Plane noise in SW London

[lostlondoner]

I know the plane noise over Barnes, Kew, East Sheen, St Margs and Richmond Green is bad. If you live there does it bother you?
And are areas like Wimbledon, Teddington and Hampton Court any better?
Considering moving to this area for decent schools at primary and secondary but wondering if the plane noise would be too bad as we'd want to stay there long term. Would prefer the top three areas as the commute better but if the noise is considerably better in other places we might look there instead.

Doh! I've heard the first one in Petersham. Will come back on a westerly day.

You're bound to hear some though!

Just in Kingston having lunch outside. Not too noisy at all.

I think you do get used to it. I've got family in Barnes and they used to be in East Sheen. In a pub garden it would be quite noisy when the planes went over but it wasn't awful and even I switched off to it after a while. I quite liked waking up hearing planes in the sky. Parts of Barnes are so quiet, I still think it's so unusual for any part of London to be that quiet. Except for the planes remind.

We recently considered moving to St Margarets but decided against it after we went to visit. The planes were just too low. I think you need to spend time in these areas as everyone's threshold is different.

I've also in the past had a good friend who lived in Ham. Every time I stayed there I was woken up at 5am... but I do believe you can get used to it as it never bothered my friend.

JoJo, yes much higher.
OP, if you aer worried about Hampstead (if whaat JoJo said is going to happen) go a bit eastwards to Highgate/Crouch end, it's just eastwards so pretty sure they'll be ok. Highgate is much better than Hampstead imo, less crowded.

Like a PP we also live in Battersea. There's no denying the noise but somehow, after a while, we stopped noticing.

When we have visitors they are sometimes most discombobulated ... But longer term ones (we have family from the US who stay for a few weeks at a time) acclimatise.

I lived in East Sheen for a year and being woken by plane noise at 4.30am most mornings really affected my health. I couldn't get back to sleep as they were every few minutes and incredibly loud. It was a solid, well-mai tainted house with single glazing. I went to work tired. I was also aware of them walking around as it was either traffic noise or plane noise or both. Never quiet.
I live in South London now and there's a little Gatwick noise but barely noticeable.

Some noise is fine. I need to work out what I can tolerate. Am concerned I don't think it's going to be as much as Richmond/east sheen/Barnes levels. I did really like Wimbledon today though - Wimbledon village in particular - but there are next to no in year school places and it seems so competitive round there to get in anywhere as it's such a great area for families. And mega expensive. So a bit deflated.

Richmond borough has a few in year places in decent schools but yes the noise!

Yes yes to Highgate over Hampstead. And relieved it won't suffer the same.

Will go back when it's at peak noise level again to confirm.

Worn out now. Zzz

@DianaT1969 this is what I currently have but with a 3 year old ha ha! It does really affect your health doesn't it. I crave solid sleep.

Yes, I look back and I was grumpy and exhausted that year. I remember the anger at Heathrow's scheduling. How dare they wake up SO many people and children who need to get up for school in 3 hours. Purely for the sake of 200 people landing at 5am 😠

Have lived all over the borough. Teddington has been the best for peace and quiet, east sheen the worst .

Yes, Wimbledon Village is very fancy and priced accordingly. However, it does get cheaper as you walk a little further from it and the roads are nice whichever way you go. You just might end up with an uphill walk.

I lived in Ealing and Isleworth/Osterley. Ealing is the quieter of the two by far and has some great schools.

OP, are you just worried about the early mornings it will you be at home during the day? As pp have mentioned, there are four flight paths into Heathrow once planes have congregated from holding patterns. Either from the east or west (wind dependent) and either towards the North or South runway. On current scheduling they switch between north and south at 3pm (this may change in future as pp said). There's also a restriction on the number of flights which can arrive "early". I can't remember the exact window but I think between 4.30 am and 6am?
I used to hear them when I lived it Putney but it didn't bother me and on the rare occasion I was woken by an early one, I could go back to sleep. But the closer the Heathrow, the noisier they get, especially once wheels are down.
Definitely get to the areas you are interested in on a day they are flying into land over where you are.

Barnes is worse than st Margaret’s I think the planes are lower over Barnes. Depending on the winds evening flights take off over Twickenham. Also on sundays and if it’s an easterly wind I can hear them revving at lhr.

My DD lives on the flight path for Heathrow but in Peckham so the planes are not quite so low there. When I stay with her I hear them the minute the first one goes over at about 5am. She hears nothing and sleeps through them all. I guess you must just get used to it eventually.

@HJ40 not sure both I think. Since kids I wake at anything and I'm already chronically knackered. But also I'll be at home a lot more so daytimes too. I think my main concern is the early waking and also in summer not being able to relax in the garden with the relentless noise.

Where I am I can hear the m25 when I'm outside and it annoys me. Obviously doesn't affect my sleep unless I have the windows open. I try to imagine it's a waterfall rather than cars but still!

I try to imagine it's a waterfall rather than cars but still!

I think you mentioned on another thread you’re in East Surrey? If it’s the chilled out little town near the M25, then you do get plane noise too. I’ve heard it with my own ears. So maybe you will get used to a bit more noise?

The plane noise doesn't bother me here at all. Will revisit when I get the chance. Thanks everyone for input. Harder issue will be finding a school place I think!

Just get the Flightradar24 app and you can clearly see where the planes are and how low/large they are, frequency. The Heathrow runway changes landing and take off from the north to south runway iirc at 3pm.

If you’re viewing properties get your phone out and you will be able to gauge where the planes are.

If the M25 annoys you, sadly I don't think you'll find anywhere in London which is less noisy.

I moved from Wimbledon a few years ago as I couldn't cope with the noise anymore

@HJ40

Have you been to any of the towns or villages 1-2 miles from the M25? When the wind blows the wrong way, you get an incessant hum of the motorway. I’m in the outer burbs of London and get none of that. Even in built up areas in zones 2-3, you can have a completely quiet garden as the dense rows of terraced housing block the noise from traffic a few roads away. And it tends to only be one lane each way at quiet speeds so noting like the M25 even if clogged up.

@JoJoSM2 Fair enough, and yes I live in exactly one such place now. But when I lived in zone 2, Heathrow plane noise aside, I never found anywhere peaceful. Just my experience though.