Barnes

[EllaSW]

Hi there. I am considering buying a property in Barnes (specifically, the Little Chelsea area). Is the plane noise as bad as my research so far suggests? Any views or experiences (positive or negative) much appreciated.

@EllaSW From what I’ve seen yes, in that I’ve seen a lot of places advertised over the years for £1m+ and not sell. It also felt like there were always for sale signs up when we lived there. I know our landlord had tried to sell but couldn’t get the price she wanted so ending up letting it out again. I think it’s a niche market so unless you’re selling cheap, you have to expect to wait a while. That said, at the moment, I think all the rules are out the window. The market is crazy, and I think a couple have sold recently.

Thanks, @mobear.

Out of interest, what would selling cheap be in Little Chelsea (in your view)? Pricing seems very variable atm. Square footage seems to vary between c.1100 and 1500(ish), which obviously explains some of the differences, but I also suspect that some selling are just trying their luck. Is £1,050,000 crazy for a terraced 3-bed of 1100 sq ft? We're moving from north London so trying to gauge the market.

I think anything £1m or under would be cheap for Little Chelsea but yes I think that’s a crazy price for 1,100 sq ft with the size garden those cottages have. Also they’re maxed out at three bedrooms. If I was going to pay that kind of money for that size I’d be wanting more of a garden and/ or room to extend. It’s very subjective though.

This is an example of something that sold recently in Alexandra Road in Kew, £1.065m, circa 1,300 sq ft, 45”+ garden, village location, and near the Tube - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65791974.html. Personally I think that represents much better value.

For some reason that link didn’t work but try here: www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/tw9/alexandra-road.html (Number 54).

Actually £1.063m and 1,250 sq ft when you account for the eaves storage. Sorry I’m in the clouds today!

It isn't worth it. I love Barnes but you can't swing a cat in those cottages in Little Chelsea. I used to have a boyfriend who had one, it was ok for the two of us but I would go nuts with kids. Go for Sheen it is more handy.

Stay in N London, I moved from Barnes to N London and I way prefer it. At least you aren't cut off from the rest of London.

@mobear I completely agree re. it representing better value. My DH is less keen on Kew however. Also entirely agree re. it being subjective - I'd expect Little Chelsea houses to have fallen in price but that doesn't seem to have happened and asking prices seem crazy.

@TheWashingMachine 😂 you're so right. We're definitely taken in by the village feel!

We lived in Barnes and surrounding areas for several years and I absolutely loved it. We first lived in a 1920s apartment block opposite the Bulls Head pub in Barnes village a stones throw from the river, then moved to Sheen, then back to Barnes (near the Red Lion pub) and then finally to Mortlake. I would move back in a heartbeat! I don’t remember ever being bothered by the plane noise. I personally would rather live near Barnes pond than in the teeny terraced houses near white hart lane. There are some lovely roads round there.

@Whattodo121 I love the roads around Barnes pond. There isn't a lot of stock there atm (or affordable stock, at least). So pleased to hear that your experience of living there was positive!

I had a look on Rightmove after commenting on the thread, and you’re right there’s not much round the pond at the moment. We rented at that point in our lives hence why we were able to move so often and live in such fabulous places-I miss that freedom!

@Whattodo121 Ah, yes - renting does permit so much more freedom in some ways!

East sheen also get the planes....my friend can hardly use her garden when its peak time...noise is awful...not worth the money !

@earsup Out of interest, does your friend also have noise issues inside the house? Or just in the garden?

[quote EllaSW]@earsup Out of interest, does your friend also have noise issues inside the house? Or just in the garden?[/quote]
It seems worse in the garden when I have visited or stayed over...noticed it less in the house...i guess you get used to a certain level of noise over time but i found the garden noise really loud...would put me off...even tho its a nice area.

I think if you are visiting Sheen you might notice the planes. If you live there, you soon don't. I use my garden a lot - all summer no problem.

I think the planes will be a shock at first. I remember we looked at cottages in the Alberts in Richmond when we first moved SW from north London, and I was astonished at the noise. Similarly in Little Chelsea, Kew and St Mags, which were all on our radar at the time. But as pp say, you do get used to it.

@SlightlyJaded @Thecazelets @earsup Very interesting - thanks. General consensus seems to be that people tend to acclimatise? It's tricky to know without having lived there. I suppose each part of London has its downsides; we're leaving north for SW for more green space and more of a villagey feel, which our part of north London lacks.

You'll get that in spades - we spent most of our first year in SW London taking the dc to village fetes and on long 'country' walks in Richmond park and by the river. Definitely worth a bit of plane noise!

@Thecazelets that's good to hear!

Hi there I'm considering moving from isleworth to barnes a house has become available on howsman road I have to young boys I'm wondering weather, the area nicer than isleworth and if that part of barnes nice

@EllaSW as a little Chelsea resident I’m intrigued to find out what you ended up doing. Some of the advice was pretty poor and the house prices certainly haven’t faltered, in fact when a house goes on for sale it usually is snapped up - that’s my impression and I’ve been here since 2021. I hope you are happy wherever you are 😃