Move to Loughton or stay in Leytonstone?

[lexy31]

Hi, me and my partner live in Leytonstone but can probably get more for our money in Loughton which we heard good things about. We went to visit recently and it aesthetically looks great, nice houses, green space etc but the thing that struck me was the lack of diversity (not just talking about race). It seemed very TOWIE there and I'm not sure if myself and my partner would fit in.

We live in an area of Leyton/Leytonstone which complement our leftie, hipster sensibilities.

Am I wrong about Loughton, am I just being too judgemental?

Personally I'd rather live in Loughton than Leyton/Leytonstone but would look at Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell and Woodford too.

If you can afford Loughton, I'd go in a heartbeat.

I don't watch TOWIE but have good friends in Loughton and I don't get a sense of anything other than lots of lovely space and just..normality.

I live in zone 4 London and Loughton is so much less crowded. And Epping Forest nearby must be lovely.

Loughton is nice enough but it is very “Essex” and lacks diversity in every sense. 63% of people voted “leave” and Eleanor Laing has been the MP since 1997. Speaking from experience, if you are a lefty, liberal you will find it hard to meet like minded people (although they do exist). I am thinking of retiring back to Zone 1 or 2 because of this - my DC both moved to zone 2 locations at the first opportunity.

Agree with precious comment. My sister lives in Loughton with her bf (who is from there) and it’s a really right wing, un diverse place. I think you’d be shocked moving from Leytonstone. I’d personally hate it there. The high street is bland, mostly chain shops. Epping Forest is lovely but you must be near that anyway?

Previous not precious!

I've got friends who are very happy in Loughton and who aren't right wing or TOWIE stereotypes.

That said, are you sure you can get more for your money than in Leytonstone? Family homes seem to be very expensive in Loughton. There are some starter homes and also some lovely big houses, but not much in between. Whereas in Leytonstone there are lots of reasonably spacious three and four bed terraces.

If were you (which I basically am haha, we are lefties moving from Walthamstow and also considered Loughton), I’d consider a ‘middle ground’ like Woodford, Chingford or Highams Park. Hopefully you’d get slightly more for your money (although maybe not by much given how much prices have risen in those areas) and have more green space, but the culture would be closer to Leytonstone.

As per previous posters, Loughton is not very diverse and is very ‘Essex’. Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell are the same. There is definitely a certain kind of attitude in the area (and I say this as a non-local but long time resident). There is a significant population of young, rich people with drug habits and expensive cars who think they can do what they want.

Drug dealing and anti-social behaviour on many local roads is an ongoing problem. In Loughton itself, roads around the main shopping street have been plagued with anti-social behaviour from the pubs and clubs which is drug dealing, people shitting and pissing in gardens, fights, etc. Traffic in Loughton is painful.

The area is very white, Conservative and Brexit supporting.

I was shocked when I went to vote in the council elections whilst I lived there that I could only choose between the tories of the loughton residence association if that gives you an idea...

Very towie & very Tory - lovely having Epping forest at the end of the road and always getting a seat on the tube. I did manage to find some like minded people through a hobby, but I couldn't have stayed there long term.

@Caroline147

If were you (which I basically am haha, we are lefties moving from Walthamstow and also considered Loughton), I’d consider a ‘middle ground’ like Woodford, Chingford or Highams Park. Hopefully you’d get slightly more for your money (although maybe not by much given how much prices have risen in those areas) and have more green space, but the culture would be closer to Leytonstone.

This, basically. @Caroline147 was far more tactful than me.

Throwing in my two cents about Woodford. We personally lasted less than 2 years in Woodford Green (moving from Bethnal Green) because there was fuck all to do locally. We lived close to the station and all we had within walking distance was both Pizza Hut and Dominoes takeaway, a chicken shop, vape shop, and a beauticians. We were also close to a small park but that’s quite literally it. We once walked to a pub about 20 minutes away and the barmaid and some locals made fun of DH because of his accent (he’s white with a very slight Portuguese accent).

Obviously it’s easy to jump on the central line but we really missed the little things like having good coffee and pastries on the doorstep. We often tried to go Loughton/ Chigwell/ Wanstead but parking was always a nightmare.

We found ourselves driving back to our old area (as well as Walthamstow and Leyton) all the time. Quite honestly we went back at least twice a week.

We don’t have children so the move was probably wrong for us in hindsight (the local school was rated outstanding so that would have been good) but the extra space we gained wasn’t worth it for us in the end.

Posted too soon! But as a random stranger on the internet, my advice would be to stay in Leytonstone!

thanks for the comments, looks like I'll stay in Leytonstone or try and find middle ground

@lexy31

thanks for the comments, looks like I'll stay in Leytonstone or try and find middle ground

If you're happy, and it sounds like you are, why go through the hassle of moving.

I'm also surprised you were told you could get more for your money but I can't keep up with house prices and areas. I do wonder if whoever told you meant Debden, which was relabelled as Loughton.

We're in Walthamstow and want somewhere a bit bigger...I'm looking at Highams Park at the moment as you get more bang for your buck.
I love Walthamstow and would love to stay. HP is close enough. I think I''d really struggle to go further out.
Woodford is relatively cheap, but I don't really want to live there.

I do wonder if whoever told you meant Debden, which was relabelled as Loughton.

I was thinking that too. I’m struggling to see how Loughton could be considered cheaper than Walthamstow. Everywhere along the Central line is pricey, even more so the further out you go. Debden is the exception but that’s because it’s not particularly nice.

I grew up in the area and live in E4. Loughton is worlds apart from Leytonstone in every way. Some of them good... but some of them not so good. The lack of diversity, as you say, is a problem.

Highams Park would be my recommendation- very left leaning, close to the forest and very green. More and more east Londoners are heading this way and so you'd soon feel at home.

My parents live in Epping, so not far from Loughton. The whole area is very conservative and not very diverse. The houses are lovely but expensive.

I used to do some private tutoring in Loughton...was nice to stroll around for a short walk in summer....not much else going on...the big houses near the station are very expensive....easy 1m plus...dont think i could live there really !

I really wouldn’t do it. Highams Park maybe. Otherwise I would see how I could trade up in the same sort of area.

Loughton resident here. Just popped by to say this is a load of bollocks.

What clubs? What on earth are you talking about? @SylHellais

As per previous posters, Loughton is not very diverse and is very ‘Essex’. Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell are the same. There is definitely a certain kind of attitude in the area (and I say this as a non-local but long time resident). There is a significant population of young, rich people with drug habits and expensive cars who think they can do what they want.

Drug dealing and anti-social behaviour on many local roads is an ongoing problem. In Loughton itself, roads around the main shopping street have been plagued with anti-social behaviour from the pubs and clubs which is drug dealing, people shitting and pissing in gardens, fights, etc. Traffic in Loughton is painful.

This is straight up the nicest place I've ever lived. We moved here from Walthamstow, we both vote Labour, our neighbours are the best we've ever had.

Yes, it's not the most diverse place but it's not some drug ridden TOWIE hell hole that you're making it out to be. I'd honestly say its 50 50 out of londoners and locals (not all towie types by any stretch) and there are a lot of young families.

Give me Loughton over London any day of the week.

Im not sure Loughton is cheaper than Leytonstone? I spend quite a bit of time in Loughton and it is towie but it is nice. Different vibe to Leytonstone. Depends what you want?

Loved in Loughton for over 15 years. Cheaper properties will be Debden, not Loughton. Lots of ex LA housing around Debden station and Debden park school. Only one decent primary school and the house in the catchment for it are eye watering!! 2 secondary schools neither of which we wanted out child to got to so we moved out to Hertfordshire. We lived in a pricey toad, constant break ins. Car vandalism and a lot of sirens especially on Friday / Saturday night. It’s the definition of Essex. Very Towie. Women are orange. Blonde and full of Botox, men tend to be too! Very white area. Brexit voting and Tory. Loughton residents association very active and seem to block applications for everything. We had had enough of it by the time we moved.

Hi there!

Hopefully you will find my message helpful. Some comments on here seems overly negative and I am not sure why.

I have lived in Walthamsow Village, Highams Park and now Loughton. My partner used to live in Leytonstone.

I enjoyed living in Walthamstow and Highams Park very much (and visiting Leytonstone. There is a good atmosphere in all three places and I spent 23 happy years there. We moved to Loughton in 2019 as our son was growing up. Although happy in HP, we wanted a safer place for him to grow up with outstanding secondary schools (and some lovely primaries)

We are a left wing, mixed race, gay couple with an adopted son. We LOVE Loughton. We feel very comfortable here and we have kind and thoughtful neighbours. There is diversity but it is a more gentle and affluent area. We live a very short waking distance to the High St, Tube Station and Epping Forest - it is beautiful. There are lovely cafes and restaurants here and we are members of the extensively refurbed LA gym which is superb and great value.

I would definitely recommend checking out Loughton properly. Near Loughton tube and above the High St towards the forest is particularly nice.

Re crime - I haven't seen any. In fact, I left £50 in the cash point and a kind young lad ran about 200m after me to return it to me.

Loughton is a stunning area with great people. I haven't seen the 'Towie' thing everyone talks about - just a great area with really nice people. Some nice bars as well for young adults.

Surely Loughton is more pricey than Leytonstone?! Its a pretty wealthy area.