Islington VS Walthamstow

[Momiette]

Hi everyone,

Hubby and I have found a house in Islington but also found a cheaper and bigger house in Walthamstow. We love both house..

We have a small kid so need to be in the safest area.

Would you go for a smaller expensive house in a good area (Islington) or a larger, cheaper house in an average area (Walthamstow)

Thanks,

S.

If you have a daughter, Walthamstow as there are great girls schools and you get to have a great house.

If you have a boy, Islington. I don’t know about the schools in Islington but the options for boys are a bit in Walthamstow.

@LeavesOffTheCactus

If you have a daughter, Walthamstow as there are great girls schools and you get to have a great house.

If you have a boy, Islington. I don’t know about the schools in Islington but the options for boys are a bit in Walthamstow.

I was thinking exactly that... as Walthamstow is near Edmonton and Tottenham and these areas are a bit rough...so raising a boy there wouldnt be great as they could get attracted to the wrong kind of lifestyle...

Yes, there arent many good option for boys schools in Islington , great options for girls though...

We are really leaning toward Islington but house price is putting us off a bit... but would you sacrifice safety over money?....

i;ve lived in Islington for decades and have spent a fair bit of time in Walthamstow socialising. I really like Walthamstow. Islington is a real mix of wealth and poverty and while some bits are very nice, some bits are quite rough, Depends where you are thinking of buying. In terms of safety I dont think there'd be that much in it between Walthamstow and Islington.

I think the value would increase a fair bit at the islington house but for comfortability and affordability walthamstow might be abit better... I would personally rather be as far out as possible and have just moved from the Blackhorse road area to Wembley park as I thought it was abit of a dump in the east. But like above said pick based on schools

@Themeparklover

I think the value would increase a fair bit at the islington house but for comfortability and affordability walthamstow might be abit better... I would personally rather be as far out as possible and have just moved from the Blackhorse road area to Wembley park as I thought it was abit of a dump in the east. But like above said pick based on schools

Yes indeed for Islington, there are much better schools there plus transport links are great.

Its just that the house in Wal. Is bigger and cheaper but the one in Isl. is more expensive, slammer but in a much better area...

Choice is difficult...

Whereabouts in Islington? central like angel or further out?
Agree with PP that it’s a very mixed borough- a lot of wealth and a lot of poverty. The primaries are quite mixed too, there are some schools with a lot of challenges and very deprived. Some of the estates are rough and there is crime on upper street too. (I love the area and know it well - not criticising it, no idea how it compares to Walthamstow in these regards).
How important is a big house and garden to you?
Are both houses terraced? We moved out of Islington when we wanted to buy. One reason was because we didn’t want attached neighbours, as we’d had a lot of noise from neighbours in multiple places we lived around there, including a maisonette on an estate, a flat in a warehouse conversion, and a Georgian terraced. Because of that, I’d go to Walthamstow if it meant a semi or detached! But if both are terraces 🤷‍♀️

In relation to schools in Islington, there are some good ones and also some really average/bad ones. Also, most areas have lovely pockets and some rough ones, so it’s hard to make generalisations…

'Islington' is such an enormous area, you'll have to be more specific. Whereabouts? Walthamstow is seen as very up and coming - prices have gone up a tremendous amount already in recent years. Lots of NHS employees living there. There's a good girls school I think.

If you say whereabouts in Islington I can comment on schools.

London is very mixed. Rich and deprived areas are packed in cheek to jowl. Tottenham will always be a short bus away wherever you are in north London!

@pegasussy

'Islington' is such an enormous area, you'll have to be more specific. Whereabouts? Walthamstow is seen as very up and coming - prices have gone up a tremendous amount already in recent years. Lots of NHS employees living there. There's a good girls school I think.

If you say whereabouts in Islington I can comment on schools.

London is very mixed. Rich and deprived areas are packed in cheek to jowl. Tottenham will always be a short bus away wherever you are in north London!

The house is in Highbury area so nice area although some streets have issues but we like this area. We dont like Walthamstow that much as we think its a bit of a scam...the village bit has one tiny strip on naice cafés that home owners of the area use to sell their at an extortionate price....

BUT the house are big though...

Ah Highbury. You really won't get much for your money in Highbury, plus I'm not sure it's particularly known for its good state schools. Have you had a look at Stoke Newington? No tube but great state schools.

Islington is one of the most deprived London boroughs with a lot of violence and poverty.

I can't be sure without looking at the houses but I'd say Walthamstow is more likely to be a better investment. Prices there will go up loads over the next 5 years. Highbury is already very expensive.

Walthamstow is gentrifying but it's got some nice bits and some really awful bits. I think a lot of people leave and move elsewhere for school, so bear that in mind. I'm not sure , I'd pick either of them.

We dont like Walthamstow that much as we think its a bit of a scam

Well there's your answer! If you don't like Walthamstow and you can afford a house in Highbury, clearly go for that.

I live in Walthamstow and I love it, but truthfully nobody here can afford Highbury. It's not even a choice many people have to make, because the price difference is so great.

Btw if you can afford Highbury you might be better off with Muswell Hill - better schools and less rough than Islington or Walthamstow.

Wathamstow has some nicer areas now and prices have already risen a lot. Daughter bought a house there two years ago and the prices of identical houses in her street have already risen hugely with the trend seeming the same in a lot of the area. There are nasty bits but also nice bits.
Islington is the same. Good and bad bits. Brother is a police officer in the islington area and comments about the amount of violent crime and gang relayed violence he sees every day. Their steategy has changed so they now are supposed to walkout in 3s because of it i wouldnt choise that area with this in mind. It will always be near.

I think crime is higher in islington as they target the rich out at night on upper st...walthamstow doesnt have these extremeties of rich and poor...parts of islington are very rough....probably worse than walthamstow...most of our family are in the village on grove road as was actually a cheap part of walthamstow years ago...its very pretentious and silly prices now for a tiny cottage.....highbury is a better choice if you got the money.

the only dodgy part of walthamstow is around st james st...gangs and dealing etc...avoid that part not being a snob but in islington, a lot of the social housing is in the georgian terraces....all black doors...so there are a lot of council properties...not just estates...if that is something that puts you off.

As others have suggested, if you can afford Highbury then I'd look at a proper safe and family orientated area with good schools like crouch end or muswell hill.

I live in Walthamstow I love it. There’s a lot more to Walthamstow than ‘the village’ it’s a great place to live.