Walthamstow Wood St?

[Dragontree17]

Hello! Looking for some knowledge/advice on the Walthamstow Wood St area (I'm a long time lurker but this is my first ever MN post, hope it's in the right place - I've looked at some old threads on Walthamstow but hoping for some up to date info)

My husband and I are looking to upsize to a house, we currently own a 2-bed flat in Hackney Central and have lived around Haggerston, Dalston and Hackney for the last 6 years and absolutely love it - I'm also from Hackney originally but houses are sadly now way beyond our max budget. We're no strangers to places being a bit rough around the edges and love being somewhere with lots going on, plenty of diversity and mix of local shops and amenities. We feel like we have a real community vibe right now, and we're hoping to start a family in the next couple of years, so looking for somewhere well connected and good for families

We've looked at a couple of houses in Walthamstow on advice from people we know, liked the village but found the area south of that and west off Hoe St where we were looking a bit desolate. Some lovely houses but literally just that, streets of houses.

We're looking at a couple more immediately west of Wood St, sort of between the village, Forest Road and Wood St. It looks closer on the map to the livelier bits of Walthamstow but I've been a bit put off hearing that these are 'gang' roads and that Wood St is high for crime - any thoughts on this area? We live near a dodgy estate now but I've never really felt unsafe, but I suppose I feel like I 'know' Hackney though.

For our budget we're also looking around Turnpike Lane / Bowes Park as a comparison?

Any advice or tips massively appreciated!

I think I live in the bit you’re describing as desolate! I’m not
Far from Blackhorse Road tube/Palmerston Road. I know what you mean, it does look a bit depressing those streets, however, I’ve really settled here. People are genuinely friendly, the schools are good and there are more and more restaurants and cafes etc popping up. Plus, I’m a ten minute walk from the Victoria line or the overground so it’s really well linked.

As for Wood Street, I always think it’s a bit ‘out of the way’ and prefer my side overall.

Oh, and we considered Turnpike Lane but decided against it.

www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-data/met/crime-data-dashboard/

You can look on there. At the safer neighbourhood view, there’s one homicide in the Wood St area and some more in the surrounding areas. If you look at possession of weapons and drug offences, it’s less rough than some from the surrounding areas (but far from safe).

I have to say I have never personally felt unsafe here.

I live in Walthamstow, and as much as I love Hackney and wish i could have afforded to buy there, I feel safer in E17 (maybe because I'm only ever in Hackney if it's for a night out)

I can't don't know much about the Wood Street area personally as I'm on the other side, but when I pass through it seems like there's a lot going on.

@Sharonthetotallyinsane oh gosh I'm so sorry I've just realised how that sounds! Absolutely did not mean to offend I do also see the appeal of a nice residential community. Also think the bit we were looking at was further south than where you are - closer to Lea Bridge Rd.

What made you decide on Walthamstow over Turnpike Lane, if you don't mind me asking? Just general vibe?

@JoJoSM2 Thanks so much for the stats - I guess I'm looking for a bit of first hand experience of the area as well. I live in an area now that comes off considerably worse in terms of stats, but similarly to Sharon I've never felt personally unsafe and love where I currently live. Guess I just don't want to get stuck somewhere that's known as a trouble spot!

Thanks so much both

Not heard of particular crime around wood street. Beware some roads which are now rat runs (Valentin rd). Seems to be a lot going on around there, good shops, cafes and ten min walk to the village. You’d prob be in the catchment for st. mary’s and Woodside (which used to be considered awful but has massively improved).

No offence taken. I moved from leafy North London to walthamstow so it took a bit of getting used to!

I felt that Turnpike Lane didn’t have much going on really, whilst walthamstow had restaurants, comedy nights, coffee shops etc popping up and I can’t say I’ve ever particularly liked Wood Green as a shopping destination. Plus the transport links weren’t as good as walthamstow.

Are you looking off of Markhouse Road area? It does get a bit ‘bleak’ in the hinterland between walthamstow and Leyton.

I’d agree re Turnpike Lane (and we previously lived not far away). It seems v crammed in together and a bit grim, quite overcrowded.

Around Walthamstow the one bit I wouldn’t consider is St James, seems to be fairly constant gang stuff and crime.

Vallentin Road is apparently one of the most dangerous in the UK www.thesun.co.uk/news/7347834/vallentin-road-dangerous-street/

I grew up in Walthamstow and the Wood Street area always had a 'reputation' for being rough. Even when my Nan lived there when she was young, it was not the nice part of Walthamstow.

Tbh though, it's okay, but not sure I would want to move back! If you live in Hackney there's not much difference. I'd rather be near the village though.

Thanks so much for the tips all, massively appreciate it!

@Otter46 thanks so much for the intel - yeah we liked the look of the independent shops that seemed to be springing up on Wood St, it felt livelier than Hoe St with the covered market, Georgian village etc. Plus the short walk to the village, pubs etc.

@loutypips Yeah that's sort of what we'd heard, although I'd read about that Sun story being debunked as well. I guess Clapton used to be murder mile though and I'd live there if I could afford it! I'm just not familiar with the area. We're looking at Turner Road and surrounding, which seem like a nice little roads of Victorian houses, and felt like a good distance from both the village and Lloyd's Park... Thanks for the heads up though

Really appreciate the input all, it seems like a lot of people feel settled coming from other parts of London which is really encouraging, really nice to know there's a lot going on!

@sharonthetotallyinsane I'm in that hinterland! It is bleak but I love our house and we got it for about 75k less than similar ones half a mile away, so I'm hoping I won't live to regret it.

Haha we have just made almost the exact same move! Priced out of a family home in Dalston. We looked at a few houses round Wood Street, I really liked the area slightly east of the road itself (more 30s houses than Victorian which is my personal preference). But in the end had to compromise with DH who was all about the garden, so we've ended up in Higham's Park/Woodford Green to get a bit of extra outside space.

I like it here but felt that Wood Street definitely had a bit more going on. We are a couple of train stops from Walthamstow rather than a short walk, and you notice the difference in commute I think.

Have friends who bought near Wood Street last year and they love it.

I think the thing about walthamstow is that it’s rarely anyone’s first choice, a lot of people I meet have floated over from Hackney so subsequently are keen to make friends. It is a genuinely friendly place.

@HotChoc10 and @FreiasBathtub, thanks both so much for your comments! Really good to know, honestly really appreciate the first hand experience and feeling positive about the area and Walthamstow in general, ha.

@Sharonthetotallyinsane Yes totally see your point!

@Sharonthetotallyinsane the estate agents used to laugh at us when we said we were moving from Hackney so we could buy a house. Apparently we were a mega-cliche! We were also mindful of air quality with two small kids and Epping Forest is a big plus in that regard.

@Dragontree17 definitely a good idea to move before children if you can. Babies are nearly as good as dogs as a way of making friends. And, speaking from bitter experience, attempting to move your child between schools is a complete nightmare.

It's one of the cheapest parts of walthamstow..there are teens dealing on corners..walk around at night etc..not as bad as James st which has bad drug and gang issues. There is a large council estate in wood st and also expensive new builds next door. We left hackney in the 70, s and moved to Leyton which is now all trendy etc.

The Georgian village used to be overpriced antiques in the 80, s..now full of tat mostly.. not sure how it survive s !