Kensal Rise v Putney

[Shoezembagsforever]

My sister owns a two bedroom flat in Kensal Rise and has just inherited a three bedroom house in Putney, right by the river and Wandsworth Park. The house has the potential to build back and up like most of the other houses on the road - she’s been added to its WhatsApp group and visited a couple of neighbours who’ve had extensions. They seem lovely and the houses look amazing, and she’d really like to sell her flat, move in, renovate and extend, and probably make the house her and her husband’s forever home.

Her husband is currently giving a resolute No though, saying that Putney is too white, middle class and Tory, and he’d like her to sell the Putney house and buy where they are. They work in the film and music industry and their current neighbourhood does seem to be full of media people who look just like them. It has a great community, shops and gastro-pubs, although they don’t seem to have made any firm friends in the five years they’ve been there.

She’s not on Mumsnet, so I wondered if anyone on here had experience of both areas. She owns her flat independently, if that makes any difference.

The main pros/cons I can see are that Kensal Rise has much better transport links, but from visiting Putney with her recently, it’s so much prettier. I don’t think her husband is going to budge though and she’s feeling a bit conflicted.

Sorry for such a long post!

Does she have kids? Some really good primaries in kensal rise area, but secondaries meh and if i had my time again we may not have stayed in the neighbourhood.

No she doesn't have children. Why would you not have stayed in the area given another chance?

I lived there for 15 years although towards the Kensal Green end…and loved it but honestly wouldn’t want to raise kids there; it’s really polluted and busy. Like PP says, secondary schools are crap and there were plenty shootings etc while I was there.

PS yes it’s full of media wankers and always has been 🤣 … Louis Theroux used to drink on my pub

Haha! Yes The Island pub can be quite wanky...

This is an obvious LTB and move to Putney!

@BoozyBoomers haha! But why??

I agree with the husband. Putney is boring. It’s pretty… and that’s it. KG is much more fun, nice pubs and restaurants and it’s quicker than Putney to get into central London where there are more fun things to do.

But there’s no right and wrong answer here. Ultimately it comes down to lifestyle, I think. If you like going out locally and the pubs and restaurants in the area and a more diverse local friendship group, then KG is the way forward. If you prefer a quieter life and don’t want to go out as much, then Putney is the way forward.

Earlier this year she did actually hint at leaving him to it in Kensal Rise, but I don't this she was serious...

If you prefer a quieter life and don't want* to go out as much, then Putney is the way forward.*

Hmmm. This doesn't sound like them - they don't have children and lead quite a 'young' life subsequently.

Kensal Rise is a crime-ridden dump; Putney is lovely. KR more fashionable. Putney far better place to raise a family.

Depends on priorities I guess.

Tory Putney!!?? It was the only seat Labour won off the Tories in 2019 when you may recall they didn't do very well. Very Remain, graduate, liberal.

I wouldn't live in Putney either, I really don't like it. (Disclaimer: I too work in the creative industries). It's also about where their friends live; if none in or towards Putney then it prob isn't for them. This isn't an either/or dilemma though; they could sell the putney house and upgrade either in KR or another closer neighborhood that suits them better.

Putney is lovely, a bit boring but a great place to bring up a family and close to other lovely areas. On a flight path though and having lived under one in Barnes, I would never again. Being by the river amplifies the sound too 🥲
that area by Wandsworth park is also a bit difficult to get to and you are a bit stuck there in the Putney bubble, a lovely one though.
Kensal Rise, really nice atmosphere, a bit rough around the edges, full of annoying media types 🫠😬 I think in their place I would stay in Kensal Rise. It’s more of a vibe, creative but without being so uber cool that you feel like a 35year old Boomer.

Putney is not boring. It's a fab place to live with a great mix of people. We are a Labour constituency if politics is an issue for them. It takes 20 minutes by train to Waterloo and there is the tube and loads of buses if transport to central London is important for them. Plenty of good pubs and eateries with Richmond Park close by. I'm with your sister. Go for the house.

I think Kensal Rise is overpriced for what it is. Can she afford to do up the house in Putney then decide whether to move there or sell and buy bigger in NW London?

@roses2 yes she's planning on extending at the back and upwards, and doing a complete refurb.

If they are hoping to plan a family soon, then Putney.

If not, and still like quick access to the city, things to do etc then Kensal Rise. (Though not the safest of areas).

Sell both and move to a completely different area they can agree on?

Kensal Rise has better transport links/pubs but despite people it being gentrified to shit in the last decade (hello Gail's 🙄), it's still not the best area (imo). That being said, I don't know Putney.

Sell up and max out the budget for Brondesbury/Queens park? Also gentrified but nicer feel than Kensal but £££

Good luck!

Thanks for all the very useful perspectives on here. I'm thinking staying in KR may be best for her. Queens Park etc may be a stretch as she'd also like a retirement cushion.

I lived in the Putney house in the late 90s with my now DH before we had children, and I remember at the time it was called 'NappyLand' as it was full of people with young families. More cynical people actually described it as for those who fancied Chelsea but couldn't afford it.

That is so not them, as they're quite cool people with no children in their late 40s. I think they may feel really out of place in Putney, despite it looking so gorgeous on the day I last visited.

They sound quite similar to me and DH and we'd definitely prefer KR (or better, Queens Park - I'd see it a bit of an investment as they could downsize for retirement and release cash then). We like to be out and about a lot, and within very easy reach of everything, Putney wouldn't offer that and has a different vibe. Btw we have dcs and have remained in z2 so no need necessarily to move out if they ever have children.

Any man who would take KR over Putney needs his head examining.

Interesting to read views of KR. I lived there briefly back in the late nineties and didn't like it at all. I never felt safe walking home from the station, but it's a long time ago and no doubt very gentrified now. It was full of media folks then too, including myself. I've driven through Putney lots but rarely been out there. I'd be tempted to sell both properties and buy a lovely house in a different part of London.

I loved Putney and it’s being Labour for years now I believe, and it very, very diverse.

the last time I went to Kensal Green I wanted to leave ASAP. It’s grubby, the people looked like they hadn’t washed, or is that called urban grime!

im abit confused about an area in London being too white, does he mean they wash or is he projecting his own xenophobic views