Is Hampton a good place to live with kids?

[allgonebellyup]

Following on from yesterdays Isleworth thread!
ive looked at the schools online, and whilst there are some brill primaries, the secondary school there seems pants, and it says there a lot of students from Hounslow (rough?)and bad league tables.
There is a good girls school further away but dont know if its too far from the houses i would be looking at?

Anyone know anything about Hampton? the houses i can afford back on to the race course, does anyone know if this is a local authority estate?

we live in sunbury (just down the road from Hampton).

The whole area is good BUT the state schools are not that good. Its a mixed area and I think that anyone with any money send their kids private.... (Look at Hampton grammar secondary or Tiffins (selective, grammar) vs the local comprehensives).

I personally don't think the primaries are that good either for the same reason....

do you think kingston is a better place to live?
i saw that Tiffins school is amazing! How do they make their selections?

11+ exam. Kingston is lovely (I know I live here, and have a child at Tiffin) but its dead expensive at the moment. I really rate it as a place to live though. Its got everything.

Primaries in Kingston are good in general but oversubscribed.

Yes - I live in Hampton Hill!

Primaries are brilliant - some of the best - Hampton Hill Juniors is fantastic. Waldegrave Girls is an excellent state secondary but girls only. Boys tend to go to Hampton Community College which does not have a brilliant reputation.

Tiffins is amazingly selective to get into - we know children who have got into Hampton and Kingston Grammar (both highly selective independents) and have not got in to Tiffin - unless you have amazing DC and a regular on the G&T thread don't set you heart on it...

However Hampton is a fantastic place to bring up children - lots of nurseries, lots of parks and the wide open spaces of Bushy Park. Hampton Hill High St is vibrant and has a fabulous City Farmers Market and not far from Teddington too with its little boutiques and gift shops. Very family oreintated area. Low crime rate.

oh lordy, what am i setting myself up for?

i didnt realise schools still did the 11+ exam (ignorant emoticon)!
Hopefully my kids would be ok?!

Oh yes - going good and strong around here but don't fret there are lots of tutors too!

ok, hampton still sounds good but i am worried about the secondary school for my son!
Why are the house prices cheaper there?

Hampton is a bit further out than Kingston. Kingston is a larger more metropolitan place with large shops etc. Hampton is very suburban.

Also it is probably to do with the trains - fast trains into waterloo and all that

so its not because its a bit rough? are there many council estates etc?

There is one slightly "less desireable" place to live but I am not sure it is a council estate - probably ex but it's not rough.

Link me what you are looking at and I will let you know!

Cant do links im afraid but one of the houses is on Sonning Gardens!? (newish rd, backs on to race course)

thanks

Can't find it - which agent?

Found it - I think you would be OK there - lovely with Kempton behind you!

Townends

price 230k terrace, newish looking 2 bed

doh! too late!

what is that area like? please tell me if it is in the slightest bit scummy??

It is on the border with Hanworth - you would need to go to have a look.

Where are you living now? I might be able to give you a comparison.

we live in Horsham (sussex), v posh!

Tis not the Horsham end of Hampton IYSWIM!

I don't know around there very well - would be worth a look though. If you go to the website upmystreet you can compare neighbourhoods.

I grew up in that area. Most of Hampton is lovely and probably as safe as you will find anywhere in London (sadly not as safe as it was when I were a girl). It's not at all scummy.

You have Bushy Park and Richmond Park isn't far away. The river is pretty there, too.

am going to check it out on sunday!!

I thought you meant The Hamptons and thought 'Hell, yeah!!!!' Plus loads of sleb watching.

I'll read Post Titles closer in future...

I think you'll like it.

I grew up round this area too - you need to come and look as there are some fantastic bits some good bits and some awful bits. I'm convinced that's why the schools aren't up to scratch as so many middle class parents go private - I went to a local comprehensive and wouldn't send my kids there

I grew up in Hampton and it was a great place - there are a few places to avoid still - Bloxham Crescent is still a bit naff; Hampton Nurserylands is not the best area (apologies to anyone who lives there).

Hampton whatever the hell it's called college is CRAP. It always was, even when it was Rectory and it still is now. Hampton School (dropped the grammar some time ago and is a private school) is pretty good but costly; and if you were to have a DD later, I can vouch for LEH private girls's school being pretty good. State infant and junior schools still have a pretty good reputation though. When I was going to senior school, the state girl's school of choice was Waldegrave; mixed was Orleans Park but these are in Twickenham and therefore a bus ride away.

Hampton is the last station on the Shepperton line still in Zone 6 of the London travel zones and is 15 minutes further out of London than Kingston by train, hence the price difference.

Have looked at where Sonning Gardens is and it is not my favourite area of Hampton, it is nearly Hanworth and I think it is part of the Hampton Nurserylands area. Lot of new builds in that area, very weird road planning!

If you go there, I think your nearest primary would be Buckingham, which is not bad.

HTH - I don't want to put you off but if I had the choice, I don't think I would live in that general area, but it might be lovely so wait until you see it.