Kew, Muswell Hill/Highgate or Victoria Park Village?

[Greengreen88]

All so different! Looking to move out of central London with young kids and like these three areas a lot.

Which would you choose?

Kew - I love because of Kew Gardens and it’s proximity to Richmond (but find Richmond too busy).

Muswell Hill / Highgate I like because of the wood, and how easy it is to walk to Hampstead Heath.

Victoria Park Village I like because of the vibe and it’s the easiest transition from my current central situation.

Which would you choose? I have no idea. I don’t want to rent first, because I want to settle the kids in and really make a home. We keep hanging out in each area, but it makes the decision no easier!

Bumping

Highgate for sure. I am biased because I love the Heath. I think I prefer Hampstead itself though, or Gospel Oak, especially because of the Overground Link.
Muswell Hill has bad transport links and Kew, though nice, is too far away for me.
Just personal opinions though!

Victoria Park village for me. Lived nearby for ten years and left a year ago. If I won the lottery I’d move back! It’s a lovely, lovely place and very well connected for central London.

How old are your children? Are you looking at local schools?

Kew every time. We lived in Muswell Hill and Kew. Muswell Hill is , lovely but no tube. Kew has the river, a tube station and feels more open.

Interesting! So mixed! Ah!

I do have children who will need to go to school. Not sure about trying for private schools or going local, to be honest.

I don’t have friends in any area (my friends are not budging from central!) so am hoping to go somewhere that has a really strong community. And somewhere my kids will feel safe (for London), and a lovely place for them to grow up and feel a belonging to.

Would the plane noise in Kew bother you? And do you need to get anywhere by public transport? There’s a reason muswell hill is as (relatively!) affordable given its’ loveliness (Highgate every time if your budget will stretch). Lovely dilemma!

Kew is lovely but, oh god, the planes. Other parts of the borough get some relief but it seems relentless over Kew. Richmond borough (inc Kew) primary schools are excellent. Look at st Margaret’s, Strawberry Hill, parts of Twickenham, Teddington , the Hamptons.

I think I’d probably get used to the planes... I have a lot of traffic noise right now! (Might as well say - I live in shoreditch).

But I want to be away from traffic because of pollution. Every time I’ve visited each area, the traffic has been alright? It’s so hard to choose!

For Muswell hill, I want to be very close to the wood, which sort of puts me a walk from Highgate tube or a walk from East Finchley.

Same with Kew being close to the gardens and Victoria Park, the park.

Perhaps I should be planning this much more around schools?!

Thank you for those Kew school suggestions!

But yes - DH and I need to be in Shoreditch 2/3 times a week. Because it’s not much time, we don’t mind a commute.

I’d go with Kew/the borough of Richmond out of these options. I’d love the river + the state schools in the borough or Richmond are ridiculously good (I think best in the country) and it’s also one of the safest boroughs in London.

Perhaps I should be planning this much more around schools?!

Yeah, you probably should be!

My order of preference would be 1. Victoria Park Village 2. Highgate 3. Kew

But then I am hackney girl at heart albeit I've been priced out and pushed out to waltham forest :-)

VP v kew is quite geographically far though - if you have friends in Kew you won't see much of them when you're in VP and vice versa. So where you friends and family are would be important to me.

Thanks blueskies going to start researching schools!

I don’t have friends in any, really. Acquaintances in a few. I’d be starting all over again no matter which I chose. Victoria Park less so, as it’s close to where I am already (which is why it’s on the list).

I was considering a move out of london altogether - but realised I’m finished with Shoreditch after nearly 20 years, not London itself! I am really done with heavy traffic and crowds and it being built-up. I want some fresh air! Which is why I like Kew (the gardens and the river) and Highgate (the Wood and the Heath) and Victoria Park.

I want to move somewhere and really make it a “forever home”, though, so am so worried about getting it right! The community matters a lot. Where I am now is incredibly transient - friends move on and abroad constantly - I don’t want to go to another very transient place (I have to admit, that’s my one reservation about Hackney).

I wouldn’t put that pressure on yourself. You might get the move right or you might not. The areas are quite different so I’m not sure you’re very clear about your must-haves and nice-to-haves even though you know what you appreciate about the different locations.

You make a good point, JoJoSM2! You have inspired me to make a list of “must haves” and “nice to haves”. I do love a list

I’m not sure VP is a huge change from Shoreditch? Still quite urban and busy and trafficy?

Highgate/crouch end

Muswell Hill:) Have been here for over 3 years.
Highgate tube is c.12 minutes walk for us or less than 5 minutes by bus.

What’s your budget?
MWH is very suburban, unless you’re near the high street it’s just rows and rows of long avenues. Great schools though.
Not keen on some parts near Highgate wood as there’s so much traffic.

Not much too add except - we’ve recently moved elsewhere in Richmond which is very much on the flight path and part of me was like oh people keep mentioning these planes and then I’d get a bit worried. Honestly it’s totally fine. We’ve been here less than 2 months and are used to it. My neighbours kid woke me up at 5am the other morning shouting “mummy” as they were getting a taxi to holiday but no planes have woken me up yet!

And it’s so unlike London here as you can tell we didn’t do much research (think the visits totalled 4 which was all house viewings but I’m really happy how it’s all worked out)

Kew.
Though I’d suggest Chiswick (even nicer- Duke’s Meadows/Chiswick House/Grove Park areas of Chiswick in particular).

I’m not sure VP is a huge change from Shoreditch? Still quite urban and busy and trafficy?

No, they're like chalk and cheese. VP is lovely and green and leafy, and has a fabulous community feel with LOTS of families. Although urban and busy is less than 10 mins walk away if the OP gets withdrawal symptoms.

Since you've obviously got the budget OP, I'd go for Victoria Park around Lauriston Road. Highgate/Muswell Hill in 2nd place. I wouldn't even consider Kew as that's too far out.

Have you considered Blackheath? Or Belsize Park? (still handy for Hampstead Heath)

@Greengreen88 once you have made up your list of "Must Haves" you might find this website helpful for finding places that meet your list :)

You can put priority on things like being close to good schools, public transport, green space, supermarkets, etc and it'll match you to the homes that best meet those criteria. Great for inspiration!

Kew all the way - close to the Gardens but also Richmond & Bushy Park but most of all for the river ❤️ The Thames path is extraordinarily beautiful and goes for miles in both directions. I'm a runner and it's the reason I've not yet left London. I just love it. Also good for walkers & cyclists

You'd be mad to decide without considering schools very carefully.

For a sense of community, I think a good state primary is best as the students will live much closer than private thanks to catchment areas.

The Highgate side of Crouch End has nice housing, lots of greenery and in the catchment for Coleridge an excellent (if big) primary. An easy commute down the Northern line to Old St.

Highgate all day long. Schools, villagey atmosphere, views over London and fab houses. If my budget stretched I’d be there in a heart beat.