Moving to Streatham Common

[Myne2299]

Hi all, we are planning to move to Streatham Common Conservation Area from Wimbledon. My daughter goes to school in Dulwich. We spotted the location as there is a coach to school and seems more affordable than Dulwich (also bigger houses with bigger gardens). Anyone moved there recently from Wimbledon / Clapham can share their experiences please? Would you recommend it as an area to live? A bit worried about safety as I hear the crime is high in the area. Should I bite the bullet and try to stretch to Dulwich or compromise on space? Please advise 🙏🏻

I live nearby and know the area fairly well. The high street isn’t too bad as it has a mixture of shops and cinema and lots of restaurants.

The roads just off the common but away from Rookery are preferred as safer and on the other side of the common of the common near to Bishop Thomas Grant School there are nice streets and houses. A friend mine from the area area as she felt is was unsafe eg on the common.

If it’s closer to Dulwich you need what about West Norwood, Upper Norwood or Crystal Palace? From the first she could walk and two others get a train, I see lots of Dulwich school kids get the train from Gipsy Hill to Dulwich.

There is also a direct train from Streatham station (at the bottom of the common) to North Dulwich - plenty of children from the Dulwich schools get the train.

I don't think the area is any less safe than any others in south London - I'd be wary of cutting across the common late evening/ in the dark though. Some of those roads, especially up towards the Rookery, strike me as being very quiet later in the evening, but I've never lived there so wouldn't really know. The common is nice and has an active local committee organising events. And I agree - some of the houses round the common are stunning.

I live relatively locally (walking distance to Streatham Common) in an area that is regularly slated as being awful on Mumsnet - we have a much nicer house than we could afford in one of the so called 'nicer' areas and I like it here a lot.

Thanks all for taking the time to reply, really appreciated. @GonnaGetGoingReturns which roads you think are preferred? You mean like not Covington way but Copley park and Braxted park better or you mean north of Streatham Common better? Thanks so much. I am really worried about the safety of the area as we will have kids growing up in the area and previously experienced super safe areas like Wimbledon and Raynes Park. I might just consider Crystal Palace and Kent House rather than Streatham.

I would not leave Dulwich for SC. I grew up in Norbury and the Green Lane area for 27 years and it got worse and worse. You only have to google the local crime rates and read the local papers to see how bad it is. People will tell you it’s changing and it isn’t so bad, but it really is. I have many ties with the area now and it’s not improved since we moved out to Norfolk over 10 years ago. I would do everything you can to stay elsewhere.

Crystal Palace would be a much better area if you’re considering that.

I've avoided buying on Covington way etc as I wouldn't be happy with my kids walking home on winter school days. It's the cut across the common by the rookery, my kids are also at school in Dulwich and I know they'd be tempted by that short cut route and I wouldn't want it early morning or late afternoon.

I'm happy with their walk from west norwood and crystal palace though as they can stick to main roads.

You need to be looking at the streets in Streatham that back on to Tooting Common, towards Garrads Road. Plenty of Dulwich children around.

Thanks so much everyone, I think I will settle with a smaller house in Dulwich or look towards West Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Kent House. You have been huge help, I cannot thank you enough. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Moving to Kent House Beckenham from Dulwich?
Considering to move to Kent House from Dulwich, we are getting a much bigger house with a lovely garden. DD is in school in Dulwich and she will use the school coach. I am having a last minute wobble though, any mums out there who has done the move? Any thoughts, did you missed Dulwich?