Northfields or North Sheen/Kew Gardens for family

[butterflygold]

Hi all, we are trying to decide between a 4 bed house between North Sheen and Kew Gardens and a 4 bed house between Northfields and South Ealing - both houses are similar price - the Northfields house is bigger with potential to extend further.

we have never lived in either area but both locations work for jobs. We have two DC’s and are looking for somewhere family friendly with good schools - which would you choose?

I prefer Kew/ East Sheen but the area you’ve described isn’t convenient for commuting, if that’s a consideration. It also might mean the house is near Chalkers Corner, which is a pollution hotspot best avoided.

Definitely sheen, much more of a pleasant community feel, better schools, housing and closer to the river/Richmond park.

They are both really good areas. I think south Ealing/Northfields has better secondary schools and transport links, with the Piccadilly line, but Kew/east sheen is a bit more 'posh'. I'd live in either one

Northfields has a great tube line and numerous bus routes. You might not even need a car. Had a parent who used to live there. Sheen\Kew is slightly nicer but not half as convenient.

Northfields / South Ealing is very family friendly, everything on the doorstep and the Elizabeth line an easy walk at West Ealing or Ealing Broadway as well. Great primary schools and Ealing Fields is doing brilliantly as the new secondary. Great parks and some lovely local restaurants.

Thanks all - good to know both areas are well regarded! I think we are slightly leaning towards the Northfields house because of the schools and transport links. I am keen on a diverse area so don’t mind if it’e not quite as posh

Shout if you’d like any local recommendations once you’re in! Good luck with it all.

We live in Ealing and DH grew up in Kew. Kew is definitely more well-heeled but he thinks it’s boring and I tend to agree. Northfields has loads going on for families, great local parks and a good community feel. I can’t speak to those aspects of Kew. Kew Gardens is obviously fantastic but it’s not a neighbourhood park. Lovely to be near the river. But transport links aren’t brilliant and the queues over Kew Bridge can be awful especially at weekends. I’d go for Northfields personally 😬

I think Northfields is better if you're after state non-religious schools. As people have said, not as posh but generally more convenient (and still very middle class).

North Sheen/Kew is extremely nice, but the volume of traffic, pollution and sheer stop start driving frustration, for even a "simple" journey drove me mad.

Also check out the flight paths for both areas. Flight Tracker App is useful.

Not Flight Tracker it's Flightradar24 app. I'm quite nerdy and use it sometimes just to see what flew overhead and where its going.

I know Kew quite well. The airplane noise would be enough to drive me crazy, I don’t know the other places.

I've lived across the river from Kew, plane noise can be awful.

I think Northfields is better for a 'normal' family, but not as posh. It is still a lovely area though.and great for when your DC are older and want to go into town with their friends. The schools are all great too.