Forest Gate?

[LondonDweller83]

Can anyone tell me a bit more about what Forest Gate is like to live in please? I always had a perception, which might be wrong, that it was a bit unsafe. However I've heard it's become quite a family area? We live in Zone 2 and need more space. Can't afford Blackheath and anyway transport isn't great there. Obviously Crossrail will be at FG soonish so that would be a plus.

You’re about to get a dozen “I’d never live there, it’s run down and full of gang violence” posts from people who last visited 10 years ago. Safe to say it’s come a long way - but still has some way to go before competing with Blackheath.

I’d describe it as the next Stoke Newington. There’s a strong local identity (FG festival, FG Pride, and numerous other local initiatives), but it’s definitely still London - unlike e.g. neighbouring Wanstead which is a bit Essex in character.

There is a huge influx of wealthy professional couples, priced out of formerly desirable neighbourhoods. who moved to FG to start their families. This creates some tension with the perception of gentrification pricing out locals. The “Hackney refugees” pretty much all live in the grid of roads north of Romford Road, south of Wanstead Flats, east of Woodgrange Road and west of the cemetery. Outside this little square, the demographic is much more varied and there are fewer hipster style amenities.

I never feel unsafe walking around, even after dark. I don’t think you need to worry about personal safety - instead, the main sources of discontent are from rubbish dumping, car racing on residential streets, and noise created from HMOs.

It’s not for everyone, but the combination of period housing (big gardens and scope to extend), green space, decent primary schools and train links is pretty hard to beat if you have under £1m to spend.

The noise and car racing doesn't sound good. That's put me off to be honest! We want to get away from that.

I grew up not too far from there (Stratford). Forest Gate will never become Stoke Newington.

İ grew up round there too, right next to Stratford. My closest friend lived in Forest Gate and just getting from Stratford to there was like crossing the city. İt's too far out and not enough tube links. The bus coming from central there is just always a great big traffic jam.

İt's weird hearing people describe it as 'become quite a family area', because I lived in that borough as a child, with thousands of other children, so it's always been a 'family area'.

@Peppapigforlife

İ grew up round there too, right next to Stratford. My closest friend lived in Forest Gate and just getting from Stratford to there was like crossing the city. İt's too far out and not enough tube links. The bus coming from central there is just always a great big traffic jam.

It's getting crossrail I believe...

In the 1950's a lot of FG was working class Jewish who migrated to Redbridge and wanstead etc in the 1970's....was a quiet area....i visit once a week...there is a lack of shops...high road is a bit grim...i often see a few people passed out on the pavement with drug issues etc...late at night always get pestered for change etc by a selction of odd bods....i think it has pockets of nice bits...not sure about it being like stoke newington or hackney....

And Romford road is full of hotels which look a bit dubious !!

I’d describe it as the next Stoke Newington.

Can you do it with a straight face though?

Seriously, Forest Gate is okay. It is better than it was, and it is close to some better areas, but it still has a grimy and slightly rough feel to it.

Good transport, so will probably improve further with time.

I meant more like not enough tube links if you're travelling locally, rather than travelling into central London. Other than feeling a bit out of the way, I wouldn't knock it, if you live in London anyway you already put up with the grimey things about London. Growing up near there it never felt horrible through the eyes of a child

the only times I have seen the drug users is at top of Earlham grove and around bus stops...here is some estate agent blurb about the area...the agency that handles my rental sent this to me...happy reading...

www.portico.com/blog/vendor-advice/living-in-forest-gate-local-guide-and-property-market?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=UK%20House%20Prices%20%20Which%20Areas%20Are%20Seeing%20Prices%20Soar%20%20Portico&utm_content=UK%20House%20Prices%20%20Which%20Areas%20Are%20Seeing%20Prices%20Soar%20%20Portico+CID_adddaa19a0036ee7ad10a462e3119365&utm_source=email&utm_term=LIVING%20IN%20FOREST%20GATE%20LOCAL%20GUIDE%20AND%20PROPERTY%20MARKET

@Peppapigforlife

I meant more like not enough tube links if you're travelling locally, rather than travelling into central London. Other than feeling a bit out of the way, I wouldn't knock it, if you live in London anyway you already put up with the grimey things about London. Growing up near there it never felt horrible through the eyes of a child

Agree, the connections to other parts of East London are rather patchy. This probably influences the high levels of car ownership and the associated congestion on main roads (many residential areas have low traffic neighbourhoods now).

But this is unlikely to be of much concern for many newcomers to FG, who are primarily interested in connectivity to central London (4 minute train to Stratford then onto central or jubilee line). They probably never even venture onto the Romford Road, let alone go south of it.

There's no way to avoid it. A lot of FG is grim and run down. But the streets south of Capel Road are lovely. Some beautiful properties on tree-lined streets.

The bits of FG around Cann Hall Road (arguably Leytonstone) and Wanstead Flats has seen a lot of new bars and restaurants open in recent years, and a lot of Victorian houses brought back from being HMOs and turned into family homes.

It's improved a lot, but it's a long way from being 'The new Stokey' but I suspect Crossrail may be a game changer.

@LondonDweller83 did you move there in the end?? We're considering it, we're in lovely forest hill in SEo london but in a flat with a little one, we need a house... Our budget is 600-650 for a 3 bed, we may need to leave London...