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?

People move out to penge when they want a house and it’s too expensive / hard to find in Crystal P. It’s not bad these days.

Your right, all the families left as it was so awful, and all the schools and the play areas and the kid’s clubs and the children’s sections of the libraries have all been abandoned. It’s very sad. Now it’s just inhabited by rats with knives.

Good grief.

A person, who happens to be a Rasta, ‘hanging around’?

And imagining that people need warning about diversity?

You are as ridiculous as you are offensive.

West Norwood/Streatham.

Great schools (both primary and secondary), although WN is nicer as Streatham is right on the A23 so the high street is very traffic congested.

Interesting. I was born and grew up in West Norwood. Went to St. Martin's in Tulse Hill, and left for University in 1957, Parents moved to Beulah hill; and I would visit frequently until they died. My brother now lives in Carshalton.

I know Streatham and Brixton very well. I would choose Streatham personally. Access to lots of green spaces, good schools and transport links. Also very near West Norwood and the high street and cinema there.

Okay having lived in Brixton (4 locations over many years) and worked in Croydon, if I was forced into choosing between these two I would say Brixton over Croydon any given day.

But why narrow your choice so terribly? You have Crystal Palace, Forest Hill, Brockley,Grove Park, Greenwich, Hither Green all in South London too, to name just a few that are better established family areas, far safer and way more inspiring.

Croydon feels oppressive and depressing, the high street is woeful I honestly cannot think of any major selling points. For what you'd pay there you could find far more pleasant and family-orientated places.

Holy shit, this cannot be serious surely? How utterly ridiculous. Why would anybody need "to be prepared for a diverse area"?

How sheltered an existence have you lived?? Jeez

The best parts of Streatham are the bits close to Balham as you have access to the tube then, good housing stock but the high street is so busy & the nice bits are ££££

I know both areas Op. I wouldn't live in Brixton with a family. as much as it's gentrified it's still pretty gritty in parts and doesn't feel like a family friendly area. Re Croydon, it's true the area around Lloyds park is nicer but Croydon in general is such a dump. The area around West Croydon station is one of the worse places I've seen in London, it's really dirty and covered in litter and doesn't feel safe. Plus all the issues with the council. Could you look at some good alternatives like Crystal Palace, Anerley or Penge. All very family friendly, good community feel, lCP park is lovely, there is affordable housing (for London) good primaries and decent transport links.

Second shout out for Hither Green. It's lovely, still somewhat affordable, has good transport links and even though there isn't much there itself it has easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich, plus Lewisham and maybe Eltham for shopping. I always felt really safe living there. Up the road from it in Lee is probably a bit more affordable but not as pretty.

Neither me nor my male DP feel comfortable using Brixton station after dark. Even in the day it feels sketchy. I grew up in Dagenham so used to dodgy but just no. Peckhams station is also horrible for its layout.

Agree re looking at Forest Hill, Brockley, honour oak, Herne Hill, Sydenham, Penge.

Brixton- there's a huge amount set up for families with children - loads on at Brockwell Lido - there are always lots of parents with young DC in and out of the baby music and eating in the Lido cafe, lots of family activities in the Tate library, lots of one o clock clubs and if you are the Stockwell side a busy meet up for teas etc. As DC get older there are lots of activities in town (and Lambeth is pretty good at running stuff in the holidays) and a surprising amount of green space with playgrounds etc. South Croydon is far less well provided

THere was a Rasta on Brixton Road the other day - the most amazing set of dreadlocks I've seen in a long time and he was paying Vivaldi on the recorder. (Not to be confused with the recorder player outside Stockwell Tube who doesn't play VIvialdi....)

I've lived in Brixton for a number of years, both as flatshare with friends and now in a terrace with toddler, husband and dog. We looked at moving out to Sydenham, and many other south london places but we ended up staying because the community here is unmatched. Everyone who visits us says the same thing. Our street has a great annual street party, we love going along and watching free concerts by the Brixton Chamber Orchestra, Brockwell Park is of course a heavenly escape from the city, and so many other things that make Brixton so unique. I appreciate that parts are nicer and other parts are less so, but if you want to talk more about Brixton living I'm happy to chat!

South Croydon would be my choice over Brixton- nice parks, good primaries/secondaries, great transport connection, a whole street of restaurants and cafes, lots of kids clubs, open spaces (even horseriding lessons and golf), etc. If Central Croydon is "too scary" for shopping, there is Bromley nearby with huge shopping centre (personally I love shopping in Central and West Croydon - lots of ethnic food shops to try). Oh, yes, Gatwick is 30 mins away by train, which is a bonus:). Croydon is a huge borough and has bad and good parts, Lloyds park area is a good one:)

What a load of tosh re: both areas. You go anywhere in London and there will be run down bits and good bits. Grew up in Croydon near to Lloyds park and the area is lovely. You have the millionaires in bishops walk just up the hill, massive forest / green areas, Shirley golf club backing onto it, and you’re miles away from west Croydon / broad green which is rough yes. You’re perfectly safe in the high street though it has seen better days certainly. Very easy to avoid and you won’t ‘have to walk through it lots’ to get to things. Speaking of other areas Addiscombe is leafy and lovely too and worth a look and south Croydon has been massively developed in the last decade into the restaurant quarter and also has great areas around with whitgift school and a short car journey out into more greenery.

I have less experience of Brixton and it is undoubtedly busier but again, lots of wealth there now alongside the more run down / poorer parts. Unfortunately for both areas they get this sort of misinformed OMG you’re gonna get stabbed and shot and your house burned down reaction when the reality is far far far from that. Unless you’re planning on moving in on someone’s drug dealing patch then you’re not going to have any issues with violence other than the risk anywhere in London that someone might rob / assault you.

Interestingly, the most trouble and the most unsafe I have ever felt in a home was Putney. Got my motorbike stolen twice, assaulted once walking home from pub and had a full scale riot outside my front door as some undesireables were at war with one if the neighbours for some reason. Had a drunk driver roll his car and take out 5 others alongside our neighbours wall. Putney is one of those des res sort of places but the issues I had there - I was glad to move out. Similar when I lived in Battersea and we had the Clapham riots in 2012 and there was a car on fire up the top of my road, as well as feeling pretty unsafe at times.

in short, buy around Lloyds park area in Croydon without any worry, and ditto with Brixton. You want somewhere there is never any trouble, don’t live in London and head for a quiet village somewhere.

I’m originally from Streatham and moved to Isle of Wight 6 months ago. I wouldn’t live anywhere in London to be honest with kids especially at secondary school age.

It's weird to be able to afford central Brixton, which costs more because of tube proximity, but not afford more family friendly places like Crystal Palace, Sydenham etc. And living near Lloyd Park can't be low budget. We're in se23 with good schools, nice parks, lots going on for kids, and definitely can't afford Brixton, so there's something amiss with your sums. Obviously Dulwich is way off the scale for most peoples pockets, but there's plenty of places less expensive and still worth considering.

The first thing I'd be looking at is schools and the distance the properties are from the nearest primary. That's going to be your biggest headache if you're in a school black hole (we had to move twice before DC turned 4 so I know what I'm on about), so make sure you nail that down before anything else.

Lived in London for years and I love both areas. Brixton is my preference but with young kids would you consider going further out? Nothing against the area at all but with one small child and wanting another you will get a lot more for your money outside of London especially if you want a decent garden etc.

This is an urban vs suburban question surely? South Croydon is fine- it's bigger houses, large gardens, you'll probably need to drive more/at all, Central croydon itself doesn't have much going for it. Croydon Council has issues.

Brixton is proper urban- I quite often run to Brixton from work in central- great lido, loads of adventure playgrounds, brilliant places to eat. Short commute to town. Car not needed. So it's a lifestyle question. Do you want town or burbs OP? Lambeth council seem pretty good with services and events.

I second also looking further out on that railway line- sydenham and Penge both have great transport links (especially Penge actually) and a good sense of community. Crystal Palace park and Beckenham Place Park (actually in Lewisham) are both fab. I'm not personally a fan of Crystal Palace- the triangle is trafficky and the trainline is a bit rubbish and slow. Great views though!

Look at the Corbett estate in Catford/Hither Green. If you can afford Brixton you should be able to afford there. Lovely Victorian houses. Lots of parks. So so many young families.

Neither.

I lived in London for 30 years, including a couple of years in Stockwell/Clapham North so spent quite a bit of time in nearby Brixton. I would not live there.

As for Croydon. Just no.

Brixton is quite expensive these days so if you have a budget suitable for the area you would be able to find something in a better borough/location.

People have mentioned Penge and Sydenham, also Crystal Palace, Beckenham and Bexleyheath.

Does it have to be South London? there are parts of East London which are really nice too (Wanstead, Woodford Green...).

This was my experience of starting our family in Brixton too.

So much going on for young families. Whippersnappers at the Lido, the Ritzy was the first cinema to introduce screenings for parents with babes in arms, no end of (usually free or very low priced) arts / music / culture activities for young people at Raw Material, 198 Gallery, Brixton House Theatre.

Brockwell Park is my favourite London park.

Schools: trickier.

What's your budget, OP? Sydenham, Forest Hill, Crystal Palace, Brockley, Ladywell, Honor Oak and Penge are all a lot nicer!