Family areas in inner London if you could choose anywhere?

[LiverpoolFan83]

Moved to Blackheath in SE London last year. 1DC another on the way. Reason for moving there was mainly green space and primary schools. We are fortunate enough to be able to afford a 3 bed flat there, and hoping to buy a house in next few years. However, as lovely as it is, it feels a bit different to me and I can't put my finger on why.

Previously we lived in north London Tufnell Park / Kentish Town which I loved. It's really expensive up there though and even more so that SE London. I keep thinking that Blackheath feels really posh and if we could afford a house there I'd feel out of place. Definitely don't want DC to go to grammar school or private secondary which a lot round Blackheath do. I also am not interested in the suburbs or moving out as I've been a city girl my whole life and DH feels the same, so would only consider zones 1-3 and happy living in a flat rather than a house if there is still green space nearby.

I guess I'm struggling to find my tribe in London now that I'm thinking as a family and not just as a child free couple. No family ties anywhere so no real pull in that sense. Some areas I used to like feel a bit too trendy now, and some not right for families. We are very fortunate to be able to consider living centrally but a lot of places feel very posh which we are definitely not! Wondering if anywhere has the vibe we are after.

So, just a bit of dreaming, but if money was no object which area in London would you live in? Asking those who enjoy city living and not surburbia fans.

@onthefencesitter Sutton is all suburb and grammar. Muswell hill IS on the posh side.

OP Blackheath is pretty much the Wimbledon village equivalent of SE

Most if not all inner London boroughs have a mixture of posh/not posh so I think you just need to drop your preoccupation with that.

NW London and SW London are fairly similar. Many of the roads look exactly the same. I don’t like SE London though.

Blackheath is hemmed in by quite grim areas though whereas Wimbledon is surrounded by boroughs fairly similar to it.

I don't understand where everyone goes for secondary in z1-4 London - surely not everybody can afford private and can get in grammar, or live in the 0.5 mile radius of the few good comps.

But that is what makes London and being a Londoner so great

I live in ex LA built in 1903, it is a fantastic mixed community in the heart of the city.

The 'rich' and 'poor' have always lived side by side in London. The diversity whether economic, religious, ethnic or cultural is what makes London what it is.

Southwark, lambeth and Wandsworth are not inner London for the most part. They extend over a large e area bout no way ate Streatham or East Dulwich inne London

Westminster is. Kensington and Chelsea. Most of Camden.

Ah there's Morden & Mitcham and only in recent years the Raynes park side cleaned up a bit.

Blackheath is quite separate to the fugliness of Lewisham and joins into Greenwich. Kidbrooke is all new too. Obviously not exact same vibe but probably similar types will be found there I'm sure.

I totally agree. Rich and poor and a multitude of cultures live side by side.

Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Lewisham are all inner London.

Some people confuse central and inner London.

Don't mistake mumsnet with real life... The idea that all these areas in Z1-3 London where a 2 bed flat is 600k+ amd and a house is 1m+ are surrounded by bad schools is ridiculous and also not based on fact. Look it up. London state schools outperform the rest of the country. All it often means is a bit of casual racism about darling children having to mix with brown and/or poor people.

Morden is on the other side of Raynes Park.

Wimbledon is surrounded by Putney, Wandsworth, Raynes Park, Kingston, New Malden, Tooting - very different to Deptford, Peckham, Woolwich + Plumstead.

Blackheath and Greenwich is a little island in that area.

Crystal Palace/Gypsy hill is zone 4 but both lively and leafy. It has a nice vibe. Vauxhall is a more affordable central bit, I guess you be in the catchment of Westminster academy which is good. Camden or Kentish Town also.

Loads of people on here are confusing Central London with Inner London.

For example SE London INNER boroughs are Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and sometimes Greenwich is included.
So even places as far out as West Norwood, Sydenham and Lee/Grove Park are all Inner London.
The south and north circulars have NOTHING to do with the boundaries. Places outside of these roads are still inner London.

Se1! Tower bridge/Shad Thames/Borough, beautiful warehouses, the best cultural hotspots, museums, restaurants, transport links on your doorstep, unbeatable. Great schools if you can afford private.

Well I live in z3 & always considered it the suburbs!

The issue you have is that lots of people move out of z1-3 for secondary & often the ones who stay are pretty privileged if they are families. I also think flats are fine often better with young dc but as they get older many will prefer a house.

If I won the lotto I'd live in Wimbledon Village

Wandsworth between the Commons.

only not trendy it's super posh & has a high % of privates.

I live in Balham/Wandsworth & it's not great for state secondary schools. Fantastic primaries though.

Surely z1 is inner London?

Notice it mentions Lambeth..?

Lambeth stretches from Westminster to Croydon, so parts are inner & parts aren't.

I would suggest you look at secondaries & work backwards.

The 'rich' and 'poor' have always lived side by side in London. The diversity whether economic, religious, ethnic or cultural is what makes London what it is.

whilst I think diversity has made London what it is I would argue that particularly in socioeconomic terms it's not so diverse now particularly near the excellent schools. Everyone on my road growing up was an immigrant family including myself, now that road is 95% white & well off. Lack of affordability & social housing has impacted diversity.

Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Lewisham are all inner London.

I disagree

No it doesnt
Lambeth starts south of the river. Westminster is north

I live in Blackheath and would 100% stay in Blackheath (sorry, OP probably not too helpful!)

Muswell Hill. Wonderful place! All schools including the secondary are great. You have Highgate Woods on one side and you can be in Soho within 30 minutes (if you live that side of MH). The high street is getting better and better. Although for cool restaurants you have to go to CE. The families here are nice and the kids are kind to each other. A lot of very rich people but equally a lot of down to Earth people. For that reason either buying or renting is difficult- all snapped up quickly.