Hi all,
We're currently living in Dagenham and own our home here, but we're looking at moving and settling somewhere long term. We are a family of four (mum, dad and two children) and we're Muslims.
Gidea Park has caught our attention because it seems to offer larger family homes and is one of the few areas where we can still afford the type of house we're looking for. Ideally we'd love to move to Chigwell, but detached houses there are unfortunately beyond our budget, whereas Gidea Park seems much more achievable.
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who lives in or knows Gidea Park well. How diverse is the area these days? As a Muslim family, would we generally feel welcome there? Have people experienced or witnessed any racism or discrimination, or is it a fairly friendly and inclusive community?
We're also very interested in schools, so any recommendations (or schools to avoid) would be really helpful. We're hoping to make this a permanent move, so we're trying to get a realistic picture of what day-to-day life is like for families in the area.
Would especially love to hear from local residents, families with children, or anyone who has made a similar move from Dagenham or elsewhere in East London/Essex.
Thanks in advance!