aspects of Abbey Wood is the woods you never get such open spaces in other parts of London so close to where you live. I spend most of my singleton days hanging around Camden and Islington but definitely+= this is the place to be if you are looking for a bargain at the same time not willing to compromise on quality of life. I have decided now to put down some roots in this calm and pretty south east London.

Planning to move to Abbey Wood - are there roads to avoid? Areas which are 'nicer' than others? I need to be near a station (within a mile) to commute to London Bridge.

Maybe look at Sidcup or New Eltham? Faster connection and similar prices but better reputation/safer.

I live in New Eltham and love it. It's cheap, very green, with lots of parks, and safe. A friend who came to visit said she thought the area was "an undiscovered gem". I agree. Sidcup is also pleasant and safe.

However, I know of some lovely people who live in Abbey Wood -teachers and nurses - everything will change with Crossrail and it will be a great investment.

maps.cdrc.ac.uk/#/geodemographics/imde2019/default/BTTTFPT/14/0.1211/51.4903/

Choose non-red areas for ‘nicer’.

But yes, looking at pricing in Abbey Wood, it seems you won’t be saving much/any money moving there vs somewhere that’s good for greenery/amenities/schools/transport and not quite as deprived.