Hampstead vs West London for yound family with long commutes

[hodgepodge01]

Hi All,
Wondering if we could get some advice. We're returning to the UK and looking for housing. We've previously lived in Notting Hill pre kids and loved it - in a garden square apartment. Found the neighbourhood had everything and was still electic and diverse and very walkable.
We now have toddlers and weighing long commutes to Oxford and South London. Paddington is our mid point. Wondering if Hampstead is a good option or if we should hold out for for a place in West London. The playgrounds (Holland, Hyde) and museums and walkability of West London are better. We wouldn't have outdoor space in Hampstead and would be relying on the Heath. We weren't really bothered by tourists in NH, but on the times we've walked through Hampstead it seems very touristy and the high street being on a main road, less appealing. It's also narrow and hilly and seems a bit tricky with a double pram. The tube isn't particularly accessible so imaginigng we'd need to take buses and and cars with the pram. Everyone rates the heath and the "villagey" feel as their reason for wanting to live there, but how does that weigh in with young kids? And has Hampstead changed from it's popularity? We'd really love a place with community. We knew our neighbours up and down in our building previously. Primary schools will factor in too, we'd prefer to go to a good public if possible.
Appreciate any insights!

Definitely reconsider communal garden flats in Maida Vale. Walking distance to Paddington / easy access to M40, and Bakerloo south - then change to northern for tooting

There's a shared front yard - about 10x3-4 m?

I honestly think its crazy to spend money like that on a shoebox in the most touristy areas of North / Central London and then endure a long commute to the other side of the city (or even all the way to Oxford!)

there are so, so many places in London that have genuine community atmosphere. Whereas Hampstead and NH were quirky, creative and energetic 30/40/50 years ago but are now chock full of old people, investment bankers and Instagram influencers. And anywhere you buy for 1.35 there will quickly feel small with a family of four never mind in-laws staying.

try richmond, teddington, sheen, chiswick, ealing, furzedown, crystal palace, blackheath, greenwich. Places that are still affluent but have many more young families and are where real life is happening, not just a richard curtis set. Broaden those horizons!

Also how can you be talking about being abroad for 3 months every year and renting your place out at the same time as discussing what nurseries & schools your kids will go to? How could that possibly work?

I agree with this, my first thought was Little Venice/Maida Vale. Warrington Crescent has flats with large communal gardens.

You don’t like Wimbledon village?? That’s a bit baffling. It’s gorgeous.

Getting to Tooting from Hampstead would be a nightmare. Why wouldn’t you consider Wimbledon? You could get a lovely place in Merton Park for that budget.

Do NOT commute Greenwich to Oxford. Been there. Done that. Never again.

But I agree with all the other points Hello made.

Maida Vale and Ealing are probably quivalent in some ways though involve more changes. Other mentioned neighoburhoods aren't an improvement in commute. Highbury and Islington is also a consideration, though the parks there are limited. Regarding Wimbledon, it's worse for Oxford and though we thought the village was pleasant, wasn't a draw in comparison. We have been in NH for 6-7 years and it's been a wonderful place to live, with a large shared garden. There are actually plenty of regular people living there, though perhaps to people outside the neighbourhood that's hard to imagine. We're good friends with our neighbours and visit each others flats and go for coffees/meals. Just weighing up if Hampstead is worth the move away from convenience for more sqft (certainly not a shoebox) and if the heath makes up for less playgrounds, walkability and connectedness.

Highbury or Islington though? They’re quite different. Not brilliantly connected but De Beauvoir Town is gorgeous - quiet, leafy, spacious, lots of squares and parks…

Acton near churchfield. Road or Ealing Broadway, both have community and great schools and you can get to Notting hill to see your old pals quickly

Shepherds bush? You can get the Oxford tube or drive there?

Travelling to Tooting & Oxford with young dc seems a nightmare!

I’d agree. Presumably this isn’t a 5 day a week commute? I don’t think that’s sustainable. Maybe if you have a very understanding nanny.

For all the people rave about Hampstead heath, I think it is not that great. Especially for little kids. Islington has a better selection of small playgrounds so that there will always be one nearby.

West Hampstead may be another option close-ish to Hampstead but less hilly. Lovely busy high st and super well connected with several stations: Jubilee line, overground trains, Thameslink, and a short walk to Finchley Road for Met line. Loads of buses too and walkable to several parks. Used to live there and loved it.

I’m going to suggest Herne Hill - train goes through Tooting in one direction, and going north you can change onto the Elizabeth line at Farringdon for Paddington. Great schools, reasonable sized houses for your budget, great community.

The Victoria line is very fast and connects to the Northern so it's actually faster than being in west London or Hampstead even though Hampstead is one train. But worse to get to Oxford.

Yes I agree, sorry that was poorly worded - I specifically meant De Beauvoir Town isn’t such a well-connected part of Islington but that’s its charm (although looks great for families!)

Notting Hill much easier to get to the train from Paddington, or if you are mad enough to drive, the A40/M40.

How can you leave the country for 3 months each year when your kids are at school?

I'd go where I could afford a garden, no question.

@hodgepodge01 gently, I think you need to buy a lottery ticket and pray until you learn to compromise. However, the burning question for me is why do you need or want to commute to Tooting?

Who has the bigger job because that determines who gets the easier commute imo?

£1.35m in Wimbledon Village for 3/4 beds is fantasy land BTW, even if you wanted to move there.

I absolutely love Hampstead but it’s not brilliantly located for an Oxford commute. I also think that a 3 bed for £1.35m would be quite compromised in any of the areas you’re considering.

Maida Vale would be a good option travel-wise and you could get a nice flat, although you would still have to do without a garden probably.

West London on the Lizzie Line so that the Oxford commuter can go outwards and change rather than starting at Paddington - would that work?

I think basically NH or Hampstead are going to be similar sorts of commute to both Oxford & Tooting i.e. neither are terribly convenient for either, so if it definitely is between those two places you should just go for the one you prefer. Neither wins definitively on commute so make the decision on other factors, like neighbourhood atmosphere and value for money.