Brixton or South Croydon for young family

[Brixtonvssouthcroydon]

We are thinking of moving to South London and found two properties we like but we are unsure about location.
There is dh, DD (baby) and myself. We both work central but only a couple of days a week.
Property 1: in Brixton very central but small garden
Property 2: South Croydon (Lloyds park area), larger garden

Both similar size, South Croydon one is 20% cheaper but it's a complete different lifestyle over there.

Family friend tells us South Croydon would be better for a young family; we are also a bit concerned that Brixton might more a young professional neighbourhood rather than young family so maybe less baby friendly.

I know you can't decide for us! But any opinions on both areas?

DD lives in Brixton and her flat is on a very family oriented estate with lots of community activities - she loves the area and plans to stay there long term. I grew up in South Croydon and family still live there - I have nothing positive to say about it. It was awful when I was a teenager (poor transport and nothing to do) but has got significantly worse. If I was buying in South London now, I would look at Herne Hill or Tooting.

Can you afford Battersea (south west) or Blackheath (South east)?

I would avoid Croydon altogether.

I live in Brixton but my dc are grown. I love it here and agree that Herne Hill and Streatham are also good for young families, perhaps Tulse Hill and West Norwood as well. Streatham you get more for your money I think and there are loads of buses down the hill to Brixton and Tooting common is lovely. The downside is all the shops and stuff are on the A23 whereas in Brixton you have the markets. There are some really nice houses tho and pretty streets. All these are round Brockwell park which is fab for families and has a lido/tennis courts/playground/paddling pool etc.

Does depend where in Brixton tho- PM me if you want, to give more detail.

I would say Croydon and Brixton have a very different feel. You can even walk into central London from Brixton, or hop on tube and be in Oxford Street in 20 mins. There is masses going on.

Goodness me I don’t know how some of you get further than your front doors.

I live in south Croydon five minutes away from Lloyd park (it’s quite big, but where the tram stop is) I work in Brixton. I would choose where I live over that any day of the week. South Croydon is different to the central and the west bit of Croydon. It’s not got so many amenities but I live here with my toddler and it’s fine. We get the bus up to Selesdon high street if we want to avoid Croydon town Centre (which can be a bit fruity, looks run down and the Queen’s Hill playground always has a dead rat) having said that I’ve never had any trouble and I like the Surrey street market and a couple of the pubs, and there’s BoxPark. Yes there are unsavoury types here and there, and boarded up shops, and too much litter, much like anywhere in like on.

Over this way the park itself is good, there’s a park run, my son does football there, there’s a tennis club nearby. Decent cafe. Further on there’s a lovely woods and dog-free gardens to roam about in. The tram takes us to Ikea or Wimbledon among other places like Morden Hall for the lovely grounds there and a little city farm.

The roads are too busy and people drive like twats, that I will say.

It is not the ghetto. It’s perfectly liveable, especially if the house is nice.

*much like anywhere in London

I love Brixton. Lived there for 20 years (with no bother whatsoever) and still work there. It has changed a lot. There is still crime but it is often criminal on criminal, iyswim.

But Streatham is much better for schools. Loads of excellent primary schools and also secondary.

Herne Hill if you can afford it, best to be in catchment for Rosendale.

Most people on this thread are clearly on about the knowledge of the area, hense why they are stating their opinions 🙄

What’s your budget?

Forget the houses for a moment look at the facilities you might want - where will you go for your supermarket shop, nurseries, playgrounds, leisure centres and probably most importantly primary schools. I lived in South Croydon 15 years ago but I was single and my life was different to your life will be so my experience is not really relevant. I would check the crime levels too because both those areas are spicy.

We moved from streatham (common) a few years ago as wanted to leave London but as others have said it's probably more family friendly than Brixton but still well connected. Definitely worth a look. Streatham Vale side is a cheaper.

Parts of south croydon are actually very nice! I think the area around Lloyd Park is actually fine, and that would get my vote for a family home over Brixton.

Tbh I should of known by the looks of your pp it seems like you have already made your mind up about the areas and are just looking for opinions..Goodbye hope all works out well for you

Brixton is great pre dc or with very young dc. South Croydon has some nice bits but a bit boring, there are 2 opposite ends of the spectrum.

People are lumping all off Croydon together, South Croydon is very different to West

Forest Hill is nice, or Crystal Palace. What’s your budget, where do you commute to ?

I confess, we did move out of Brixton shortly before DC1 was 3, although it had to do with my commute and wanting more space rather than being in any way unhappy there. And there are some good primary schools Herne Hill way where friends happily sent their kids.

Crystal Palace or Beckenham much better then gab those areas for schools etc.

@donkra yes that's the main reason people move out, more space, less congestion, pollution etc.

When posters are saying ‘schools’ do they mean private schools?! Because not everyone thinks they’re the be all and end all….there are state primaries here that are very good actually. There are also quite a few prep and private schools too. People have just read ‘Croydon’ and lumped everything in together as a deprived neighbourhood where the kids are running around like retrobates.

I always SE London was tricky secondary school wise particularly if you had boys? May be an urban myth!

That's exactly what I meant - Croydon is a borough with very different areas in it and there are a lot of people commenting on 'Croydon (town centre)' by reputation who don't actually know what South Croydon is like. It's like assuming that Blackheath village is like Lewisham town centre because they're both in Lewisham borough.

Lloyd Park is a lovely area. However, there is a massive BUT to living anywhere within the Borough of Croydon for the foreseeable. The Council is in such a mess what with being bankrupt. Council tax rose by 15% this year - most or all of which is going to service the debt - and they are providing a skeleton service in terms of services & facilities. Nobody knows where it will all end. I’d recommend looking outside the borough.

Yes, seriously! I knew Croydon very well and also worked in Brixton and Thornton Heath. Always felt safer in South Croydon. Croham Road, for example, and the roads off it and going up towards Selsdon and over towards Purley were lovely.

The OP said Lloyds Park area.

That's exactly what I meant - Croydon is a borough with very different areas in it and there are a lot of people commenting on 'Croydon (town centre)' by reputation who don't actually know what South Croydon is like. It's like assuming that Blackheath village is like Lewisham town centre because they're both in Lewisham borough.

half of them have probably only been through Croydon on a train.