Raising teens in London - good areas?

[Citylifemum]

I listed a question in another section but users suggested I try asking on this forum.

I've one young child, a boy, and TTC. We live in London and will remain here due to our jobs and because we like everything it has to offer, the diversity and the variety. At the moment the area we live in was great pre-kids but isn't very suitable for family life.

I am looking ahead to teenage years / secondary school and aware of the rise in problems young people face as I work with young people in a support sector. Like all parents I want to do my best to support my DC to stay safe and thrive.

I'm wondering if we would do well to choose the area we want to live in now whilst DS is still small, and make a go of it in a new area with a view to staying there until DC have left home. My concerns are finding good Co-Ed secondary schools (not Catholic) and it being a good safe area for teenagers (as far as possible). Obviously I know that nowhere is untouched by violence, gangs or drugs etc. but some areas are better than others.

We are fortunate enough to have a pretty healthy budget for a home so lots of London would be available to us but as a newish mum it's the first time I've looked round London areas through a family lens.

What are other peoples experiences of raising children / teens in London and areas which tick most of the boxes?

@tara66 HP is one a few previously outstanding or good school that has been downrated in K&C. Obviously the rumour mill is in overdrive based on the number of schools. I would still happily send my kids to HP, I have one friend whose child is autistic and is very happy with the allowances and additional support she has had. I think there is far more to the HP story, and time will tell what happens now that its moving into the academy.
Every parent I know is very unhappy with the way that the whole saga has been dealt with.

It is strange that because I was checking the Bromley and Bexley grammars recently and they have retained outstanding, eg. Newstead and Bexley grammar, both inspected post Covid after a long gap.

@Keepfocused
@iwantabreakfastpantry we live in Sydenham but secondary schools is actually one of the reasons why we're moving. Whilst primaries are ok - secondaries for boys are not great. Where would you recommend?

For me the Bromley Beckenham areas are too far out. We want city life, but just wondering where has the best mix of all the variables to suit families with teenagers.

Yes both are definitely on our radar! I think I favour Richmond due to the proximity to green spaces?

We're in Canning Town. Amazing for child-free couples transport wise - Jubilee line is so easy and quick plus DLR. However, rubbish for families - little green space, facilities, and a lot of traffic.

Richmond is lovely but I wouldn't say it's city life in the same way Canning Town would be but needs change anyway when you have dc.

Traffic is a problem everywhere though.

Well I suppose we want city life as in we want quick easy access to all the culture and events, and to feel we are in London, in a buzzy area, but have more green space than we do currently. If I was a billionaire I guess I'd choose one of those mansions in St James, behind Piccadilly overlooking Green Park for example.

We lived in east Twickenham (just over bridge in Richmond) at one point. Lovely area for families and London but not- if you know what I mean. Be careful in Richmond though as large parts are totally on the flight path - especially north Sheen. That's why I think I would pick Teddington, north kingston or Ham- all off the flight path - chiswick and Kew great too but both def on flight path

What about Primrose Hill/Belsize Park etc? If you can afford it...
Not sure what the secondary school options are there but super close to town, Camden, King's Cross Coal Drops etc. And green spaces like Paliament Hill, Hamstead Heath & Regents Park etc.

I think you get used to the flight path in Richmond/Kew (I live under it and honestly never notice the planes any more). I honestly would not pick any of Teddington, Ham or Kingston over Richmond. Richmond is much better connected and feels more part of London. Ham in particular feels like the back of beyond!

@BonjourCrisette I do agree that Richmond is better connected if that matters a lot to OP. I did sort of get used to it - which I never did when we lived in Windsor

If you want Wimbledon but not the prices then check areas like Raynes Park, Wimbledon Town (prob still expensive), Southfields etc.

A ex-colleague of mine lives in Raynes Park and most of her children went to good co Ed or single sex schools in that area or Wimbledon.

Richmond is lovely, but Ealing in much better connected - you have the Piccadilly, Central and District lines and now the Elizabeth line as well. We used to live near Ealing Green so we were handy for all those lines - as well as buses to to Kew and Kingston.

Thanks for these suggestions. @LillianGish which would you say are the nicest roads in Ealing and most convenient? Also do you know about schools?

The tube is definitely better in Ealing. But I really like the speed and convenience of the fast train to Waterloo in Richmond. Being in Zone 1 in 15 minutes and then ten minutes walk to the West End makes me feel much more part of the city.

my teens go to school in Camden/Islington (in some of the schools you mention in your post upthread). I am very happy bringing them up here. I would recommend it to anyone. Some people feel those schools are quite rough - quite a few parents from my area have chosen to move to Muswell Hill to try Fortismere but I think they've made the wrong decision!

I would say Stokey is good too, but wouldn't bring my children up in Victoria Park (although I like visiting it and my teens go out there too now). Anyone I've met who went to Mossbourne, hated it. (Many of them ended up in my kids' sixth form)

@SybilWrites can I ask which area you live in? I know the whole area well having lived there a decade previously. But as I said in my OP, never looked at through a parental lens.

Also @SybilWrites did you mean that you see Victoria Park as unsafe but you find Camden safer?

The tube is definitely better in Ealing. But I really like the speed and convenience of the fast train to Waterloo in Richmond. Being in Zone 1 in 15 minutes and then ten minutes walk to the West End makes me feel much more part of the city.

What train is 15 mins? What are you classing as the west end? because 10 mins is running pace surely!

In your position I would be prioritising secondary schools. Grammar means selective/11+ so possibly tutoring from Y4.

@Citylifemum I don't know if it helps but I grew up in Stokey and still have lots of friends there who now have kids at Grazebrook etc. It is a very family friendly area. Yummy mummy coffee shop heaven. The most annoying thing about it is lack of tube though. Even the overground is far. I wouldn't personally bring up my kids there as I find it a bit too liberal and arty. There's still tons of drugs and parties and the parents are very much a Glastonbury type in terms of parenting. Lots of banker types moving in though so it may change but those kids tend to go private for secondary anyway.

i think the schools are better in Camden

@Citylifemum I have no idea what your budget is, but I loved the roads between Ealing Green and Lammas and Walpole Parks - Disraeli and Sunnyside Roads, Cairn Avenue, Clovelly Road (my personal favourite), Elers Road (on the other side of the park) or Webster Gardens. My kids were at the Lycée in South Ken so went on the tube, but I had friends with children at Elthorne Park and Drayton Manor.