Wanstead, Walthamstow or Highams Park for family life?

[Move2EastLondon]

My husband, toddler and I are considering a move to East London to be closer to family who live in East Anglia and are looking into Wanstead, Walthamstow and Highams Park.

From what I've gathered Walthamstow has the most going on in terms of restaurants, the market, coffee shops, galleries etc followed by Wanstead. Highams Park seems to have less in the way of coffee shops/restaurants than Wanstead and Walthamstow, but you get a lot more house for your money and are on the doorstep of Epping Forest. From what I can see, all three areas seem to have excellent state primaries.

Our plan is to move somewhere and stay put through the primary and secondary school years and while all three areas have great state primaries, what are they like for secondary schools?

Also, what is your experience of the safety in these areas? I know that in London there will always be some level of crime, but I'd like to live in an area that is safe enough for a teen to have some level of independence (though I am conscious that we have a decade before that becomes relevant).

Any and all opinions on family life in these areas would be very much appreciated :)

Where do you both work and need to commute to?

Wanstead is great. All primaries are outstanding I think and local secondaries are strong too.

My husband works in Holborn & I work from home

That's really great to hear! Thank you :)

Highams Park is very suburban and dull. I'd much rather have a smaller house and live somewhere that didn't make me die a little inside.

Highams Park is much smaller and quieter than Walthamstow with a very strong community vibe. The main secondary school is currently being rebuilt so in two years it will be very swish, and the cinema is also being renovated. Primary schools are excellent but unlike Walthamstow are oversubscribed, as there is an influx of young families coming in from Walthamstow and Hackney, so "last distance offered" can be as small as 200m- be aware of this when house hunting. Proximity to the lake and wildlife is amazing.

Just seen the previous post- I wouldn't call HP dull at all! The demographics are changing fast. I much prefer it to Walthamstow.

I lived in Walthamstow with husband and children and it was absolutely awful. We moved two years ago. The levels of crime and anti social behaviour were exhausting and it was just non stop trouble

My DiL is from Walthamstow & her family still live there. They have all had at least one phone stolen off them whilst out in Walthamstow in the last few months. Phone theft has become a real problem there recently.

Not what you’ve asked, but I live in East Anglia and I don’t find it particularly easy to get to Walthamstow.

@Move2EastLondonNB, if this is relevant OP: 2 out of the three applicable state primaries may be outstanding but you need to attend church to be within a sniff of getting in.

The area is cracking though - lots of green space and it seems like a new coffee shop is being opened up every other week on the high street. Decent sense of community.

Oh wow! Thats good to know - will definitely inform our search. Also great to hear that there’s loads of young families & a great sense of community

I’m sorry to hear that- I hope you’re enjoying your new area! I have a friend who also upsized from their flat in Walthamstow to a house in a different area and mentioned crime as a concern. I wasn’t sure if it was generally safe with pockets of crime, or if it was an issue across Walthamstow

This is also very good to know- thank you! And yes we really like Wanstead high street, the green & the access to the flats

That must have been really scary for your DiL. I know it’s not the most convenient but these were the family friendly areas in East London that came up on our search , but we’re very open to other suggestions :)

Big difference between the three.
Wanstead £££
lovely but suburban, big houses, more space. Gail’s is their claim to fame.

Walthamstow ££
Overall really depends on where you mean, people can class wood street, Blackhorse Road or Leyton midland as ‘Walthamstow’
All quite lively areas, still quite rough. Lots of young families.
The village is nice, not cheap.

Highams Park £
It’s where people go when they can’t afford any of the above. Not much going on other than cheap houses.

I lived in Wanstead for many years (only moved out last year to the country side) and I miss it so much! Perfect for a young family in my opinion. Great high street, lots of nurseries, great estate primary and an independent nearby. Also lots of things happening like markets and the Wanstead fringe. Feel free to ask any questions!

We keep debating whether we want a quieter/safer area or a more exciting area- but will likely end up leaning towards safer

Gail’s is Wanstead’s claim to fame is a very silly sentence indeed. There’re lots of things going on

Actually that’s what I thought - but I have friends who don’t go to church and got a place in one of those

These are three great areas. Walthamstow is the trendiest with the most going on and best transport links by tube.I would add Leytonstone, South Woodford and North Chingford as similar choices if you're interested in the wider area.

Does your budget actually stretch to all options?
Wanstead is nice quiet, Highams Park is more ‘this is what we can afford’ quiet.
As with anything the amenities move with the money and as more people are priced out of the previously cool areas the more that pops up in the bit further our.
But you’re looking at a vast budget difference between Wanstead and HP so it’s best to really consider what you can afford before looking too deep into areas.

Wanstead is great. Village feel but has two tube stations (very handy if one branch of the Central line is affected). Great schools, green spaces, Wanstead Park (Epping Forest), plethora of cafés and restaurants. Excellent greengrocer, butcher and fishmonger. Real community feel; the Wanstead Fringe is a highlight.

Very close to M11/M25 junction, so handy for Stansted airport and getting away.

You’re right, so silly, how could I forget they also have a ginger pig.

Yes you can't move for young families, buggies and baby groups these days. I'm a bit surprised by some of the comments on here about HP, they seem a bit dated and I imagine the posters don't live here. It's definitely not cheap any more (although cheaper than Walthamstow and Wanstead) and with the renovation of the cinema will no doubt attract more businesses to the area. It's nice to be able to pop into Walthamstow for greater restaurant/ bar variety, but then come back to somewhere a bit more peaceful.