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Norbury vs redhill

34 replies

LillyC · 10/01/2020 18:59

Dear all,
As so many others decided not to wait anymore and going into the property ladder. I lived 7 years in Brentford and the last 1 year ish in Twickenham, both areas where I can't afford (only by a miracle) as I'm after a 3 bed. Areas outside which I'm considering are Morden / Norbury / redhill area. Needs to be 15m or less walking to a train. I've seen a really nice house in the Norbury hill but I've seen a post from 2015 saying crime is really high and its a shit hole really. I liked redhill area but unsure about the move. Anyone that lives in either of those that would comment on how it is to live in either area please? DS is 3 but being a September girl I'll need to apply in September this year for 2021, so having good schools is also a must. So unsure about what to do. I'll do my own research and visit those areas but wanted to have some feedback from anyone who knows the areas as well. Big thanks in advance!!!

OP posts:
BrokenLogs · 12/01/2020 12:12

We lived in Norbury for 7 years, left 18 months ago to come back to Aus.

Whenever we discussed moving to a different area in London I just couldn't find a better connected area for dh and I. He worked in the city, I was in West London and we used Gatwick a lot.

WombatChocolate · 12/01/2020 15:20

Redhill is quite a large area and gives you a choice of several areas of the twin, each with its own station, character and price tag to choose from.

The centre has some older houses plus modern flats and some rather grotty small estates. It has great access to the town facilities and station giving you half hour journeys into Vicoria or London Bridge (or bit longer to Blackfriars) if you get the fast trains. Some of the catchment schools in the centre are the less desirable ones. There is a large attractive park in the centre with nice play areas and cafes. The leisure centre isn't far from the centre.

Earlswood is part of Redhill, about 3/4 mile south and has more green spaces and mostly older houses in a range of sizes. It has its own station which is one stop from Redhill and lots of people who live there use a mix of Earlswood and Redhill stations, as Redhill is also within walking distance. Earlswood trains take about 40-45 mins as are the slower trains. It has a highly regarded primary school and for secondary children go to either Warwick or Reigste School (depending on where they live in Earlswood - Reigste School more sought after)

St John's is very near Earlswood but other side of main road and more villagey with a range of old houses and newer stuff and lots of green space. It doesn't have its own station but people use Earlswood or Redhill and it has a very sought after primary school St John's and the kids tend to go onto Reigate School which is about 1.5-2 miles away.

Meadvale is officially Redhill but equi-distant to Reigate. No station and a bit far to walk to Redhill or Reigate or Earlswood station probably. Children go to schools in Reigate and Redhill from there, depending on where they live.

Merstham is just north of Redhill. It has an area of Victorian housing plus a large estate of council/ex council houses and quite a few new houses being built. It has its own station which also has the slower trains running with the journey about 35-40 mins. It has 2 primaries which are pretty well regarded - one is on the estate and the other in the older part, plus a new primary and secondary on the edge of
Mertham.

Redgate isn't an official area, but named by estate agents. It's the area of Victorian housing on the border of Redhill and Reigate and is probably the most expensive bit of Redhill. It has green areas around it and is a good location for walking to Redhill station plus can be walkable to Reigate too. Children mostly go to the Redhill primaries and it probably isn't in the catchment for the popular ones like Earlswood and St Johns and can be borderline for Reigate School too - lots of children seem to go to private schools.

The most sought after Secondary is probably St Bedes in north Redhill - a cross denominational Church School with quotas for C of E, Catholic and FreeChurch - but very few places for those without a 3 year Church attendance record. Children go there from a wide geographical radius, with most being Redhill/Reigate and the villages nearby.

People commute from Redhill station from all of the above areas. parking at the station is under massive pressure and isn't easy so lots of people cycle or get dropped off. People also use Earlswood and Merstham stations which are also pressured for parking or some drive further in for cheaper fares.

Property in Redhill ranges in style and price. 3 bed houses can be got for well under £400k, especially as you go further south beyond the hospital. Larger 3-4 beds can also cost well over £750k in the more popular areas.

LillyC · 12/01/2020 16:13

Thanks WombatChocolate, that was really detailed! I've looked into a new development in Mershtam and also I'm looking into some houses in Earlswood. Im an early bird commuter but would walk (as I'm a bad driver).
In terms of Norbury, yeah out of the picture now. from all of that areas only liked carshalton, but rarely properties pop in there that we would be able to afford.
So most likely. unless we can get something in Twickenham and around we might indeed move all the way to Redhill areas.

OP posts:
mangocoveredlamb · 12/01/2020 17:14

Lots of new developments in merstham. Friendly neighbours and a good sense of community, particularly once you hook into the school networks.
I would say it’s a bit lacking I anythjng other than basic shops, but the library and new hub plus coop are great!
We moved here 10 years ago when it wasn’t v desirable at all, but have made real life long ties, I wouldn’t go anywhere else!

littlecontis · 13/01/2020 10:08

Hello! We are also considering a move to the Redhill area, can I also ask your opinion on Salfords please? Thanks in advance.

WombatChocolate · 13/01/2020 10:45

Salfords is further south than Earlswood and just north of Horley. It has a mix of big, quite expensive houses (mix of old and new) and a large housing estate. There isn't much there but it has a train station and is one stop closer to Brighon than Earlswood. Therefore it is on the slow lime and will take about 50 mins to Lomdon. The state primary has not been well regarded in recent years.

Personally (and sorry if I offend anyone) but I don't think there is much in Salfords - there is a parade of shops, but it's basically the A23 between Redhill and Horley. Somehow to me it seems less of a community than somewhere like Earlswood or St John's and more of an out post. I think that's because both Earlswood and St Johns, seem to have more of a centre plus are walking distance to Redhill centre. I'm not sure if children go to secondary in Redhill or Horley from there, and wouldn't have thought it would access the msot desirable schools.
I will be honest though and also say Salfords is the area I know least well and I wouldn't call it part of Redhill myself, but people living. There might do.

LillyC · 13/01/2020 10:55

Regarding Salfords the only thing I saw was that it had some inadequate schools (primary) which is a big no for me

OP posts:
LIZS · 13/01/2020 10:58

Salfords is handy if you work at hospital or airport but agree it is a bit of a non place with few shops, mixed housing and is split across A23. There is also a significant flood risk near the Beefeater pub and the fields north of Horley (where currently new housing is going up!).

littlecontis · 13/01/2020 11:20

Thanks all for your quick and helpful responses.

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