Blackheath or Muswell Hill?

[Londonlondon6]

DH and I are looking to move to a new London area (we have young children) and we like both these neighbourhoods.

We don’t need to be in north London or south east London for any particular reason.

If you were choosing between the two, and you liked friendly communities, good schools, fun for young kids and when they become teens, and people likely to stick around (not overly transient for London), which would you choose?

Having lived in Muswell Hill that'd be my choice .

Muswell Hill (I've lived in both).

Muswell Hill has far better convenient and useful shops, a cinema etc. Blackheath doesn't even have a Tesco Express, and there's no cinema.

The transport is better from Muswell Hill imo as it's quick to get to Finsbury Park or Highgate for different tube lines. Blackheath relies solely on southeast rail which is very unreliable compared to the tube.

Granted, Greenwich Park is stunning, but Ally Park is not too shabby and Highgate Woods are gorgeous, plus Hampstead Heath isn't too far.

I think Muswell Hill is good for both young DC and teenagers, whereas Blackheath is good for young DC but less so for teenagers.

The surrounding areas are better for MH- close to Camden, east to reach Kings X, Tottenham Ct Rd etc. South London isn't as nice or as well connected apart from Greenwich.

I do like the look of Blackheath and there are some beautiful roads and houses there but would definitely choose to live in Muswell Hill

Blackheath. I live a few miles away and would love to live there. Greenwich Park is my happy place.

Blackheath is ok, but I’d probably go Muswell Hill, despite the transport issues and the fact it’s a bit dull! It does feel villagey and not hectic like London. I say this having grown up here and spending 20-odd years in the area!

I think Muswell Hill would edge it for me, mostly based on more secondary school choices for me

Blackheath Standard or the village? The train station is in the village.

The village!

My sister used to live in Muswell Hill and I loved visiting her there.

I’ve lived in Muswell Hill and Greenwich, so spent plenty of time in Blackheath, and I’d vote Muswell Hill

Muswell Hill, though I don't know Blackheath well. Good schools, tons of parks, restaurants, clubs for kids, swimming and sport centres, ice rink, local shopping centre vibrant with lots of cafes, independent stores. Easy access to Central London via tube, bus or overground. Great mix of people. Range of housing types. 1000s of fairly nice teens!!

If you've budget for Blackheath village then this first, if not possibly Muswell Hill instead.

Think Blackheath village in particular has become ridiculously overpriced in the past couple of years , it's mostly branded high street places there now, not comparable to some of the fantastic indie places it used to have sadly. All feels less special there now. (We live close by and it's definitely become less appealing).

Blackheath Standard is a decent area of the burbs but not spectacular and traffic is hideous in both areas majority of the time...

Muswell Hill I'd imagine you'd possibly have a lot more immediately accessible to you in the way of shops, convenience and entertainment and yes secondary school options far better there too unless you've got budget for independent education.

MH unless you need access to private schools.

MH has plenty of access to private schools, it's only 15 minutes to hampstead and even nearer to Highgate. I get the appeal of MH but it's not Londony enough for me, I think people who are not originally from London like it because it feels quite provincial. Blackheath, on the other hand, is like another planet to me!

I like MH, we live nearby, but I’d find it a drag not having a tube station in walking distance (it’s why it’s cheaper than Highgate etc). Surely however schools will be a big factor in decision?

I live close to MH (Ally Pally) and its a family friendly area. The Broadway has a good mix of shops and restaurants, though not too many pubs. I don't have kids but Fortismere has a good reputation, as does APS, nearer my neck of the woods.

The housing stock is good, plenty of Edwardian properties but it costs £££! Ally Pally is slightly cheaper especially once you're into N22 (like me!) as opposed to N10.

It's very green. Ally Pally, Parkland Walk, Highgate Wood, Queens Wood and Hampstead Heath are all nearby.

Yes there's no tube, but it honestly takes no time to get to Highgate, East Finchley, Finsbury Park or Bounds Green. Again if you forgo the N10 postcode for N22 and head towards Ally Pally, there's a regular, direct line to Moorgate (strikes permitting!) In fact taking into consideration the price, the trains, and the fact that APS is always popular with parents, Ally Pally is better imo than MH. I lived here 25 years + and have always been happy here.

I'd choose Muswell Hill. More transport options and much more reliable than the one SE train that connects Blackheath to central. It is not that great for a teenager to live in Blackheath. A pain to commute from Blackheath. Try the commute for a week and you will give up on Blackheath.
School wise, Muswell Hill for both state and private.

@Davros We had kids in Hampstead schools and it could take me 30 minutes easily in morning traffic to get them there. It was one of the main reasons we left. If they don't get into Highgate, you're stuffed!

Most of the schools now operate buses. I took DS the other way for a number of years and could do Belsize Park to MH in 15 minutes in the afternoon. He went on the bus in the mornings!

Blackheath always struck me as a great place to visit but not to live. Not much going on for kids and the shops aren't that useful. Feels quite remote. Would definitely pick Muswell Hill.

Definitely MH.

I know of two couples who live in Blackheath. All are insufferable snobby bores, who happen to be more than a tad racist and brexity . (Very small sample size, I realise).

Blackheath transport connections are rubbish and the shops are all chains now.

Reviving this as I went on a big house hunt in Muswell Hill on Wednesday and then another in Blackheath yesterday. Both got me down a little! (Maybe because nowhere looks good on grey days?!)

I didn’t feel excited by the prospects. Not the properties so much - I knew what to expect there in terms of size and type - but the areas upon second look. I was walking around and thinking: all that money and there is not enough charm?!

Now I’m wondering: where in London do you consider to be charming? Like a lovely, sweet high street? Lots of independents? Or am I kidding myself and that’s not a London thing?!

Crouch End? I prefer that to Muswell Hill. Stoke Newington, Canonbury, Barnsbury, and Victoria Park are lovely, but won’t be in the same budget unless you don’t mind a flat. Walthamstow Village has a lovely community, well within budget and good schools with lots to do for teens.

There are so many lovely villagey areas in London. Might help if you narrow it down to budget and sort of house you are looking for. Do you want to live in a more diverse area, do you want to be near good transport links etc?

Oh that's tricky. I hate the transport issues for both these locations though!