Brooklyn NY to London--Where should we live?

[BklyntoUKmom]

Hi Everyone,

My family (me, DH, one year old son and 2 geriatric poodles) are moving to London in January. We are very excited (especially as DH is British and has been away for 15 years) but totally CLUELESS as to where we should consider living. DH is working near Green Park Underground Station and I was hoping that we might find an apartment or house to rent that is less than an hour commute for him. In addition, I am hoping to find a neighborhood with lots of other stay at home moms and young children.

In a word, I am looking for a place that accepts my mommy vibe and all that comes with it: the glamour of overloaded strollers (pushchairs), dirty diapers (nappies), pureed food chunks in the hair and inappropriate screaming at any moment.

I appreciate any advice you might have to share with a very bewildered American as she begins her thrilling journey into the land of Londonalia!

Onebatmother, you live in Walthamstow and have the cheek to diss SW London?

Actually I would stay in Brooklyn

But I would still say that a liberal leaning american with some cash would be happiest in the posher bits of n london
hampstead, w hampstead, belsize park, highgate, crouch end, stoke newington, primrose hill/camden.. etc.

have you not had the consultation (hahahah) papers?

BKLyn, describe living in Brooklyn. Do you want something similar? That might help with our suggestions.

and I was brought up in Chiswick, lived as a 20 something bat (or socialized in) Streatham, Brixton, Kennington, Clapham, Brockley and Dulwich.

then as pre-Batmother in Camden, Kentish Town and Highgate.

Now in 'up and coming' Walthamstow!

Walthamstow's been 'up and coming' for some time though...

I know B'lyn its like Stokie!

Contess, I admire your wry honesty. Staying in Brooklyn isn't really an option at this point. However, if the planes are really driving you nuts, I have a great two bedroom apartment in a brownstone in Brooklyn that I could rent to you...cheap. Your dd could come home from school one day and tell you, "Mom, I am so happy here, fuhgettahbouttit."

yes lyra and now its lummin upped and come! I think there were lots of poorly paid journos living here (Walthamstow Village) bigging it up, for ages. And now, suddenly, it feels bloody nice.

I think Chiswick would be perfect. West London, full of young liberal mothers, loads of nice smart shops and right by the river. It's perfect for you.x

"CD - She's Wryly Honest"
stand for election CD!

I haven't been there since DS1 was a baby (2003ish). Maybe I should pay a visit.

liberal mothers in Chiswick!!! are you Kerazy? liberal in the 19th century sense, do you mean? As in Laissez-faire?

lyra - you mean E17??? oh tell me..! and come back, come back!

Chiswick is v nice I agree have lived there
and St John's wood and you have Regent's Park, I loved living there

Putney less so a bit wankered by the awful high street but nice in parts

Primrose Hill is rather twee

The planes are fine at the moment, they are threatening to remove flight path alternation and use both approaches all the time which would make it unbearable in my book (unless there is an easterly when they land from the other side)

eurotrash??????
can I have the brownstone in brooklyn?

eurotrash
you know

name names, like those with 3 or 4 surnames appearing in vogue uk?

no dull euro bankers and their duller wives

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Okay, describe life in Brooklyn.

I live in an area of brownstone buildings that looks similar to Primrose Hill in architecture. We live near a park not too different from Primrose Hill park (even with a big hill in the center too). In my neighborhood, there is lots of foot traffic. Lots of cafes, stores, restaurants. Parking is a nightmare so most people walk everywhere. There is a playground around the corner from where I live. There are lots of playgroups and kids classes (art, music, crafts, etc.) offered within walking distance of our house. During the day, you see alot of SAH moms hanging out with their kids.

Nobody is super wealthy or flashy with their money. Most SAH moms have made some serious financial sacrifices to stay at home but they have decided that, for the moment, that is what they want to do. On the other hand, there are alot of working moms too. All types of moms are common and accepted in our neighborhood without prejudice. In general, parenting is pretty casual and not "in your face" here. Lots of older parents who seem to have a pretty good grip on themselves so they don't really feel like they have to prove anything to anyone...especially as far as their child is concerned. I would say if I had to sum up the neighborhood in real economic terms...it is a Maclaren neighborhood as opposed to a Bugaboo neighborhood.

Does this help at all?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

not park slopes, is it?