London with kids

[Londonwithkids8888]

If you live in London with kids, and you’ve made lots of family friends though them, and love your friendly community, where do you live?

@JW13 hello!

We must be very lucky I think, all of our original NCT families who we met 9 years ago are still within a mile or so of us. We all moved 7/8 years ago from smaller flats in Brixton etc out to houses here, West Norwood and Tulse Hill. I can't leave the house without bumping into someone I know. Loads of kids have left our primary and some are moving for secondary, but there should be a decent number left. I don't feel the pull to leave based on this, we don't have anywhere obvious outside London to aim for either as family and friends are too far and scattered.

The Streatham across to Herne Hill and E Dulwich area of S London is brilliant for choice of primary and secondary schools, and we have longstanding friendships that have lasted from NCT and primary school to Uni and beyond.

Dunraven /2 Charter schools / Graveney / try for a Kingsdale place / a train to the grammars and more. BTG for Catholic.

Interesting that corner of SE London is such a great place for making family friends! I must admit, I don’t know it well.

I think you’re right about schools. Maybe families stick around in areas with good secondaries!

I'm in zone 4 Isleworth and we're very happy here. A few people moved out/abroad when the kids were younger but now they're tweens and everyone seems very settled. Still got 5 out of 8 of my NCT class here too- two of the 3 that moved went back to NZ/Aus so that's understandable!

Wimbledon. Proper friends, not acquaintances 🙂.

West Norwood.

Maybe living in North London is my problem!

West Norwood/Streatham recommended too.

My DC is at Dunraven secondary and is thriving there.

Lots if good primaries too, Julian's, Hitherfield, Sunnyhill.

The community in and around the area is great, I would highly recommend it.

TW7 as well. Same thing, some moved while babies were small but all settled now. Think it helps that there's a range of housing and prices so not everyone is pushed out.