Less transient family areas in London

[Denimdenmin]

We live in a transient area of London and a new set of people move in and out constantly, so it’s hard to make a settled group of family friends.

Where is a good family area in London, that isn’t quite as transient?

That's a very broad question. Any place near decent schools will have families. I think of transient areas as those with lots of bedsit and flats (like Earls Court used to be in the 80s).

Walthamstow?

Can I ask where you are now? We're moving from central London which is really transient to SE London (borough of Greenwich) but I've no idea if it'll be much better!

South Woodford.

Streatham, Clapham, Wandsworth, Wimbledon if close to good/outstanding schools are pretty settled.

I think close to good secondaries would be a key factor, so many families relocate for secondary admission.

In Hackney now, close to great schools, and it’s very transient! But maybe that’s just central(ish) london...? Or maybe things calm down when kids start primary school?

I think it’s unusually more transient at the moment which is a factor and definitely more likely for families to move around before their children start school - it definitely settles after this (assuming it’s a good catchment area !)

I live in North London. I found that when my dd was little lots of the people I met through baby groups moved within those first two or three years - mostly because they could not afford the step up from a small flat to something bigger. Those who stayed are still here.

But agree that at the moment Covid has caused lots of people to move, for lots of reasons - job losses, people not wanting/needing to be in London. I have heard, for example, that my dd’s very sought after primary suddenly has lots of places - very unusual.

I live in one of the areas mentioned above and it is very transient - I’ve found people have tended to move just before primary, in KS1 and there has been a number of families moving for secondary in Y5 and 6 as well.

It’s crap actually, we’re settled where we are, but having to actively seek out new friends now to have any sort of local social life!

Ealing, Chiswick, Barnet, Highgate, Ruislip, Bushey, Woodford, Twickenham...

I think it’s unusually more transient at the moment which is a factor and definitely more likely for families to move around before their children start school - it definitely settles after this (assuming it’s a good catchment area !)

It definitely seems more transient then my childhood. Secondary schools & house prices seem to be driving more out.

I have heard, for example, that my dd’s very sought after primary suddenly has lots of places - very unusual.

Same here & apparently it's a growing phenomenon. 6 dc have left my eldest's class in the last yr (Yr 2).

A few of our friends have moved to outer zones in the last few yrs something DH & I never really considered. However as school friends & neighbours (8 neighbours!) have now left we are thinking of moving just to be close to friends.

Is Hackney transient?

I lived in Hackney and had to move - but none of my friends did. They're still there.

I'm pretty sure you'll find people stay put if there are good Primary and Secondary school options (which there are in Hackney). It's the 'doughnut theory' of gentrification in action ...

However, as people are saying, other areas are also known for being 'family' areas.

Furzedown in Tooting - but it's lots less exciting than Hackney. Crystal Palace is getting pretty Nappy Valley-ish. Walthamstow.

The original 'Nappy Valley' is scarily expensive now but I'm sure if you google the term, it will bring up new areas.

As another poster said, a key issue will be secondary schools. Maybe get a copy of the 'Good Schools Guide' and visit some areas for a feel?

In Hackney now, close to great schools

But are you close to good secondaries? My understanding of Hackney is that there is a huge exodus towards the end of primary (or people go private)

@onemouseplace

I live in one of the areas mentioned above and it is very transient - I’ve found people have tended to move just before primary, in KS1 and there has been a number of families moving for secondary in Y5 and 6 as well.

It’s crap actually, we’re settled where we are, but having to actively seek out new friends now to have any sort of local social life!

This is exactly what I keep experiencing - people moving before school - and, those that don’t, moving before year 6 as they’re worried about teenagers in London!

Every single conversation in the playground turns to moving and where to go, as well.

My sibling has a very settled group of family friends in her non-London neighbourhood. I’m a bit jealous

I want to stay in London, but I want to put down roots with people doing the same.

I’m near London Fields and not one of my NCT group - apart from me - has stayed for primary (which is coming up). The schools are really good though, one outstanding.

We’re in a flat that we’ll soon outgrow, as were the others in the group mostly, so the expensiveness is part of it, and about half of them left London altogether.

You get an exodus before primary and one before secondary as a rule. And now there's the Covid exodus. But anywhere families live in flats is going to be transient because people want space and can't afford it where they're living. Here in SE London lots of people have moved out or are planning to but there is still a good bulk of the community who stays. I think selling a flat in Hackney and buying a house here is still doable (if you are buying not renting). I'm in Lewisham/Brockley/Catford area. Lots of families.

Can I ask where everyone goes in the exodus?? Is it to other parts of London or out altogether - is there a place where most tend to?

I don't know and I'm sure it varies, but often it's to back where one of the parents grew up/ family still lives.

We used to live in Hackney too and had a largish group of friends there, but as we entered our 30s and started having kids everyone moved further out apart from one family who just moved to Stoke Newington.

Areas where we have all moved to and bought family homes are Oxford, Bristol, Kingston/Teddington, Walton-on-Thames, Cambridge and Stroud.

Anywhere with good secondary schools - someone has named Wimbledon up thread which I dont really agree with, as an area I think a lot of people approach 11 and then move out to Guildford etc from there.

walthamstow or leyton...you get mowed down by the buggy brigades on the pavements now...so irritating...not sure if they stay as secondary schools not so good in those areas...

Am currently in central London and yes, absolutely everyone is moving out. Agree with everyone else who said that if you live within the catchment area of a good secondary in an area where people can still afford a family home then people are a lot less likely to move. HOwever, this year even those families might be moving out to get a mansion somewhere outside London now that a lot more people will WFH at least part of the time.

In our case, we only have one DC so could conceivably continue living in a two-bed place but everyone else has two kids and needs a three-bed. unfortunately, in London, that means a house as there aren't all that many nice three-bed flats. So am assuming that people who live in zone 3-4 stay there for a while. Although even there - lots of people still move out for secondary e.g. SE London - people often move to Kent. So you need an unfashionable area of London with good schools in zone 3-4.

People do tend to move out of zone 1+2 once they have kids because they want kids to have a bedroom each. Am assuming that your friends currently live in flats? My impression is that families who own houses in zones 1+2 might stay put but go private (because they are the uber rich) or move abroad.

We are moving to Forest Hill for primaries but will be moving again for secondaries. Decided we wanted to live in a house but couldnt afford one close enough with good secondaries.