Blackheath vs Clapham?

[ByLws]

I'm looking to move with my family from our flat in Hackney to either Blackheath / Greenwich area or Clapham. I know they are very different areas but that each has their charms. I know both areas but have never lived there. The move will be me, my DH and our toddler. Hoping for another child in next couple of years. So therefore priorities for us are green spaces, schools and community / stuff to do. But we also want and need to be central - commute to city in under 45 mins and able to access the museums, airports etc easily.

Can anyone with DC comment on either area please, in terms of having a young family?

(Budget not really an issue for now as we will be letting out our Hackney flat and renting whilst we settle in.)

Blackheath is lovely but you’ll need to do some research into secondary schools depending if you’re into private/grammar/state. Not masses of excellent state options. I don’t know if Clapham is any better though. But I’d start my research there.

Thanks. Yes we know that state secondary schools aren't necessarily great. There's a couple round Clapham area at present, but you never know what the situation will be once toddler is in year 5. Similarly a couple of low scoring ones in Blackheath which could come up in those years. So we've decided not to dwell too much on secondary for now. As it was becoming really stressful. We would rather try to achieve the lifestyle we want now, and have nice primary years for DC and then if we need to move later we might have to. Finding somewhere that ticked all the boxes from the get-go felt really hard!

I know both areas well and I would personally go for Blackheath as it has a bit more charm in my opinion and Greenwich park nearby.

Okay interesting, thank you!

Blackheath hands down compared to Clapham.

Not sure that makes sense reading it back!!

I would always choose Blackheath over Clapham any day. That is if you're concentrating on those specific areas and not spreading out.

I think Greenwich park is much better than Clapham common. On the other hand Clapham has better connectivity though.

@ByLws yes it is an absolute nightmare trying to find somewhere that ticks all boxes - I’ve just been through it and moved so I feel your pain! Good luck - blackheath is a the nicest area I know south of the river. I don’t know Clapham.

I live just into se10 now but lived in SE3 for years (the westcombe Park side of the heath, not blackheath village). Love it. I moved here with a young baby knowing no-one and it has been a great place to live with kids. Mine are at state primary/secondary now locally and very happy

Thanks all! @PosiePerkinPootleFlump I wasn't sure if that side of the park feels less villagey / less of a centre? But it sounds like you love it.

It depends what you like. I would pick Clapham any day, feels a lot more central, much better transport links, has nice places to eat etc. Blackheath probably "posher" but I don't think that's the most important thing

Blackheath is nicer but Clapham is nearer nicer areas- Wandsworth common, Putney, west London etc,
The areas around Blackheath aren’t so great - Kidbrooke, Lewisham, Deptford.

I’ve lived in Blackheath/Greenwich my whole life so I may be a bit bias but in my opinion it’s a beautiful place to live. Lots of green spaces, things to do, a nice relaxed place to live in my opinion.

Great transport links - you have the overground station, which takes you to Charing Cross and then North Greenwich (O2 arena) underground just a 20 min bus away.

I went to the private school there and had an amazing time. There are also good grammar schools nearby (i’m talking maybe a bus journey away) so I don’t think it’s much of an issue.

I now have a 3 month old myself and I think it’s a great place to raise a family!

Also side note about surrounding areas, Lewisham and Kidbrooke aren’t amazing but they’re definitely improving - Kidbrooke is actually very pleasant now that there is a huge new development there, so I wouldn’t let that deter you!

That's so true about the surrounding areas. And I do sometimes worry about Blackheath feeling further out - having lived centrally and near a tube my whole life! I'm not fussed about the "poshness" but I just like the village vibe of Blackheath, and obviously the green spaces. But the above points do worry me!

We made a similar move and looked at houses in Greenwich/Blackheath, Herne Hill and around Clapham. We were after the right house most of all and liked all the areas for different reasons. In the end we found a good project in Clapham so moved here. Initially it was my lowest preference for areas as I thought it was the least arty/interesting but I don't particularly think that or care about that now. It's easy to get central on Northern line and it's easy to drive out of London. Direct train from Clapham Junction to Gatwick.

Ps Clapham can mean different areas- by Clapham South you're also ten mins walk to Wandsworth Common which is very nice. And on the other side of Clapham Common that area isn't far from Battersea Park and the Thames

For me Clapham any day. Prefer the location and definitely prefer the surrounding areas.
Also prefer the immediate over the bridges bit of London.

Good tube network and Clapham Junction that gets you to so many places. Easy access to A3, south circular etc.

@ByLws

That's so true about the surrounding areas. And I do sometimes worry about Blackheath feeling further out - having lived centrally and near a tube my whole life! I'm not fussed about the "poshness" but I just like the village vibe of Blackheath, and obviously the green spaces. But the above points do worry me!

I think a lot of it comes down to whether you are a London person or not. The people I know in blackheath like it because it's not that Londony but still has good access to the city. Clapham is much much closer to things like the West End, you can still sensibly take an Uber home after the theatre etc and access to the tube is just so much better than access to the Overground.

We didn't go for Clapham in the end - went for bigger house further out but definitely open to it when our kids have grown up and we want to downsize

Greenwich park is probably a nicer park than Clapham common but Clapham Common has the mud club which my kids love and Battersea Park is really nice with the children's zoo etc

Ooh yeah, battesea park is lovely - a real Central Park vibe.

I just wasn't sure realistically how often I'd walk there with a toddler, whereas Blackheath is literally on the common and the park is a stones throw.

That's it @Classicblunder I am a London person, hence having doubts about Blackheath, but am longing for green space actually on my doorstep too.

Well, I"d opt for Blackheath - you have the common, plus Greenwich park. You sort of get two villages for the price of one, and you don't have to drive to get to Greenwich, so you can enjoy it without the battle with the weekend traffic. Good train connections into the city or, if you're feeling grand, you can take the river bus! Oxleas Wood for a different outdoor space experience is not far away and also lovely. Great river walks.

Clapham Common is basically a dull flat field surrounded by constant traffic, and Wandsworth Common is pretty limited. IMHO. These days, being able to get out of London to Kent/Sussex for days and weekends away relatively easily is more important to me, so again, I'd opt for Blackheath over Clapham for that.

These days, being able to get out of London to Kent/Sussex for days and weekends away relatively easily is more important to me, so again, I'd opt for Blackheath over Clapham for that.

I think that depends on whether you would usually travel by car or by train - Clapham junction is a great station if you would usually do train. We don't have a car so not sure which is better for weekends by car

Do you have family/friends in or outside London that you see frequently? That was another consideration for us.
We have family in Surrey and West Sussex so easy access out of london down the A3 is very handy. I was regretting not moving to south east london from North London for a while as lots of friends bought their first places there but most of them are now leaving london! The green spaces are more less impressive in Clapham than Blackheath but for us after living in zone 1 in a very urban environment for years it feels extremely leafy and peaceful. And yet so easy to get central! 🤷‍♀️

Good point re. car versus train. We use the car for day/weekend trips (dog, stuff, flexibility to get to remote places where parking isn't an issue cheaper than trains) but I hadn't thought of links via train.