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Original poster

Walthamstow Mumsnetters out there - advice on area please!

16 replies

RooTwo · 12/04/2010 11:03

We have found an amazing house in central Walthamstow (Hatherley Road) that we would like to make an offer on, but I don't know the area well (know Lloyd Park more) and feel a bit uncertain about it - the road is OK but very near the market and busy roads and I'm worried that it may be a bit noisy and hectic around there. It's obviously very good for transport links and shops and stuff but not that near a park or any green space. Are there any Walthamstow mums out there who live around here - would love to get the low-down on the area ... we have to decide whether to make the jump or not!

OP posts:
StepSideways · 12/04/2010 11:09

I used to live in walthamstow, and wouldn't live there again if I was given a free house and paid to stay there, the local school there (McEntee) was the fourth worst in the country at the time where your kids would spend their time dodging knives and generally surviving each day instead of learning anything...

My advice.. just dont!

Original poster
RooTwo · 12/04/2010 11:58

Blimey that is damning StepSideways! People seem to either love or hate Walthamstow. I have heard similar things from people saying how horrible it is and also lots of people who love it ... so hard to know what we would make of it. I guess we just need to spend a bit of time there to get a feel for it.

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Adair · 12/04/2010 12:10

Hello! We have just moved here. We are north of Lloyd Park in the Warner houses. I like it up here. Is a bit more suburban (we moved from Stoke Newington) but seems nice. Hatherley Road seems quite near the park anyway. Schools near us seem fine - dd goes to nursery in the school next to Priory Court Estate. Seems sweet enough!

Ideally we'd probably live somewhere like Stokey or Kentish Town or Highgate or something. But until we win the lottery - we got a lot for our money and I can't see what StepSideways saw (yet!).

Also dh and I met teaching in a challenging school in Tottenham where we saw lots of gangs but lots of children not involved in any of it. Not really worried about 'knives and survival'! We are 5 mins from Walthamstow Academy - kids seem fine.

Original poster
RooTwo · 12/04/2010 12:35

Thanks Adair ... ideally we'd live in Stokey too! But can't afford it ... we are in Dalston at mo and would really like to stay around here but cannot afford a 3 bed house, hence thinking about coming up to Walthamstow. Schools seem fine in Walthamstow from whatI have heard, I am just more worried about the general feel of the place and whether we will find enough to do/feel that there is enough going on - Hackney is so buzzy at the moment ...

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StepSideways · 12/04/2010 14:14

Well, I nearly got stabbed twice there (in the school), been chased by a gang through the local park, I was never part of a gang, and all that seemed to mean was the gangs could & would target you with impunity, the police did nothing when called.

Original poster
RooTwo · 12/04/2010 14:25

When did you live there StepSideways? I wonder if area has changed a lot. The school you mentioned doesn't exist any more- think it's Walthamstow Academy now? And got a decent Ofsted report. It's amazing how much areas do change - we have been in Hackney for almost 6 years and it's a different place now (though still our fair share of stabbings)

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StepSideways · 12/04/2010 14:35

when I was 16, I'm 31 now, so I guess thats 15 years ago.. doesnt seem like that lonmg though..

Original poster
RooTwo · 12/04/2010 14:41

15 years is a loong time for an area to change! Only a couple of years before I moved to Hackney I was told to steer clear at all costs of the road round the corner from where I live, and now property prices here have gone nuts and Dalston is almost the trendiest place in the universe Not that Walthamstow is quite following the same trend, but there is always hope ...

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StepSideways · 12/04/2010 14:47

well.. good luck!

Adair · 12/04/2010 17:23

Roo, feel free to CAT me. Walthamstow does have lots going on - I had the same fears as you but I think it's alright... the village has loads of organic cupcakery going on. There is a DIY craft night I am aiming for... there IS def an East London vibe though it ain't Stokey or Dalston (closer to Dalston though). And the market and shops are fab (if you like super cheap interesting bargains anyway).
Tbh we are trying to accept that we are parents with small children and therefore our house and GARDEN (so exciting) is more important. Exciting London things are only a bus or tube away...

'Top Ten things to do in Walthamstow' was in Junior magazine (wanky parenting mag where a jumper cost £55+ if you are not aware) last year. That made me a bit reassured (status snob here ). Though we are so far out we are practically Chingford (not featured in Junior mag as far as I am aware).

Original poster
RooTwo · 12/04/2010 20:54

Adair, thanks v much for all that ... I think I do just need reassurance that Walthamstow is not going to be a total shock after living in a fairly central location with tons going on ... We are going to look at the house again this week and then will make up our minds - if we decide to go for it will definitely CAT you to chat more!

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GeekyGirl · 12/04/2010 21:12

We've been in Walthamstow Village for 10 years and very happy. I used to live in Tottenham, and Walthamstow just feels more friendly and community orientated. Can't really advise on schools from direct personal experience but there are lots of young families around and there seem to be plenty of activities for kids judging by listings in the local paper. There are gangs and knife crime and I don't want to play this down, but it seems to bypass most kids and as with all crime I think the fear is worse than the reality. There's a decent range of shops and restaurants, and lots of greenery in both the Coppermill and Hollow Ponds/Epping Forest areas. At the end of the day, you have to live where you can afford, and that's why we're here (we would live in Hampstead if we could) but all in all we're pretty content.

goldenpeach · 13/04/2010 19:58

I lived in Walthamstow for years, it is certainly better than Hackney/Dalston, that's a scary place as I encountered much more crime.

Schools near Lloyd Park used to be sought after.

Original poster
RooTwo · 16/04/2010 09:19

Thanks GeekyGirl and goldenpeach. Walthamstow Village is lovely, though houses though are so much more expensive than in Walthamstow, and we haven't found anywhere there that we like/can afford. I've spent quite a bit of time now over the last couple of weeks in Walthamstow around the area where we'd like to buy this house and I'm still not quite convinced though - it just feels a bit run-down, and like there's not a huge amount going on. The high street is a bit depressing ... and even though the village is lovely, we wouldn't be in that bit!

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goldenpeach · 16/04/2010 19:24

I lived off Queen's Road, leafy streets of Victorian terraces around there, which have fallen in price!

Our street was one way and we had a lovely Victorian semi with 60ft garden. Ironically there is no way we can afford this here in Cambridge, despite selling at the right time.

My DP says to take asking prices with a pinch of salt, so offer less, even in the village. We did when the market was good.

pcworld · 16/04/2010 20:17

I rented in Mansfield Rd for a fair few years before buying in Bunyan Rd (have moved away now). It was ok, not sure if I'd be rushing to go back. Village is v nice, if I were to go back I would want to buy in that area.

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