Which area in N/W/SW London?

[Laladot]

I have narrowed my house search to the following areas but am conscious that each place tends to attract slightly different types or people and want to make sure I will be able to make friends as well as having a nice house, being safe and well located for schools etc.

I am late 30s, lower middle class, left leaning politically and fairly creative/artistic minded and am lucky to be able to afford a nice villagey area of London but don’t want to be the only person not sending their kid to private school etc.

Obviously there’s a mix of people everywhere and I am generalising but places do have stereotypes so... are any of these areas an obvious yes/no? Any idea of the crowd in these places? Have read a lot of South Africans live in Southfields for example and the whole cast of Made in Chelsea live in Fulham..

Chiswick
Askew Village
Putney
Fulham
Wandsworth
Southfields
Earlsfield
Wimbledon Park
Muswell Hill

Braai triangle is earls field, south field and Wimbledon. I don’t think that name is really earned as there are fewer South Africans than they used to be.
Used to live in Wandsworth- very yummy mummy.
I’m looking at moving to Fulham, so I can’t really comment on that one.

What’s your budget and what are you looking to get for it?

I don't know muswell hill but know the others well, I'd say none would fit the profile of yourself much although as you say it's all generalisations. Have you considered areas of east London?

I'd say Walthamstow/Wanstead from your description. SW London generally yummy mum territory.

Balham, Between the commons?

they all seem like perfectly fine (if a little dull) places though isnt the question whether you like what counts as villagey in London?

As someone who grew up in one of those areas (and know the others quite well) and recently tried to buy a place in another one of those that you've mentioned - I have actually decided that i just dont like the vibe anymore.

Lots of these places used to be creative and interesting - or at least 'normal' but by now have become quite twee and most people living there are quite proper - which is totally cool......but a)lots of those areas are actually still a bit boring - am looking at you Southfields b) my impression is that even if people living there dont actually send their kids to a private school( and many do) - there's not a huge difference between the two groups c)lots work in finance - again totally cool but might not be your vibe.

As PP said maybe East London or even SELondon would be your thing? Thats totally my personal impression though! And I did spend quite a while trying to figure out where to move but realised that whilst I havent changed i.e. am left-leaning, creative but still quite into nice things etc - these areas have changed too much over the last few years for me to fit in.

Also if you care about schools - then the only place on that list with actually decent mixed secondaries is Muswell Hill. Primaries fine in most of the areas mentioned. Some have good girl states but non have actually good boy schools

Have you looked at Crouch End? I think it fit your criteria and I'd say is a little more arty/creative than nearby Muswell Hill. Both are definitely left leaning and plenty of folks use the very good state schools

Thanks all. I really like Muswell hill and crouch end (used to live there) but I also like having a tube and the district line is most convenient workwise. Was thinking Chiswick would be the most similar to what I’m looking for in W London. But maybe not?

Isn't Chiswick really twee and just a tad up tight. Then again even Crouch End is very very naice nowadays. The way I see it - does it have a Gail's coffee shop and do you think your area should have one / do your kids only wear Hunter wellies to go literally anywhere? If the answer is yes - all of the places above are fab! If the answer is no.....look elsewhere

I've lived in Putney in my 20s, Fulham briefly in my late 20s, Putney again in my 30s, then got married and moved to Wimbledon. Now I'm moving as mum of two mid to late teens to Southfields. I have a design degree, and am middle class. My kids went/go to private school (I went to state school in another country).
First off, you'll find your tribe no matter where. Friends of mine in Wimbledon are: journalists and writers and event planners, because I worked in publishing so that's who I know. If I worked in finance I'm sure I'd know business people who lived in any of these areas.
Fulham I love - Parsons Green area particularly. I can't afford it though. But when I go there it's full of young families and professionals, all out of an evening, or enjoying brunch at the weekend, walking dogs and kids or doing boot camp on the Green. Sure it's a affluent area. But I've never met anyone like the Made in Chelsea people because they aren't my kind of people. I find it friendly and safe and full of great shops snd restaurants.
Wandsworth I knew a few very arty people, those who made art, sold art, loved art. Camberwell the same . Chiswick I like the vibe there, but no schools that I liked.
Putney is quite urban - it's High St is always clogged. But I know a few of my friends' kids live there (20s) and really like it.
Wimbledon Village is beyond most people's budgets and a bit restricted in type (a few yummy mummies, a few well off senior citizens), but down the hill to the town and it's full of young professionals and families.
Wimbledon Park is nice with bigger houses but too pricey and maybe on the quiet side.
Southfields I settled on because I need to be on the district line, it has Wimbledon Park for the dogs, it has a decent selection of shops and restaurants, and I can afford it. Some of the state primaries are outstanding. Have yet to meet a single South African.
I have learned after moving around a lot, that generalisations are just that. Too general. Sure there are types, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't fit in there too. The Fulham/Putney/wimbledon/Earlsfield areas are close together and some are a bit grittier (Earlsfield), posher (Fulham), middle of the road (Wimbledon), but there are creatives in all those areas. And lawyers. And who's to say the lawyer isn't also creative? Or left wing?
When restrictions ease up just spend a Saturday wandering around each area.

Balham is nice. Heaver estate has lovely houses and quite a few families sending their children to state if they are close enough to get in.

Muswell Hill for me. North London is home!
If you bought on the Highgate side of Muswell Hill (or the Archway side of Crouch End) then you'd have a tube within walking distance.