Re: Multicultural areas on the outskirts of London

[Meryl09]

Hi all,

We are a family of 4 myself, husband and two young children we have been living in North London we would really love to move ideally to a 3 bedroom house for around £450k on the outskirts of London or maybe a bit further. Good schools would be one of the main factors especially secondary schools and an easy commute to London. When we move we plan to be there for at least the next 10 years.

I am mixed race and my partner is black, we live in a very diverse area at present and from my experience of growing up in a not so multicultural area. It is important for our children to not be the only black/ethnic child at the school so that they can relate to etc

Thank you for reading this far and any suggestions etc are welcomed.

You'd struggle to find anywhere in London with schools that have only white kids.

Do you work in London? If you are commuting in (train if far out) then start by thinking about which station you would be coming into and work backwords.

Streatham Vale, close to Woodmansterne school, which is now a 'through school' , primary to secondary. And close to Streatham Common station.

But you may be looking at being further out. And not South if your friends etc are currently North.

Reading is very multicultural, some 30 languages spoken at my son’s school.

If you are intersted in further afeild I am from north London/hertforshire and could give recommendations if you want to be close to Euston

Croydon?

Thank you all for your response. Apologies maybe I didn't explain very well but we want to move further afield so maybe Hertfordshire and open to any other suggestions.

Currently we are both working from home, once things get back to normal we will only be travelling in 2/3 times a week so currently my husband travels to Colindale and I am based in Holborn.

High Wycombe. Aylesbury. Milton Keynes. Not sure about Herts but most large turns such as Watford or Hemel Hempstead seem multi cultural to me.

Turns!! Towns.

Bedford is on the main trainline to London, and is supposed to be of the most multicultural towns (i.e. outside of the cities) in the UK. Good state schools (and some good private too), nice town, houses well within your budget.

There are areas of Watford and Hemel which are quite nice like boxmoor in hemel is quite villagey but still close to the station. Nice areas of Watford too

By 'nice' I mean less stabbing

@RainingBatsAndFrogs

Streatham Vale, close to Woodmansterne school, which is now a 'through school' , primary to secondary. And close to Streatham Common station.

But you may be looking at being further out. And not South if your friends etc are currently North.

3 bed for £450k in streatham vale?

So coming into Euston or even Charing Cross? I’d prefer to be within walking distance of the mainline station (when public transport goes bad, it really goes bad, plus the not too unusual strikes)

True, Lois it is a rare rare thing (there were a few in the Autumn)

This one is over but has been on the market for a while so may be available for the budget www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/56290647/?search_identifier=23a23e7fe5aa65639fd0ab43b33752ac

I don’t know it super well - but does anyone know Northampton at all?

@toffeebutterpopcorn

I don’t know it super well - but does anyone know Northampton at all?

I have visited Northampton once, very briefly, and stumbled upon people dogging in a multi-storey car park right in the town centre. And this was at 11.30 am on a Friday.

I’m not easily shocked, but I was shocked that day. Not been back since, so don’t know if it’s a regular occurrence or if I just went there on a bad day...

Thank you, not familiar with Watford but is there any particular area within Watford I should be looking for?

jaundicedoutlook No!! I had a relative who lived they years ago me it looked quite respectable!

your budget won't get you a nice house in a nice area in Watford

What is Hitchin like these days everyone? I haven’t lived in that area for years but it used to be nice, quite multicultural and you’d probably just about squeeze a three bedroomed house out of that budget. You can get trains into Kings Cross

North Watford is best.

Hitchin is ok. Or try Potters Bar.