North London where to buy and where to avoid?

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 2023-07-15T16:42:34+00:00

As in the thread title I’m thinking of moving and buying a property in another area of London - maybe north. Current boyfriend lives in Hampstead which is obviously too expensive but I’d quite like to be in north London as currently in South East. Are there certain areas to avoid? In theory I could have an £800K budget potentially a bit more. Would prefer to be near a tube station but quite like Muswell Hill and Finchley. I have no idea of house prices there and would consider a garden flat, currently in a cottage/small house which I was very lucky to buy cheaply a few years ago. Currently in Crouch End seeing a friend which has a nice high street and sort of villagey vibe, but not looking in estate agents windows, yet!

FKATondelayo · 15/07/2023 17:46

I live in N2/N10. It's nice but it is very family centric. I wouldn't live here if I didn't have kids. I'd go somewhere a bit more fun like Walthamstow.

KievLoverTwo · 15/07/2023 18:21

It's been seven years since I lived in Crouch End. It was alright. But my overwhelming memory is constant train cancellations and always being late for work. I forget the name of the station, it was at the bottom of a hill. Sometimes I could only get on the fifth train with twenty minutes between each arrival because of cancellations. It turned me into one of those horrible people who shoulder barges to get into a carriage because I couldn't be an hour late for work on a bloody 45 minute commute for the third day in a row. Leaving earlier didn't help, in fact when I did that, I was 1.5 hours late a few times. Lived in or around London for 25 years and that was the worst commute of my life.

So. Yeah. Ask your mates about trains.

Does it still have a nice independent cinema? Iirc the YMCA gym was good and cheap. Also the best Chinese takeaway I have ever come across at the bottom of the hill. God I miss that place.

gratedchedder · 15/07/2023 18:31

You could get a 2 bed flat in Hampstead on your budget.

Twiglets1 · 15/07/2023 19:36

I like Muswell Hill and Crouch End too. But if you want to be near a tube station, I would look at Tufnell Park/ Kentish Town/ Dartmouth Park

Original poster

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 16/07/2023 15:42

Twiglets1 · 15/07/2023 19:36

I like Muswell Hill and Crouch End too. But if you want to be near a tube station, I would look at Tufnell Park/ Kentish Town/ Dartmouth Park

Nope not those areas. I’ve had bad experiences around those areas (more Archway/Tufnell Park) and seen verbal abuse aimed by women and men at both sexes (both unwarranted). Kentish Town maybe and I did know friends there, I don’t know Dartmouth Park but think I’ve been there?

OP posts:

Original poster

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 16/07/2023 15:47

KievLoverTwo · 15/07/2023 18:21

It's been seven years since I lived in Crouch End. It was alright. But my overwhelming memory is constant train cancellations and always being late for work. I forget the name of the station, it was at the bottom of a hill. Sometimes I could only get on the fifth train with twenty minutes between each arrival because of cancellations. It turned me into one of those horrible people who shoulder barges to get into a carriage because I couldn't be an hour late for work on a bloody 45 minute commute for the third day in a row. Leaving earlier didn't help, in fact when I did that, I was 1.5 hours late a few times. Lived in or around London for 25 years and that was the worst commute of my life.

So. Yeah. Ask your mates about trains.

Does it still have a nice independent cinema? Iirc the YMCA gym was good and cheap. Also the best Chinese takeaway I have ever come across at the bottom of the hill. God I miss that place.

Friend and I went to a comedy night at the Kings Head and to a bar/cocktail/craft beer place called Small Beer in Crouch End last night. I also wandered round the high street with her. She likes about a 10-15 minute walk from the Broadway and we went to the Farmers Market today and to a pub called the Fox for Sunday lunch. Crouch End seems nice but I couldn’t see a tube/train station although she said one was nearby but I need one for work and when I can’t be bothered to drive. Had to go to Brent Cross on an emergency mission.

OP posts:

Original poster

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 16/07/2023 15:50

gratedchedder · 15/07/2023 18:31

You could get a 2 bed flat in Hampstead on your budget.

My current boyfriend lives there and is selling his flat prob for around that budget but if I do get a flat it’s got to be a garden and ideally would be like mind eg small workman’s cottage type thing. I don’t mind a doer-upper as that’s what I did when I bought this place (probate sale and looked like untouched since 1950s!).

OP posts:

Twiglets1 · 16/07/2023 16:17

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 16/07/2023 15:47

Friend and I went to a comedy night at the Kings Head and to a bar/cocktail/craft beer place called Small Beer in Crouch End last night. I also wandered round the high street with her. She likes about a 10-15 minute walk from the Broadway and we went to the Farmers Market today and to a pub called the Fox for Sunday lunch. Crouch End seems nice but I couldn’t see a tube/train station although she said one was nearby but I need one for work and when I can’t be bothered to drive. Had to go to Brent Cross on an emergency mission.

Show quote history

The train station is called Crouch Hill

OneHundredOtters · 16/07/2023 16:42

A few suggestions:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136227482

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135349877

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135038006

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134047541

Stoke Newington, Highbury, lower Holloway all good and you can get a flat for for budget. Stroud Green Road side of Finsbury Park station also alright and better connected than Crouch End.

If you want a house look at the Harringay ladder.

If you want to be closer to Hampstead then East Finchley is a bit cheaper.

MathiasBroucek · 16/07/2023 16:56

Muswell Hill is nice but expensive and a little “pleased with itself”. And no train or tube.

I live in N14 less fashionable but nice and you could get a 3 bed house for your budget

Usernamenotavailabletryanother · 16/07/2023 16:57

No suggestions on places to live- with that budget you’ll find something nice in a good area.

Just want to tip my hat to your use of the phrase ‘current boyfriend’ 😂 keep your options open 😉