Forest Hill area is it a nice area for families?

[KDHgivb]

We are currently looking to move out of our rental and buy a place. Originally focused on finding a nice two-bedroom flat more in zone 1 and 2 similar to the sort of vibe we have now. A couple of friends have suggested Forest Hill. We've been there a few times and it seems fine but a bit different from where we are now - a lot quieter and more suburban. So having a bit of a wobble. Does anyone have any experience of moving from Central London to Forest Hill? What was it like as a transition?

We moved down here from Shoreditch last year. It’s different, obviously, and Covid helped with the transition in that we’ve had almost a year of nothing being open anyway so it didn’t matter that we weren’t a stroll away from a hundred bars and restaurants anyway; and in that time we’ve learned we’re happy to walk for ten minutes when we do want to go out - and having a garden here, which we could never have in Shoreditch, is also great for having friends over.

In the past year we’ve actually had more places open in Forest Hill - a couple of new cafes, a new deli, the closed Dartmouth Arms pub is reopening as a MeatLiquor (we are very excited!)

Are you considering a flat or a house, do you want a big garden, are schools an issue, do you need to commute by public transport? Those are all things which would affect where in FH you concentrate on looking.

Forest Hill is also a relatively short bus ride from Peckham if you still want to be near a lot more bars, restaurants that feel central, etc and still have that bit more space in FH itself. Have you also considered Camberwell?

@ComtesseDeSpair I didn’t know that about the Dartmouth Arms! You’ve made my day.

Thanks for all the suggestions and great info on Dartmouth Arms. To be honest, with two under two it's not like we have time for bars or anything like that. I guess it's more whether it just feels really quiet and a bit suburban.

Am probably just spoilt having so many facilities around us at the moment. Realistically most of the time I only need a couple of nice cafes and maybe a pub or two for entertainment. Very hard to get the feel for the area during a lockdown where everything feels super quiet

It's definitely suburban and people tend to move there for the family vibe, some good primaries, the Horniman, all of that. It's buzzy for suburbia, not deadsville by any stretch, but not buzzy like central London, so it suits people moving a bit further out for kids, similar (but of course different as all have their own vibes) to Crystal Palace or Blackheath. If that's not what you want, then I'd stay further in. Brockley's close but feels that bit more urban, Camberwell and parts of Peckham too. East Dulwich arguably has more going on. Nothing like central London though, so it's about whether you want to keep the vibe you're used to, in which case you probably need to stay closer to tube stations, or get the space, greenery, and family-friendliness.

I live just down the road in Sydenham and have 2 little ones as well.

Personally I prefer Sydenham and Penge as I feel there is a bit more community. All lovely places though. Loads of nice parks and cafes

It's in Zone 3 so more suburban than central London but not as suburban as the outskirts of London. And it's definitely better than Brockley - I've never understood the attraction of Brockley.

It all depends what you're used to. Lots of people move to FH etc at the young family stage of their lives, think it's marvellous and then start banging on as if they're the first people ever to have raised children in the area.

Phil and Kirsty have often featured it in Location Location Location, so we take that as a seal of approval

In these types of areas you do have to travel a bit more if you want a wide selection of cafes, bars etc, but it actually opens up more possibilities because there are attractions in all directions. But it will take a while explore and learn about them.

@SmiteTheeWithThunderbolts you are so right. Everyone we've asked just tells us how lovely it is. Not sure why I am having second thoughts. And I did watch all the episodes about it on Location, Location, Location ;-)

You could also consider Honor Oak. It's the same post code as FH but one stop closer to central London. It has a nice little high street with various eateries and a few shops including a small Sainsbury's.
The centre of FH has the south circular cutting through it, which makes it very busy traffic wise.

Most primaries are great, secondaries are a bit more mixed, but probably also improving. A lot of families do eventually move further out for secondary schools, but a lot of people also stay on.

In comparison to central London, you won't have loads of different shops on the high street, or a selection of gyms. Many people go to Bromley for the shopping centre. But there are enough cafes and restaurants in the area.

I wouldn’t call Forest Hill surbaban. It’s only in zone 3 and even then just. But to answer your question OP it’s a lovely area for families. Where are you now OP and what’s your budget?

I am sorry, didnt mean to offend anyone by calling it suburban. Our current budget is about 700--750 so we should still be able to get a family house in Forest Hill. Crystal palace seemed nice but that little bit further out. So Forest hill seems to be a nice enough compromise. But it would be a big change on all fronts. Currently living in a two-bed flat with two kids but right in the middle of things so don't have to go anywhere to get to the library, leisure center, shops, museums. Literally, all within five mins walk so we've been very spoiled even if we hadnt really been able to use any of the facilities this past year

Forest Hill has all of those so depending on where you buy you could still have them on your doorstep. You'd also get most of that in a lot of SE London neighbourhoods including Crystal Palace, East Dulwich, Nuhead, West Norwood and Gipsy Hill. We moved from Peckham to Penge last year and looked at all of those places and would have moved to any of them if we found the right house.

FH is nothing like central London. God I miss living in central London. Forest Hill is a much slower pace but I've enjoyed it.

Also, didn't know that about Dartmouth Arms!

I love Forest Hill. I can't afford to live there but my friend used to and I regret not buying there myself when it was affordable for me. (Single, average earner).
It's a very popular area and when I was looking to buy there (one beds) it was impossible because everything got snapped up as soon as it came on the market. Then the overground line opened and I had no chance then. I would move there in a shot.

Crystal Palace is pretty lively with a good vibe, and East Dulwich is nice. Though both are very busy.

I don't get the Brockley thing either. I didn't feel safe whenever I was there but perhaps things have changed.

Do think about secondary schools as well, even if it feels a long way off. We have lived here for 8 years and like the area, but one of our main reasons for moving is the single-sex secondary schools. Obviously, some people prefer that and the girl's school here is supposed to be good, but it's worth thinking about what you what.

I don't get the Brockley thing either. I didn't feel safe whenever I was there but perhaps things have changed.

I don't think it's changed significantly, but that's why it feels more Londony and less suburban to me. Even though FH is only zone 3, those roads near Fairlawn and Horniman primaries are very suburban feeling - loads of quiet residential semis. Whereas Brockley feels edgier, more of a mix and sense of things happening (good and bad), which feels more like inner London. Course there's nice/safe and less nice/safe bits of both areas, but that's what I took the OP to mean. We tried to move to FH a few times, but random things kept falling through so we wound up in Crystal Palace with no regrets. They're both great family places and it's worth checking out all those surrounding areas from Brockley and Honor Oak out to Sydenham and Penge. Just be hardline on school proximity. It's a killer!

It has a different vibe to Camberwell and East Dulwich and is quieter, and highly residential in some areas.

But it’s good for families, good primaries, good all girls secondary (boys more mixed reviews but more using it who would not have before)

Things opening up which are nice

Always good to move to an area at this stage imo before prices rise. The budget wouldn’t get a house in ED for example but here not far away you can.

And therefore even more different to central London

But for space you’ll get something

Lovely to hear so many positive opinions about the place. We have looked at East Dulwich and I liked all the shops and the vibe but it's a bit too yummy mummy for me. Not sure that I'd fit in. Also liked Crystal Palace but it's a little bit further out and my commute is already going to be quite long as I have to travel to the other side of central London. Will check out the area a bit more on the weekend