Pick my ideal London neighbourhood for me!

[Babygirlnameq]

I currently live centrally (zone 1), but looking to move somewhere new.

Here is my criteria!
-a solid and very friendly community who are there to stay (not mega transient like my current zone 1 area) - maybe a villagey feel?
-family friendly
-interesting diverse people. DH and I both work in creative arts, so like minded folk would be great. Plus I’m mixed race, so prefer not to live somewhere with lots of wealthy, white, boarding school types (sorry if that sounds horribly reverse snobbish - but my university cohort was like this and I just didn’t fit in)
-pretty and green nearby
-fairly central: doesn’t take an age to get into town
-deep SE London doesn’t work very well for family who are NW of London

We’ll rent rather than sell up at first, and can afford around £3000 per month for 3 bedrooms and a garden. Don’t mind if it’s a flat or a house.

Where should we go?! We’ve toured everywhere and can’t figure it out.

Muswell Hill

what about Walthamstow/Blackhorse Road area?

How about Walthamstow? Handier for NW than you might think (Overground to Gospel Oak). Epping Forest is round the corner. Tube and train connect you easily to the City and West End. Plenty of creative types (lots of TV and theatre people).

About to say this- I’ve just moved here, it’s on the Victoria line, loads of families, lots to do and it’s really ‘normal’ by that I mean culturally diverse, not pockets of millionaires pretending to be normal ( Hackney I’m looking at you) and great schools.

Maybe Crouch End or Stroud Green. Stoke Newington. Clapton

Willesden Green is lovely.

Brockley or Ladywell or Telegraph Hill. You can get over to NW London very quickly and easily these days from any of those.

Forest Hill/Sydenham/Crystal Palace - 20 minutes into London Bridge plus overground. Great area!

Bethnal Green or Victoria Park area. Brockley's a good shout. Deptford?

I have a couple of friends up in Dollis Hill. It's very diverse, friendly and family-orientated, and everyday nice without being too Putney-prim if you know what I mean. It often gets overlooked but I rather liked it there, and would have considered moving there if we hadn't moved out of London entirely in the end.

Crystal Palace or Penge, really great village feel, lots of famlies and easy commute.

Another vote for Walthamstow. Loads of creatives. Great community spirit, loads of stuff to get involved in. The new Soho Theatre is due to open here next year.
Very diverse community. Close to Epping Forest for amazing greenery.
And it's not cheap by any means, but it's far cheaper than Muswell Hill, Bethnal Green etc.
I've lived here for many years, and have lots of friends who have no intention of moving away.

I live in Walthamstow and I love it, but truthfully for that money you can live somewhere fancier. Also the population here is always changing, although that is true for most of London.

Great suggestions!

To those who suggested Walthamstow: I did like it but was warned off it as - says my friend - “there’s mass exodus before either primary or secondary school”. It sounds like that might not be true from PPs experience? I’d really like somewhere to make family friends and set down firm roots, if possible!

Kensal Green /Queens park area. Good transport links.

I like Victoria park village - hadn’t thought about Bethnal Green! I will take a look!

Deptford might be a bit too far out for family (Blackwell tunnel traffic puts me off!). I don’t know Dollis Hill at all, like the name! Will look it up!

I have a friend who lives there and raves about it. I must pay her a visit and take a proper look!

Dollis is further out than some of the other suggestions, Z3 I think. So if you're one of those people who wonders what happens at the end of tube lines you might not get on with it! Probably worth a quick squiz, though.

Re Deptford — I agree re the tunnel. Although if I was going SE8 I'd be trying to get as close to the train and DLR connections as possible.

It’s all anecdotal but I heard this used to be the case in the area but not so much anymore.

It’s definitely something you get a lot of in London though. If you’re keen to avoid it then the safest bet is to go for an area with a historically strong reputation for schools.

From what you’ve said so far I’d go for Muswell Hill, I’ve never lived there myself but seems to tick all your boxes.

Victoria Park Village?

The person who recommended Muswell Hill -- its lovely but I wouldn't really call it diverse..

Snaresbrook / Wanstead. Lovely village feel with a bustling High Street

On the central line (zone 4)

Wanstead Park and Leyton Flats on your doorstep

Is Herne Hill too expensive now? If not it's perfect, 8 minutes on the train to Victoria.

Where are you now? How serious are you about not wanting to be surrounded by rich white folks?

If quite serious, seven sisters. Community spirit is there in spades, lots of great houses, fab transport. It’s genuinely creative ie poor artists rather than ‘media creative’, and the parks are great.

Otherwise, Stroud Green/Haringey, Walthamstow, or the dreaded Leytonstone

I mean if we’re looking for diverse and Muswell Hill ain’t it, Vicky Park certainly isnt either

@cimena “Dreaded Leytonstone “? 🤔 I would have thought that ticked a lot of boxes.

Seven sisters is still rough if we are honest. Muswell Hill is pleasant if not exciting, but it's not the best journey into town. The primary schools in Walthamstow are good, but the secondary options for boys are poor (better for girls).

Wanstead might suit you, it is genuinely mixed, has access to good schools, medium priced. It is a place families stay.