If we like Tooting where else would we like?

[Tootootoot]

We're looking for a flat in London and based on our research (basically reading lots of mumsnet threads) we've visited Blackheath and Tooting so far. We didn't think Blackheath was right for us (seemed too suburban and a little dull) but we really liked Tooting. The diversity of the people, the market, the common and once it's open the lido were all great. Also the fact it's got good transport options for getting into central London.

Budget is £500k for a 2 bedroom flat. Is there anywhere else we should visit before we make a decision please? We don't live in London currently so need to make the most of our time when visiting. Thanks in advance.

Personally I much prefer Tooting Broadway to Balham and Northcote Road, the latter is far too gentrified and sanitised and full of yummy mummies and finance men for my liking. I like the fact Tooting is more gritty and down to earth and love Broadway Market. I used to live there renting but didn’t have the budget to buy there, so I’m now in South Norwood which is more suburban and gritty (well, actually just kind of grubby lol) but has an amazing friendly local community and is much cheaper

Definitely look look at Mitcham, it's zone 3 and great transport links.

I would avoid Mitcham, just doesn't really have anything going for it & can't see that changing!

That house that you linked to is close to Morden Hall Park which is a very big National Trust, free to enter, park. It has wetlands and a meadow. There's also the Wandle Trail, with Deen City Farm, and Merton Abbey Mills just by Merantuan Way - plenty goes on there, and Wandle Park. You can walk for miles round there without having to cross too many roads.

@Tootootoot If you have a dog, you might want to consider this one. I know the road very well. Its 5mins walk to the massive Morden Hall Park (National Trust) and the tram stop to get to Wimbledon.15-20mins walk to CW tube (there are also buses). Merton Abbey Mills is close for cafes and there's a lovely pub called the William Morris there, although for bars it would be a bus / tube / uber to Tooting

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132987497

@TedMullins agree trouble with Tooting though is the gentrifying will change it. The locals are already getting pushed out when they have contributed so much to it. Give it 10 yrs & it will be like Clapham full of rahs from the home counties!

Apologies to any rahs!

@Tootootoot it might be worth looking at but further out for a house if you can. It's a better investment than a flat as flat prices in London have defo softened & wfh is likely contributing to that.

Just look at some of the flats that have been linked and how prices of ones bought recently haven't really grown much.

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125688512

This is really close to the park (and you're less than 10 mins on the overground from Hampstead Heath). The Park Road lido is just up the road. Finsbury Park is groaning with cafés, restaurants and bar, plus it has a cinema and a theatre. Great transport links too .

Colliers Wood or Streatham. The traffic in Tooting can be soul destroying, especially in rush hour.

Collides Wood has the same traffic & the best thing about it is the proximity to Tooting & Wimbledon!

Yeah this is true. I would actually recommend South Norwood as we have some cool stuff/coffee shops, craft beer house etc run by actual locals rather than incoming gentrifiers! I think gentrification is further away here, not least because Croydon council is broke and shit 😂 The transport from Norwood junction is good too. 500k would likely get you a terrace or maybe even semi detached here!

Since you're comfortable with 'gritty' and liked Tooting, have you considered E1 (Whitechapel / Stepney)? Prices have dropped with Covid so you can pick up a 2 bed flat within your £500k budget (pre-Covid it was more like £650k+). Great commute to the West End on the Elizabeth line, to either Tottenham Court Road or Bond Street. I can be standing outside on the street at Tottenham Court Road in 10 mins from Whitechapel. It's actually walkable if you don't mind a 50+ min walk either along the river or through the City.

There's a lido at London Fields (plus an indoor pool at Shadwell), surprisingly good for dog walking with Victoria Park and Mile End Park, and various other smaller green spaces dotted all around.

not least because Croydon council is broke and shit

True dat! 😆

This thread makes me relieved I left London 20 years ago! I lived in Balham before it gentrified, also Stockwell, Earlsfield and Morden. Morden was my least favourite and Earlsfield was the best. It's quite a shock to see the flat we could have bought then for 60k is now ten times that! Tooting was pretty horrible back then and the lido was always packed any time the sun came out, I can't imagine its improved! I always liked Brixton but I believe its quite gentrified now so not sure if in budget. Anyway, good luck!

@gogohmm et al: any views on any area based on experience even 5 years ago are uselessly of date.

Streatham Hill has access to a choice of brilliant schools at primary and secondary. West Norwood ditto now that Norwood School is v favoured. Streatham Vale has Woodmansterne as a great all through school. Streatham Hill on the East of the High Rd is a quick walk to Tulse Hill station for Thameslink and London Bridge, Streatham Hill station, and any number of buses for a quick ride to Brixton Tube. Streatham High Rd has long had trendy cafes and restaurants, and now an increasing number of independent shops.

West Norwood has the Picturehouse, trendy cafes, Julian’s Primary. Parts are in catchment for Dunraven (Outstanding).

I thought the OP wasn't interested in schools.

Colliers Wood you can at least get a seat on the tube in mornings. Tooting Broadway probably not (well pre covid)

For all these saying oh x cinema is in that location - they are all 20-30 mins walk or bus away so not a huge deal. I regularly go to Putney for cinema or clapham for drinks/meals or Kingston for shopping. It's all so close it doesn't really matter the exact location you live.

What you will be doing is commuting every day (I assume). Make that as nice as possible.

(Loving between Tooting and Wimbledon I face choice of 2 tubes if I want (one being 25 min walk/10 min bus) and trains via Thames link up to Luton or south west trains into Waterloo. Very handy during strikes or just the normal disruption.

Colliers Wood is on the list for my son when he's looking at shared ownership- as is Tooting .

He doesn't particularly love Colliers Wood but he does like Tooting and Wimbledon and Colliers Wood is incredibly handy for both as well as being cheaper and you can always get a seat on tube! . It's like living in Twickenham but preferring Richmond or Teddington.

Personally if you can get something in Tooting I would go for it. I know a lot of areas pretty well and I think it has a great mix of gentrified but still kind of a bit gritty- posh restaurants but you can get a jerk chicken pasty etc and a very mixed population. it also has a great hospital on doorstep and a big mix of housing too .

I can't get over someone liking Tooting!

Somebody has to.

@FirstMate I must admit I struggle when people really like Hackney, Dalston, Shoreditch etc. guess there's somewhere for everyone out there.

Norwood junction looks amazing value for money - what's the catch?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134588090

I love & have lived in all those areas but got priced out. Why don’t you like them?

I have friends that moved from Norwood back to Crystal Palace. They just never really felt at home in the area & said there wasn’t much there. But I’m sure some people will say different.

I am looking in similar areas as you OP. A colleague lives near Norwood junction and has recommended it for transport links (train to Victoria etc) and a v short bus to Crystal Palace for cinema bars etc. Nice parks for dogs. But I think maybe not much else actually around there and quite suburban. I have a dog too and am tempted by the extra space for money in that area!

@Nimblesandbimbles they always feel a bit grubby and graffitied and built up with constant sirens , smell of weed etc- some bits look like they are dropping to bits- I didn't like living in Bristol either for similar reasons. I think Tooting is kind of as edgy as I would get. I can totally see why others would though if I'm honest , I'm not snobby about it. I guess age comes into it too. As I've got older I tend to prefer it feeling a bit greener, a bit more manicured, less built up, generally less edgy .