Alexandra Palace / Bounds Green

[Smushymushy]

Considering a move to Alexandra Palace very near the train station and not far from Bounds Green either. Would probably be in catchment for Trinity Academy, which seems to have really strong results. I've seen so many posts about how awful Wood Green is but when we visited the area, it didn't seem that bad. We've lived in Camden which is really grubby but never felt super unsafe. Is it safe around Ally Pally station? Is it safe in the park with a dog and young child? We wanted somewhere family friendly, quieter than more central parts of London, good green space and easy access to central on a train line rather than tube.

Hello, I’ve lived in Bounds Green for over 10 years, my DD went to Trinity and really excelled there.

I live near the tube station and honestly it’s very chilled and quiet, nothing happens! It’s great having the parks nearby, lots of local shops and restaurants. There are community markets in BG, farmers market at Ally Pally. I think people who don’t live in or near Wood Green say it’s terrible but I’ve never encountered any problems and it’s handy! I think as it’s such a multi cultural hub that means it’s awful, granted it’s not amazing and it has some shady characters but no one bothers you! Could you go anywhere, where they aren’t shady characters?!

I often walk alone from say Muswell Hill to Bounds Green and it’s totally fine, see lots of joggers, dog walkers etc.

Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

That so helpful @SnowfallSnowball ! I love how multicultural the wider area is and want my child to be around people from different backgrounds. But yes, you spend time on Mumsnet and it seems like people really emphasise how unsafe Wood Green is but it isn't always clear if they've actually lived there or nearby. It doesn't seem any scruffier than Camden and I thought it would be handy to have some amenities nearby. If you have any specific recommendations of nice coffee shops or markets in the wider area, please let me know!

I lived in Wood Green and Turnpike lane area for a number of years and it is indeed horrible. Stabbings were common when we lived there. Filthy buses with litter all over the floor, littered streets, gardens that looked like nobody cares. The shady and unkempt looking characters walking around. I'm sorry but I would not want to bring up my kids there. Picture them as teens getting around on their own and the environment around them...it's a no from me. Someone above commented about the area from Muswell hill to Bounds Green and that's a very different area with a very different feel, different kind of people live there and the prices of property reflect this. Muswell Hill cannot be compared to Wood Green. That said, Alexandra Palace is bit to the side so not exactly Wood Green. It's green and leafy and quiet with some nice looking houses. It has a completely different feel to it. My concern would be relying on Wood Green High Street for your shopping.

This.

Comparing Camden to wood green is not like for like AT ALL.

Bounds green maybe... but it wouldn't be for me.
I lived in turnpike lane (when I had less cash) for a few years. Your child will also have a lot of drugs/ coke easily accessible via the fruit and veg shops which i wouldn't love...

For the same money you could be in southgate. Equally multicultural and you've got Ashmole school. I know where id rather be...

I think the OP was thinking of living in Ally Pally or the Bounds Green area which is totally fine. I mean everyone has different tolerances, my daughter is 18 and has never had any issues getting to and from school, going to Wood Green and neither have I to be honest but this is obviously just my experience. OP you’ll be good in Bounds Green, it’s a small area, and people are friendly but equally keep themselves to themselves!

Also I wasn’t comparing Muswell Hill to Wood Green (that would be silly!) just to flag to OP that the area around Bounds Green/Ally Pally is totally safe. Like you say the house prices are extremely significant, but MH is only up the road which also has lovely restaurants, cafes etc.

@Pigletin @Lafufufu There were regularly people doing crack and all sorts right by our building in Camden, and even coming out of the tube station you see all sorts of dealings in broad daylight. Could you be more specific about your experiences of crime in Wood Green? Also, when you say Wood Green, it would helpful to know where specifically. We are looking between Ally Pally and Bounds Green so to the west of Green Lanes. Interested to know if that also feels unsafe from your perspective. I'm not sure yet why or if we would actually need to spend time in Wood Green since there are amenities in other neighbouring areas. We wouldn't really be near Turnpike Lane.

As a note, we didn't find anywhere nice to live in Southgate. There's a lot of competition for housing around Ashmore. It's also further away from the family and friends we have in other parts of London and feels quite suburban.

Look I'm not here to talk you out of it... do what you like.

Bounds green is as "Boring" as southgate tbh just the schools arent as good.

I lived in Camden for 3 years so I know the score on drug addicts and general scuzzy reprobates.

Imo the difference is violence.
Camden isn't, in the main, dangerous or violent for bystanders.
Wood green... is.

You and your teenage child are much more likely to be a victim of violent crime or SA in wood green high street than southgate circus in my opinion (crime stats will prob back me up) do with that what you will

We don't really plan to stay in this house until the teenage years. We aren't from London originally and have never lived in one place for that long. My DS isn't even at primary school age yet, but we need to move and we like the house we've seen plus the feel of Ally Pally, the park etc. The people moving out of the house are only moving to get their kids into APS. I don't mind that Southgate is boring but like I said, we didn't find anywhere to live. We saw two properties in person and one of them we didn't love enough to justify spending basically beyond our means, and the second one was so pokey and required a lot of work. Neither were in Ashmole catchment either. I take your point about violent crime, and that is a worry of mine which is why I posted. I just haven't heard specific experiences from people so it's really hard to understand how 'dangerous' it is to live in proximity of Wood Green and which parts (eg near Ally Pally or Noel Park or Woodside or Bounds Green or Harringay) so that we get a measure of whether we will feel unsafe. The house itself is on a nice street with well presented houses.

We moved to BG a year ago and we like it a lot. Alexandra Palace side is a bit more leafy/expensive especially the bit towards Crouch End & Muswell Hill but down side is you'd be relying on the Great Northern vs easier tube access.

Bounds Green wise there isn't a lot going on but its very friendly and neighbourly with book nooks, a monthly market on myddleton road and lots of nurseries and primary schools. You are on the piccadilly line and Bowes Park train which has a cute station cafe, you can also get to Muswell Hill in about 10 mins on the bus. Not too sure on secondary schools - the area is split across Haringey and Enfield so probably worth working out catchment areas. It still feels like a bit of an under the radar area, given the transport connections are quite good the house prices by London standards aren't too crazy for quite good sized edwardian/victorian houses.

Agreed that Wood Green is quite rough and turnpike lane is a bit grim, some people like the harringey ladder but I personally still found it a bit dodgy.

@Snugbug123 I felt that way driving through Harringay ladder too. I'd heard good things but it still seemed like it was quite scruffy.

Thanks for the tip on the Myddelton market, that sounds lovely. We aren't too concerned about secondary as we plan to move before then.

I wouldn't say any of it is super bad though - probably worth a walk around in the day and then the evening to work out if you'd be comfortable. I've never felt unsafe but I wouldn't actively choose to hang out in Wood Green high street unless I had an errand to do if that makes sense. Even then there is micro-brewery and a cross-fit type place near wood green common

I live near Turnpike Lane, honestly, if you lived in Camden, it’s absolutely fine and you’re gong to be in the leafier bit anyway. I’m not here to pretend Wood Green is chi chi (the high street is unfortunately run down but that’s symptomatic of the decline in physical shopping in general). But if you are used to city living, it’s fine. Green Lanes has amazing Turkish restaurants and coffee shops. It’s just like a lot of London tbh, bit rough round the edges but we have nice neighbours etc. We have lived here for 20 years and I feel the crime has decreased. Used to be more dealing and occasional stabbing etc near tube but that all seems to have been moved on in last few years. We have brought two teenage girls up here, went to local comp. Never had a problem, none of us have ever been a victim of crime. I genuinely don’t think bystanders are at risk. I hear of more break ins and muggings in the affluent areas of the borough as those areas seem to more targeted. I hope none of this comes across as defensive and again, it’s no Notting Hill! (Although near Crouch End etc) Just wanted to reassure.

I've lived in BG for years. It is a bit quiet, but the Myddleton road area has some nice places to eat and drink, quite a cool vibe on a summer's evening! There are nice pubs, too.
I go shopping in WG in the mall ( ( there's a big Primark and TKMaxx) and the market quite often, as does my very elderly mum, never had any issues there. I wouldn't necessarily go there at night though. I'd feel safer walking home from BG tube than WG tube at night. The area around AP station is pretty safe, it can get quite busy if there's something on at Ally Pally, which is probably a good thing.
I'd look around the area from AP station in every direction except towards WG.

I don't like Wood Green but I think Bounds Green is a nice area...quiet and suburban. Alexandra Park Road is very yummy mummy with nice shops and delis.

Thanks all for the input! Very helpful to get your own experiences. I feel a bit uncomfortable being too negative about any area because obviously a lot of families have their homes and they’re just living their lives. I looked at the Met’s crime numbers for different areas and it’s definitely high in Noel Park ward but not much different to Camden. But I do take other people’s comments that for some it’s too much to consider living near Wood Green. We like the immediate surroundings in BG, local green space and schools.

You’ll be in Ally Pally anyway, not WG although obviously nearer tube is WG. Good luck (my dd, 17 and 20, haven’t come across the drugs in the fruit and veg shops of Turnpike Lane yet! 😀 There’s more coke being done by the posh kids in Muswell Hill!)

Honestly was going to suggest the same!

We live in Camden and have family in Bounds Green. BG feels safe and quiet, if a little dull. It's a friendly neighbourhood where people know the other families on the street and leave old toys/baby equipment on their wall for others to take (our Camden neighbourhood isn't like that at all).
Myddleton Road seems nice and my family there spend a lot of time around Ally Pally and also Broomfield Park (which sometimes hosts funfairs and circus shows). I take my dcs to Ally Pally for theatre and ice skating and it's never felt unsafe. Have been shopping in Wood Green and I'd say it's grittier and less touristy than Camden but fine to use the facilities like shops and cinema during the day. Personally I'd rather be close to the tube at BG than Ally Pally station but then we are car-free so having good public transport is a priority.