Living in Walthamstow with small kids

[Bennyc01]

Hi all, this is a message for E-17'ers. Me and my wife moved to Walthamstow (near Queens Road station) in February, and absolutely love the area. By March I'll be a dad, and in theory I'm glad we aren't hiding away in a staid suburb for this first chapter of parenthood. Community here is a big plus-point, and I'm not ready to jump all the way into middle age just yet (I'm 31, my wife is 29) so living in an exciting place still feels important. That said, I'm not seeing everything through the lens of a parent yet, and wondered how others have found living in Walthamstow with young children.

Thanks!
Ben

I don’t know Walthamstow but I’ve got a small kid.

Have a look at things like NCT, pregnancy classes, baby classes (eg sensory, music, swimming, singing, signing etc), playgroups, activities for older children (eg ballet, rainbows, tennis and other sports).

Have a look around green spaces and playgrounds (also how busy/safe roads and pavements are for toddlers/ little kids on scooters and bikes).

Check out soft plays, pottery cafes and other such stuff. Check out childcare options. If you do fitness classes yourself, see if there are any to bring kids to or if there are crèches. See if cafes have space for buggies or even play corners.

In you're looking slightly further ahead, check out catchments and quality of schools (google the ‘compare school performance’ government website + read Ofsted reports).

All of that should give you a good idea of how good the area is with little kids.

Also in walthamstow...grove road since 1969 when village was one of cheapest areas !! so kids long grown up and gone ! Lots going on for parents and small children..obvs not as much as usual now..join some of the FB groups.

I live in Upminster, previously Leyton, Walthamstow my old stomping ground. I know it really well.
Although lots to do with small children, and obviously well connected, I would never raise my children there. The crime is terrible, it always was rough, but more so over the past 5 years. I shudder at the thought of my 2 older boys growing up there. So much knife crime but also alot of casual violence. Groups of kids starting on each other. You live there, so you have obviously seen what outside the station is like past 10pm. I moved to Upminster because I needed to be easily commutable to London (husband works there, I take the kids up to the museums, shows alot etc) but it is a safer place with excellent schools. I'm glad you like Walthamstow, but it's not for teenagers if you want them safe..

Ps sorry to be negative, I know it has many nice qualitiea and everywhere is rough in places, but I think Walthamstow is one of the most dangerous places to live. Type in knife crime in walthamstow into google..

Some mixed impressions, then! The schools do seem first-rate round here, our local has been graded as outstanding by Ofsted. And the parks are superb, St. James' seems to be choc full of kids. Thanks for the tips. As for serious crime, it must be persons known to one another in out-of-the-way places. I doubt I'll still be here beyond primary-school age, but I'm yet to get a sense of it being a threatening area. Our local "gang" seem harmless-enough, we often exchange a casual nod as I walk by: because you're only in Walthamstow because you live there, you see the same people day-in and day-out and so build a recognition. I grew up in Hampstead and then Highgate, two places every parent would bet on being safe but trouble was everywhere. And if I dared leave those areas I stuck out like a sore thumb!

Are you on Facebook? If so, join Walthamstow Parents - it's got all the info you need.

You've probably noticed that Walthamstow is bursting with young families. The schools are great - nurseries are massively over-subscribed, so I'd suggest you get on the lists now if you need a place (St Saviour's down your way is brilliant). Pretty much all the primaries in E17 are great. Lockdown aside, there's so much to do with little kids. Mine is in school now, but pre-school, we filled our days with the parks/playgrounds, toy library, Bong-a-long music for babies, parent & baby yoga, swimming, softplay, strolls in the forest etc. At the weekend, kids seem to be welcome everywhere (most pubs, cafes, etc).

We've lived in E17 for 8 years now - we only planned to stay for 3 ...

Oh...well lived in e17 since 1969..never experienced any street crime or mugging etc although dd did have phone snatched once some years ago...was warned about using phone during a spate of moped snatchings but ignored me..!!..you just need to avoid certain areas at particular times....st james st station area...lots of gangs and dealers hang around at night...been there for years....parts of wood st...also a bit iffy...yes...there were lots of stabbings a few years ago but seems to have calmed down....brother lives in leyton also since the 60's and no issues....its changed so much there....sister in middle class Redbridge has experienced much more crime...2 cars stolen, attempted mugging, scam door knockers etc.....