Chingford Mount area - Advice needed

[spirit20]

Hi all,

Lots of other threads here mention Chingford Mount in relation to North Chingford and Highams Park, and point out it's not as nice etc. as those areas. Those areas unfortunately are rather out of my budget, but I've seen a property near the Morrisons in Chingford Mount that looks quite good.

I'm wondering what's Chingford Mount is like as an area in its own right, rather than just compared to the surrounding areas (if that makes sense).

I've walked through the area and gotten a feel for it, but looking for anyone with more experience?

Would you feel reasonably safe walking there at night for example? Is it somewhere you'd consider buying property?

My experience is from maybe 5 years ago but bumping as hopefully someone with more recent experience will come along! I used to live close to there.

It felt like a transitory area to me without the same sense of community as Walthamstow. Very good bus connections and some amenities, the actual amount crossroads all felt a bit tired but might have freshened up since then. Not as much of a trek to the tube as some parts of Chingford.

Walking at night - not sure. Walthamstow always felt safe as loads of people around. I’d avoid the Crooked Billet underpass at night.

I wouldn’t have bought a property on the main road, personally. I would have considered the side roads - I have a friend who lives very near Ainslie Wood Road and that is a nicer bit, though parking is a nightmare on that road in particular and some of the surrounding streets.

If we’d stayed in London, I would have been looking at what we could afford nearer to Highams Park. But we chose to move out.

I was up there yesterday (we live in Walthamstow). Some of the roads on the opposite side of the road to Morrison's are lovely and very peaceful. You've also got Ainslie Wood and Larkswood as well as Memorial Park so it's quite green.
There's a conservation area around Roper's Field that had some beautiful houses and is pretty close to Highams Park station.

I used to walk dogs for the RSPCA around there and always felt very safe.

There are big development/improvement plans for Chingford Mount itself so now might be a good time to get in.

I bought a house in between Chingford Mount and North Chingford, both are walking distance. I’ve only been here a few months. I love the village feel to North Chingford and it’s probably the nicer of the two. However I think the residential streets behind Chingford Mount are fine and some are really nice/comparable to North Chingford imo. The main drag on the Mount is a bit drab but I do get the sense development is on the way. There are some lovely parks either on the Mount or a short walk away (Memorial, Ridgeway, Mansfield). I feel perfectly safe walking around in the evening.

I think in some ways it depends where you live now. Finsbury Park, you will feel safer. Loughton, maybe not so.

If it's on the main road you will often have queuing traffic outside.

I could completely echo this. Mount itself - drab although some nice little places popping up. Back roads - nice. It’s suburban, it’s perfectly safe with the same attention as you’d pay elsewhere in London.

I wouldn’t live on Chingford mount road or new road, traffic is very backed up. The other ‘main roads’ in the area are alright, you more want to avoid backing onto the north circular too closely.

A huge thanks to everyone for the advice! Having visited the area again, I actually quite like it actually. It's on one of the side roads, not the main road and I've walked around the area a few times now and have a good feel for it.

@Don'tknowwhichnametopick Haha it is actually Loughton that I'm moving from!

I think it's nice, it doesn't quite have that kerb appeal but living there is fine.
The main roads are busy but you get used to it. So many people would refuse to live on a main road that you get a lot more for your money.
Same goes for backing on the the cemetery.
As above, the mount seems to be a key pilot area for all sorts of initiatives and redevelopment at the moment, I think because it's been a bit run down and it's not huge, it's easier to try out all the new stuff before scaling it up to the rest of the area.
In terms of transport if you like walking, highams park station is easy enough to walk to, but if not, just about every bus either terminates or passes through. Not much use in rush hour but fine for the rest of the day.
Community feel is not really hipster, more conservative, many people have lived here 30/40/50+ years and are skeptical about changes. But there are new shops starting to open up.
Particularly the Iceland/Poundland corner are going to be redeveloped so there may be more small businesses. Speaking of Morrisons, that and the big Sainsbury's are flagged for redevelopment into a smaller shop with more separate units attached, less parking and some kind of park along the small River that's hidden in between. I think there are other buildings with plans although this is a 20 year plan I think.
Any more questions, ask away, and let us know what kind of things you are concerned about.

We are in N Chingford but old house is in Highams Park. I think the roads opposite Morrisons seem quite nice and property sizes good. I go to the gym by there and agree traffic can be a challenge. I used to walk for that reason and felt safe. Redevelopment is planned so, as pp mention, could be an opportune time to strike.

Also think the area offers very good value for money. I bought a semi detached with a large garden for less than the tiny flat I had in Hackney. Very happy with my move and love the open green spaces, Epping Forest on my doorstep. As a PP said it’s definitely doesn’t have a Hipster look or feel but Walthamstow is just up the road if you need that:)