North London family home - areas?

[Torganer]

Our mortgage term runs out next year and we are hoping to move. Currently live in zone 3 in a 2/3 bed house. Great commute, but we need somewhere bigger and have a 2yr old so need to think about schools.

We need to stay north due to family in east Herts. Can anyone recommend an area that has a friendly vibe, good commute to the city, and good schools (will be there ideally forever so need good secondary schools).

Ideally would love a 4 bed as we may have another child, but 3 bed is fine as long as there is good space. We like period properties and budget is up to £1m, but would obviously prefer to spend less! Don’t mind a bit of work. We have 2 tube stations and 3 train station in walking distance at the moment and only a 25min drive from the city. Would ideally like something similar. Thanks!!

@Vintagevixen that’s good to know. I will increase my search area in rightmove! I’m not so keen on South Woodford. I’m sorry you had to move! Hope you’re living somewhere you like now!

@Torganer had to move to the south coast - very lovely, but I miss Wanstead! Maybe in my next life!!

What a bastard!! Hope you are living somewhere as lovely - and have the bonus of not having to live with him!!

@Vintagevixen the south coast is lovely! One of my best friends is from the south coast and love going to visit her.

Wanstead or Walthamstow. In E17 you'd get a nice 4 bed for £1m. The schools are fine. Primarys are pretty much all great and the secondaries are all Ofsted good (the girls school is outstanding). Brilliant transport links too.
Wanstead is a bit more suburban but is lovely. Schools are also good.

(I've lived in Haringey on the ladders and in E17 and much much prefer E17)

North West maybe around Kensal Green or Queens Park ?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139472705

@Thighdentitycrisis thanks, think I’m more going for N or E postcodes rather than NW as have now seen what we could get for our money there. Had visions of a good size Victorian house (we currently have a smaller one and I like the style of them), as our ‘forever’ home.

@wannabesilverfox thats good to know. We are currently in Haringey and I guess it’s just the familiarity that’s having its hold on me. We’ve been to Walthamstow quite a bit as it’s not far, I like bits of it. Being in the Victorian line is great, but the areas I like in Walthamstow aren’t close to the tube!

Alexandra palace way?

Nowhere is that far from the tube really, closer than in Muswell Hill or Crouch End!

@wannabesilverfox yes, I’m just being picky again!! In Crouch End you’ve got the train links to where I need to get to, and in MH, well you just accept that as it’s pretty much their USP!! I’ve just been very lucky where I’ve lived before, being a short walk from major transport hubs (multiple tubes and train lines, apart from the time I once lived south, luckily I’ve recovered from that incident 😂)

I like some parts, but transport isn’t great.

I live in muswell hill and it's 10 mins on the bus to the station... It's really easy as I live next to bus stop and they come every 2 mins. We've commuted to Central over the years regularly and no issues

Same here. I live in MH and can walk to the Highgate tube. Forget about finding a house in the area including CE and AP for less than a £1m if you want to be in the catchment for a primary and secondary. Actually, forget about EF too. Totteridge might be more affordable and it’s safe but more dull. Or the area around Friary Park?

From Ally Pally you can get the train to Moorgate, or change at Finsbury Park or Highbury & Islington. Cant beat it (biased)!

Also someone mentioned Palmers Green, some really lovely houses there, and the same train into Moorgate etc. The LTN has ruined driving there though, and in Bounds Green / Bowes Park, unfortunately. And getting the bus.

Leytonstone (Bushwood area is very nice and in your price range). Davies lane primary is Ofsted rated "outstanding". Gets great results. George Tomlinson rated "good" - very nurturing and highly though of by local parents.

Thanks, I don’t really like those areas. I’m not so keen on MH either as have a friend there I visit a lot and I can’t put my finger on why I don’t like it! It think it’s the suburb feel again. I don’t really want to go that far west.

@NeedToKnow101 i do like Ally Pally, not so keen on the Wood Green end (but it has a great dump!!), Palmers Green is ok, just feels too far and might as well go out to Enfield!

Think I’m going to either have to look at something smaller closer in, or push the budget out a bit.

For a big house, in the catchments for good secondaries in that area you are looking at more like £1.5m I think…. The majority of primaries in that area of haringey are excellent so slightly less of an issue.
If you don’t rate CE/MH high streets I think other areas will be a disappointment, but this kind of thing is fairly common in Bounds Green/ally pally area

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135832184

Bushey, Watford - Watford in particular has the excellent grammar schools and good links into London (train into Euston, tube, overground).

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139640321?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

This is rather lovely - within budget and not far from Tube and Overground. Colleague cycles in from here most days. Not too far from East Herts. Might fall down on the chi chi shops - last time I passed through Palmers Green it looked a bit unappealing. Although I think it still has a Sunday farmers market at the station.

Thanks, I really want to stay in London though. I also don’t like Watford at all I’m afraid!!

@DonnatellaLyman @lobeydosser we looked at that area before and we’re so keen, but maybe it’s worth another look. Thanks

There’s no better place in North London than Muswell Hill :p I can’t imagine anything remotely close to it!