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Original poster

What is Tottenham Hale N17 like to live? House swap

55 replies

SingleMommaBoss · 14/08/2023 22:26

My children (DD 10 and DS 8) and I live in a council house in the southwest. It’s a two bed in a quiet area. I love it here, but both children have special needs and I have been trying to get them their own bedroom. I have someone from N17 interested in a house swap. It’s a 3bed house with an additional toilet downstairs (helpful with children’s needs).

My question is, what is the area really like? I know I can easily find work in my field there. Also, I might have more support from friends who live in London. I have been researching the area, but the media and posts seems to focus mainly on negatives… I understand that there is more than that. I just wanted to know what is it really like from people who live there. I have moved a lot since living in England and if I was by myself it would be great… but now as a single mother with the children I have questions regarding schools, safety etc.

I know it would be a big change. We are very sheltered here. It’s a small quiet village. I know that the children would have a different experience and view of life… More opportunities, more cultural exposure, different activities… but I also would like them to feel happy and safe.
I would really appreciate if I could just have opinions or any advice. Thank you 😊

OP posts:
goingtotown · 14/08/2023 23:59

I'm not brave enough to live there.

ElleEmmDee · 15/08/2023 00:02

For example - in our small city my 11yr old has much more freedom to do things independently and with her friends (go to shops, cycle, walk to friends houses) compared to the kids of our N17 and E17 friends.

continentallentil · 15/08/2023 00:10

BetsyBobbins · 14/08/2023 23:16

I apologise in advance to the people of Tottenham but it's an absolute shithole of the highest order. Avoid, avoid, avoid

Basically yes. OK if young and single but not a place to raise kids if you have a choice. Keep looking.

Flipflops123 · 15/08/2023 00:14

Awful awful awful area.
Don't do it

theysaiditgetseasier · 15/08/2023 00:46

Complete dump of a place, dangerous, deprived and depressing

bellamountain · 15/08/2023 00:47

You'd be doing the person who wants a house swap a massive favour. For you, definitely not. Once upon a time it was a lovely area, not now.

alexdgr8 · 15/08/2023 01:27

frying pan,
fire.
don't do it OP.
there will be somewhere much more suitable, maybe an older person who wishes to downsize.

RoadSignFool · 15/08/2023 01:40

You mention your “home country” - would living in London be an opportunity to become part of a community from your home country? That might make a difference to how isolated you feel. Tottenham Hale is a bit rough but Tottenham does have its fair share of middle class families- you should visit and take a trip to the Lordship Rec park to get a sense of the demographic. I live in the same Borough (Haringey) which is very varied- it’s not that far as the crow flies from Tottenham to Highgate (via Crouch End and Stroud Green) but they are worlds apart. Wood Green and Tottenham do have gangs issues though, there was a recent documentary about it where a guy went to live on one of the estates. Also look up the episode of “The Met: Policing London” about the shooting in the Wood Green cinema a few years ago.

salsmum · 15/08/2023 02:47

My son and DIL live rural and I live in kent.. they have a son with ADHD possible autism too, when they visit kent/London the DGS with SN although only 6 finds it very overwhelming and too busy and it's quite noticeable that he goes into 'sensory overload' as life here is so different. Maybe you could rent out an air bnb for a week in that area to get a feel or check the crime statistics for the area. Good luck in your search.

AlyssumandHelianthus · 15/08/2023 03:02

I wouldn't move a vulnerable SEN kid who was easily influenced to Tottenham. I loved there years ago and occasionally visit a mate there. It's really rough and there's a lot of crime. I'd be worried about county lines, muggings and knife crime.
Hopefully you can find a swap to somewhere else.

scrimpton · 15/08/2023 03:06

www.met.police.uk/area/your-area/met/haringey/tottenham-hale/about-us/crime-map

I don't live too far, and I work close to Tottenham Hale. I personally wouldn't live there.

lifesrichpageant · 15/08/2023 03:19

I have dear friends who live there. Somehow their home has not gone up much in value in the last 10-20 years despite London properties skyrocketing everywhere else. They have been mugged several times and broken into more than once. They don't have children.

RugglesB · 15/08/2023 05:01

You'd truly be mad. You'd be on here in tears with much bigger problems than you have now....this isn't your answer OP.

EverybodyLTB · 15/08/2023 06:08

I was brought up, and still live, in central London and am the most liberal, go wherever, non scaredy cat person ever - I would not spend any more time than I had to in Tottenham Hale and avoid it like the plague. It’s a shit hole with currently no redeeming qualities. Nah. It’s about 20 years away still from being gentrified, so only good for someone buying up doer uppers for buy to let places for the future market. I know how hard it is swapping but I’d urge you to keep looking. County lines and other drug issues are rife everywhere to a degree, but somewhere like TH is an absolute hotbed of crime and drugs on every corner.

lastminutewednesday · 15/08/2023 06:17

I lived there for three years. I wouldn't choose to live there again.

Whattodowithit88 · 15/08/2023 06:17

Sorry, spurs/Tottenham born and bred, but it’s an absolute shit hole. You couldn’t pay me enough to bring kids up there.

Personally I think you’re mad going from a nice safe village to a place where your kids will be competing vulnerable.

Zanatdy · 15/08/2023 06:43

Don’t do it, wait for another property to become available somewhere else

Greenwitchhorse · 15/08/2023 08:12

I lived in London for 30 years and my advice is don't do it.

This is not a good area (and remember this where the London riots started).

It is very urban, deprived and certainly not the safest borough to live in...

GP services and health services in general are really stretched in London and it is a pain to get appointments. Also mainstream schools in the more deprived boroughs are not great.

I would keep pestering your local authority for a bigger home and stay in the quiet area you are in. Maybe try local housing associations as well.

I left an area of East London last year to move to a smaller town and it is the best thing I have done. I was living in a supposedly ''regenerated'' part of of the capital but anti-social behaviour, gangs, noise, overcrowding were constant issues. It actually has a better reputation than Tottenham but it was still not the place to raise kids...

nobodysdaughternow · 15/08/2023 09:19

We sleep in the living room so our kids can have separate bedrooms and it works fine.

You love where you are and moving is such a huge transition that I think you should stay put.

Original poster
SingleMommaBoss · 15/08/2023 10:50

RoadSignFool · 15/08/2023 01:40

You mention your “home country” - would living in London be an opportunity to become part of a community from your home country? That might make a difference to how isolated you feel. Tottenham Hale is a bit rough but Tottenham does have its fair share of middle class families- you should visit and take a trip to the Lordship Rec park to get a sense of the demographic. I live in the same Borough (Haringey) which is very varied- it’s not that far as the crow flies from Tottenham to Highgate (via Crouch End and Stroud Green) but they are worlds apart. Wood Green and Tottenham do have gangs issues though, there was a recent documentary about it where a guy went to live on one of the estates. Also look up the episode of “The Met: Policing London” about the shooting in the Wood Green cinema a few years ago.

You hit the nail on the head. I feel very lonely. Specially after my marriage broke up. I have no family around. The area I live in has predominantly older residents. I know few people with children mainly from school in the next town close to me, but not everyone gets the children’s needs. School has been fantastic in recognising and giving me support… apart from them I literally have no one here. I have few friends in London (not N17). There is a bigger community from where I come from. I would like my children to be in touch with their roots, meet other children who have diverse backgrounds etc. I also would love to have more sense of community and support.

I really appreciate all your options and advice. It seems like it wouldn’t be the best move for us and like it has been mentioned I would be creating more problems instead of solutions.

OP posts:
DolphinSE · 15/08/2023 11:09

Whattodowithit88 · 15/08/2023 06:17

Sorry, spurs/Tottenham born and bred, but it’s an absolute shit hole. You couldn’t pay me enough to bring kids up there.

Personally I think you’re mad going from a nice safe village to a place where your kids will be competing vulnerable.

Same here (born and bred Spurs / Tottenham) and I agree completely with your sentiments. I wouldn’t bring my children up in Tottenham. It was only when I moved away that I realised how violent and run down Tottenham is.

Op, honestly don’t move there. Something else will crop up eventually.

RoadSignFool · 15/08/2023 11:22

SingleMommaBoss · 15/08/2023 10:50

You hit the nail on the head. I feel very lonely. Specially after my marriage broke up. I have no family around. The area I live in has predominantly older residents. I know few people with children mainly from school in the next town close to me, but not everyone gets the children’s needs. School has been fantastic in recognising and giving me support… apart from them I literally have no one here. I have few friends in London (not N17). There is a bigger community from where I come from. I would like my children to be in touch with their roots, meet other children who have diverse backgrounds etc. I also would love to have more sense of community and support.

I really appreciate all your options and advice. It seems like it wouldn’t be the best move for us and like it has been mentioned I would be creating more problems instead of solutions.

Show quote history

Can’t do any harm to go for a visit and check the area out? You can also look at the local school websites. If you go on the Haringey Borough site and look at school admissions you’ll be able to work out which ones your kids would likely go to.

Weefreetiffany · 15/08/2023 11:47

This Is novel, most people with young, vulnerable kids are trying to get them away from the more stabby, underfunded and dangerous areas of London. Is it really so hard to find friends where you live now? Cost of living will be higher there, can you not get a car or bike and try to get out and about in your area a bit more. There’s no guarantee you would feel any less isolated in London.

Amethys · 15/08/2023 11:52

I ysed to live bear it. Never went to it because of its unsafe reputation.

Don’t do it OP.

If you want more evidence track down that website that shows you crime statistics for each postcode and have a look at what the most common offences are there. In a posh area it’s burglary, I’m gonna guess Tottenham will be violent crime like robbery and rape

sunshinesupermum · 15/08/2023 11:53

I would not do this house swap in your situation. As pps have said it will make a difficult situation worse. There's plenty of time for your DCs to become 'streetwise' when they're older. Let them have the safety and security of your quiet location for now.