Greenwich or Hampstead Garden Suburb (HGS)?

[Bat88888]

There is a house I like in West Greenwich, near to Greenwich railway station.
For the price of that Greenwich house, I could buy a very small house in Hampstead Garden Suburb, so I'm wondering whether I should do that instead as I hear HSG is a lovely area.

I'm more familiar with Greenwich than HSG hence the reason for this post.

Are there any local parents who can help me with which would be a better in terms of:

• investment and reselling in the future
• schools (both primary and secondary)
• local community and social life eg playgroups

Many thanks!

Where do you work? Greenwich and HGS are a long way apart.

HGS:

Properties have always kept their value due it's desirability. Demand always outstrips supply. That said don't buy expecting to extend or change your house, put in new windows, change the garden etc. The Suburb Trust are extremely strict and the rules about hedges and the like is what make it desirable for many.

Schools will depend which side you are - North or South. Brooklands v desirable has a small catchment on the North side. Archer for secondary.

The Free Church has toddler music groups. Not sure what you are looking for by way of 'social life' but you can get involved with Church or Synagogue if either is your thing.

@passport123 is right. Also worth adding that large parts of the South side of HGS are not that close to the tube if that's important.

"local community and social life"

very active residents association with a really useful email list which has in the last couple of months been used for purposes as wide ranging as 'can you recommend a plumber' , 'does anyone want these lightbulbs I can't use anymore' , 'let me tell you about this local concert' and 'does anyone know a company that can repair a chandelier' !!

(that's HGS I'm talking about BTW)

Also much of HGS is a black hole for decent secondary schools. Henrietta Barnett is highly selective and girls only, I think the Archer takes a few from some of the local primaries but otherwise they end up in not very good schools down in Hendon. Primary better served but catchments for Brooklands and Garden Suburb school are small so check before you buy/rent if that's important to you. Lots send to local private schools, which are largely academically selective both primary and secondary.

Ah thank-you for your thoughts @passport123 and @MrsWonderland

@passport123s in Waterloo but work from home most days (for the moment at least)

Oops sorry, my DS was climbing on me and I accidentally posted the previous post before I could finish typing

What I meant to say was my office is in Waterloo but I can work from home most days

Do you know what state secondary schools boys tend to go to if they live in HSG? Or do most people tend to go private? I looked online and saw lots of options for private but no state schools for schools within walking distance

Ah thank you! Yes this was what I was wondering !

@passport123 thanks! Sorry my internet connection is slow and I asked about secondary schools before the thread refreshed with your comments

I think some go here www.whitefield.barnet.sch.uk/

Henrietta Barnett has around 3000 applicants for 90 places so you can't rely on it even if you have a girl

If you live on the North side of the Suburb towards East Finchley you have a good chance if a place at Archer. My understanding is that the allocation for HGS (it's HGS not HSG) state primaries has changed in recent years.

As well as private some go to faith secondary schools. There is also Bishop Douglas and Christ College.

HGS has very distinct areas. Which one?

if your work is at waterloo, there is no way I'd buy in HGS. It will be a horrible commute, and even if you only have to do it 1 or 2 days per week you'd always be racing to get home for school pickups or whatever.

Look on all the train lines that go into Waterloo and get something nice that is south of the river.

@parietal don't agree at all. If you are near Golders or East Finch it's direct down the Northern Line. Depending on time you can easily get a seat. And one or two days a week is nothing.