Walthamstow with primary age children?

[goteam]

Lockdown has solidified our need to move from our 2 bed flat. We go over lots of ideas from moving out of London nearer family up north to further out in London and have considered Haringey Ladders, Southgate, Wnchmore hill and Alexandra Palace. The latter especially has a great secondary school but I really want to live somewhere with it's own community and I think many areas in London including our current area suffer from being too well connected so never develop their own identity and feels a bit transient.

Walthamstow seems somewhere that does have it's own identity and moreover 4 bed houses for less than 900k.

Can anyone share what it's like to live there? If we stay in London we need to stay north of the river for work and ease of travelling north.

Check out Bushwood area of leytonstone. In catchment for redbridge schools (wanstead high school) opposite Wanstead flats for greenery. Nice pubs and cafes. But on central line.

Will do @HRH2020

Following with interest.. what do people make of secondaries for boys? It looks like the contenders are Walthamstow Academy, Bremer and possibly Highams Park if far north enough?

@OP You could also check out highams park - two stops to Walthamstow Central or carry on direct to Liverpool St. Wanstead, South Woodford are nice but not as useful for your commute.

@peachypetite thanks. Looks nice too. @ElkieMacjibe not sure about boys options. We need to look into that too. DS is very sporty so need somewhere with lots of sports facilities for ours. Want to look at GCSE results too. There are some really high achieving state schools in other areas we have looked at in north London but the neighbourhoods themselves aren't really right for us (Finchley, Southgate, Alexandra Park)

Which part of Walthamstow were you thinking of?

@Magicbabywaves not sure as we dont know it that well but I guess upper walthamstow, the village area and surrounding streets and maybe near lloyd park. Wood street seems nice too.

We moved from a flat in Walthamstow (Lloyd Park area) to Leytonstone, in the Bushwood area that a PP mentioned.

If you want a more buzzy, Hackney vibe then Walthamstow is the better option but we prefer being in Leytonstone. It's quieter, feels safer and primary wise we are in the catchment for more Redbridge schools than Waltham Forest which I preferred.

2 minutes walk to Wanstead Flats and prefer the food options in Wanstead to Leytonstone but really happy here.

DS will start primary school in September, and he's going to a school in Wanstead which is only a 10 minute walk from our house.

We like Wanstead because DH's family are there but where we are was much more affordable without compromising too much.

Ok, not my bit then! If you’ve got 900k you can get something nice in upper Walthamstow. Despite living here a fair few years, I’ve never been to Wanstead or Leytonstone! They sound nice and green though which it isn’t round my way so much although the wetlands is close.

I know friends who don't think much of the secondary schools so may move later...we have been on grove road in village borders for years...maybe over 30... It's all changed a lot and pleased we stuck it out..our house cost very little then....lots of plans going through for lots more tower blocks and flats again which look awful...the council loves all these high rises...I think it will ruin the area eventually....too much overcrowding already on trains etc !