If your child goes to school in Hampstead, where do you live?

[Wouldyouuuu]

Just that really! We live quite far away (Hackney). Have asked on another thread about the commute and we’re going to trial it a few times. But also contemplating a possible move…

So if your child goes to school in Hampstead, where do you live?

At primary stage, the majority of children at school in Hampstead will be local Hampstead children and those from surrounding areas (West Hampstead, Primrose Hill, St John's Wood, Highgate). I know of a couple of children who used to commute from Islington and the morning drop offs and afternoon pick ups seemed like a mission - mum used to drop off on the way to work. Parking is a nightmare in Hampstead for anyone driving.

Secondary school age children come from a wider area and usually travel by tube themselves. I would say the majority are still pretty local.

My children went to school in Hampstead and we live in NW6. We shared a school run with two other very local families. As @ItsRainingTacos79 says, most kids live in and around Hampstead, West Hampstead, St John's Wood; a few in Golders Green, Camden and Kilburn. There was a small group of 3 or 4 families based in Islington who became a bit of a gang and shared pick-ups and drop-offs.

Bear in mind that you won't just have the school run to contend with, but will also be doing the journey on weekends to the endless birthday parties, many held in far-flung trampoline parks or bowling alleys. We shared a school run with two other local families and it was a godsend. We also shared drop offs/pick ups for parties and clubs in the long school hols.

There won't be many from Hackney, that's a hideous commute

Sorry – mentioned the shared school run twice! As a working mum it really saved my sanity (if not my ability to proofread!).

Hackney to Hampstead would be a nightmare. Its just too far. Why put yourself through rush hour/school run time stress? Living in Hackney but want children to be schooled in Hampstead = a status thing I'm guessing. No good for friendships and out of hours/after school activities...

Definitely not a status thing. I would far rather DC remained at local school in our community that we all love! But his mental health and self esteem are suffering and we’ve found a school in the Hampstead surrounds that would be perfect for him that he really wants to attend.

Interesting that most are saying it would be an absolute nightmare! We could move. Perhaps Highgate way, and get an electric bike!?

@Wouldyouuuu best thing in your situation would be to move closer to the school. However, cycling from Highgate to Hampstead with children I would not recommend as the roads are very narrow and highly congested at peak times and not many cycle lanes.

Not sure why people are saying awful commute - what about the overground?

well hackney is a large area, but there is the train.
have you tried that.
what age child ?

I know someone who does Hackney / Camden once a week because of custody arrangements and it sounds godawful so I don’t think I’d recommend it daily.

Get the overground from Hackney to Hampstead Heath station. It's not far and there's loads of buses for the last part depending on which school it is

This was going to be my suggestion too ^

Depending on what school it is, might be some way from Hampstead heath station, which is not actually in hampstead

West Hampstead is nice and has v good transport links.

The overground also goes to Finchley Road & Frognal and West Hampstead. From Hampstead Heath station the no 46 goes up Rosalyn Hill to hampstead and all the way down Fitzjohns Avenue which should cover most of the schools in hampstead. Mind you, I don't know the age of the kids. Lots have school buses too

Could you say the school so we can give a better idea of where would be best to live or commute from? King Alfreds would be very different from Devonshire House.

UCS is close to the 113 bus route. It depends on what school you are looking at