Palmers Green N London??

[ColdAndGrumpy]

Looking to move out of central London.
Just me and partner.
Late 50s.
Want a little more space for money and quieter location.
But, definitely not ready to leave London behind. We like all the London culture and still need access for work though not every day.

Just looking at the RightMove map and realise Palmers Green seems an idea. Someone likened it to the poor man's Muswell Hill.

So if you can tell me anything I should know about what it's like I'd be really grateful

Some parts of Palmers Green are lovely. The parts nearer to Winchmore Hill and Southgate. Stay away from the parts nearer the North Circular going down towards Edmonton

Thank you ClannadSinger that's a great starting point and def the sort of info I'm after 😊

One vote for it from me!

More Wood Green in vibe than Muswell Hill, but you are close to Muswell Hill :) Big Greek/Turkish/Cypriot community (huge apologies I'm lumping them together) so quite a few little food shops with that sort of cuisine, always found people friendly.

No tube is the big downer, but it's got overground and buses galore.

I used to live in Bounds Green nearby and was very happy there, used to run (or waddle) round Broomfield Park all the time and felt pretty safe at night.

I think you get good bang-for-your-buck in Palmers Row compared with most areas of London.

Good luck :)

Sorry- Palmers Green! (There was a house I fell in love with last year on a street called Palmers Row so its still in my head)

The bit near the North Circular is where I used to live 😁 I liked it, just a short walk to the shops etc.

I know it well, and it's really nothing like Muswell Hill 🙈 If you go thinking that, you'll be disappointed.
It's fine, the parts around Broomfield Park are nice, lots of character houses/flats.
The Winchmore Hill 'end' is nice too. As mentioned by PP, avoid the area around the N circ.

Thank you all again. Very useful info

The lakes Estate area near Broomfield is absolutely lovely and I would say close enough to Southgate tube to count (and there's a train station too) I have heard that the neighbours are all manic curtain twitchers and will report any unfamiliar car driving down 'their' road to the group WhatsApp. It's also a LTN which bothers some people. The nearest big shop is a morrisons which gets a bit of a 'rough' crown in and is very understaffed. But there are lovely local shops in Palmer's green proper. The winchmore hill end is nice too but too far from the tube really

I used to live there and still visit family and friends there regularly. It's not Muswell Hill.... but it's creeping closer and closer as MH becomes so expensive and there is trickle down effect to Alexandra Park, Bounds Green and ultimately PG.

It definitely does still feel like London – not suburban (others may disagree but to me, suburban means 1930s houses eg Southgate and Oakwood) - It has no tube though, but a train line into Finsbury Pk and Moorgate and very regular buses up Green Lanes to Wood Green (Piccadilly line). Or head to Southgate tube, depending where in PG you end up.

The Lakes Estate, squashed between Fox Lane and Aldermans Hill / Broomfield Park are lovely characterful houses, many now split into flats. Some really nice cafés (Starfish, and the one near to the station whose name I can't remember) and a very posh bakery (Holtwhite's) face on to the park. Broomfield Park is lovely and has a very active friends group, an orchard, wetlands, playing fields and a community cafe.

The other side of Fox Lane - Burford Gardens, Cranley Gardens etc - are smaller houses and slightly less desirable but still a very solid address - and then if you cross over Bourne Hill, there are more roads that run perpendicular to Green Lanes and Hoppers Rd, all the way up to Winchmore Hill – some really nice characterful houses around here.

I personally prefer west side of Green Lanes to the other side, although I think there are some quite nice properties down e.g. Lightcliffe Road and thereabouts. As others have said, it all gets less desirable the closer you get to the A406 and the A10. Edmonton is to be avoided.

Hazelwood Lane Primary School is okay I think, if schools are of important to you, a big multicultural London primary - but the local secondary school (Broomfield) is pretty bad; consider looking at Winchmore School catchment instead if you have soon-to be-teenagers.

I think there's quite a burgeoning sense of local community as people move there, wanting to be in Muswell Hill in their hearts, but the desire for a house with a garden winning the day.

Good luck with your search!

..... I could add that if you have a biggish budget Winchmore Hill Green is very pretty and very gentrified (too much so for me) if rather suburban (safe and peaceful).

Even further out, the area around Chase Side in Enfield is beloved by many including two of my oldest friends - but there is no direct access to tubes from here - only trains - it is very suburban. However, it has very easy access to the lovely countryside, farms and woods around Forty Hall Estate which is a big plus. Work in the city in the day and sleep on the edge of the country at night. It works for them.

Gosh thank you Cabbagesandcustard that is a phenomenal amount of really really helpful information. I really appreciate it!

And just to say, our kids are grown up so our nest is empty and no school considerations.

I agree with most of the above, it's definitely a step-down from Muswell Hill. A thriving area but horrendously traffic-clogged due to the low traffic zone. The high street is boring & unattractive but busy. The immediate areas close by are nicer.

This is spot on. I lived there for a few years and loved it. The no tube didn't bother me as the overground takes you to Finsbury Park or beyond to Kings Cross.

I think this thread needs an update for 2025!
Palmers Green has changed a lot in the recent months / years.

The high street has a new cafe called the Stage House and the owners have smartened up their frontage - it looks very cool warehouse vibe with crittal style doors. Next door to this is a soon to open Gail’s.

The local community action team are incredible! Through campaigning and grant applications they managed to secure finance to renovate Devonshire Square which now has new paving and planting and will hold events including a market and live music.

Hazelwood Primary School is LOVELY. A great community around the school and the school has improved lots - backed up by its recent Outstanding Oftsed report.

in addition to the lakes estate the houses on the East side of the high street are now much smarter - lots of Edwardian properties here. Smaller than the huge ones on the lakes estate but still a good size and much better value. This is the catchment area for the sort after Hazelwood School so a good place for young families to buy.

Palmers Green definitely has more edge to it than Muswell Hill but it is arguably cooler with a big young artistic community (new art space in Albiet and a rumored new art / cinema space opening soon…) the is a local art trail that takes you around all the murals / street art.

No tube but a great train line takes you to Highbury &Islington in 15 mins.

Also Broomfield is a huge park with plenty of events throughout the year.