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!

Plus...being rather a fan of brooklyn, I can't think of anywhere in London that reminds me of it more?

Brixton wouldn't be a great introduction to London though, would it. There are so many nicer areas. (sorry Badzelda but I didn't enjoy living there one bit and that was pre-children)

It's alright Lyra - each to their own.

to be fair, I my friends who live there have always loved it (till the mugging). I just don't like the hassley tube station bit.

I lived in Brixton for years and years and years and god was it a relief to leave that tube station behind. It's like something out of Bladerunner.

aha, but some very esteemed MN-ers live in Brixton, you know! I lived in Brixton for 20 years and have a job that involves coming home late at night - 10pm - midnight several times a week. Never been mugged at all Some parts of Brixton are positively gentrified. And you avoid the rather claustrophobic twee yummy mummy of some of the other places mentioned on this thread! (ahem!). I assume you wnat some urban edge, coming from Brooklyn? But if your area is like Pr9imrose Hill, you won't get Primros4e Hill here for the same price...Primrose Hill is for the wealthy! afaik, anyway!

But I'm not advocating Brixton - schools not the best unless you are religious or live in three particular streets, and you are either a Brixton person or you are not.

But Herne Hill is within walking distance of the very excellent Ritzy cinema, on the edge of Brockwell Park and Lido, within easy distance of Dulwich Park...oh, still a bit of an issue with state schools - I think we need to know if you are planning on state schooling?

Hello, late to this thread, sorry. From my experience (and I am a norf Landanaaaah, so can't advise on south of the river - although Brixton is on the Victoria line - very handy for your husband's work...)

I lived in Stoke Newington for a few years and can vouch for the fact that it is mummy central (buggies and slings and crazily expensive baby boutiques a plenty!). It's pricey, though, and it's, urm, how can I put it? Real. And, urm, full of character. I quite liked it, though. Transport connections a bit crappy as no tube there (yet), but there are two tube stations within about a 15-20 min bus ride away with very fast links to Green Park. If you're looking to get into a little mum's network, you'll do it with great ease in Stokey. Quite a hotbed for lefties and lentil weavy types, but even if that's not your thing, it's generally a fairly friendly place.

Crouch End is incredibly baby friendly, too, as already mentioned. Lovely area, not as gritty as Stokey, but also very pricey and pathetic transport links. Ditto to Muswell Hill / Ally Pally.

I think Green Park tube is on several tube lines - if your husband is planning on getting the tube to work and/or you want to get out and about around London, it might be worth looking at areas on those tube lines. Also remember, some very far out areas have good tube links into central London (we're in lovely, leafy, 'is it really London?' Barnet and can get into central London via the Northern Line in under 40 mins).It's very family friendly up here and there are some great schools and billions of toddler groups.

Just quickly - also lived in West Hamp / Kilburn. Fabulously close to central London / transport links superb - and a real 'best of both worlds' (grimey old Kilburn High Rd for bargain shopping and proper pubs / West Hamp for trendy cafes and arty types). Very expensive area, though.

Sorry for waffling on, and if I've repeated what others have said.

p.s. Where in Brooklyn are you coming from (just being nosey! I am a born and bred Londoner, but a New York obssessive!)

Oh, and I love Brixton tube station. You haven't lived until you've been accosted on the steps by people asking for a light/asking for 20p/asking you whether you have heard the Good News from Jesus /asking you whether you want to buy a copy of the Final Call/a used travelcard/crack cocaine.

Hello everyone! I wanted to thank you once again for all your ideas as to where we should consider living once we have gotten to London. Your descriptions of specific areas was very helpful and eavesdropping in on discussions about local issues that you discussed has given me quite a lot of insight. If you were interested in the overall results of the discussion, here they are:

BTW, the number in parentheses after the name is the number of times it was mentioned by different posters:

Belsize Park (5) [more expensive]
Camden (3)
Chiswick (2)
Clapham (1)
Crouch End (3)
Dartmouth Park (1)
Dulwich (1)
Fulham (1)
Hampstead (5) [more expensive]
Hampstead Heath (1) [more expensive]
Herne Hill (4)
Highgate (4) [more expensive]
Islington (1)
Kilburn (1)
Marylebone (1) [more expensive]
Merton Park (2)
Muswell Hill (3)
Primrose Hill (4)
Putney (4)
Queen's Park (1)
Regent's Park (2) [more expensive]
Richmond (1)
Southfields (1)
St. Johns Wood (4) [more expensive]
Stoke Newington (5)
Tufnell Park (1)
Wandsworth (2)
West. Hampstead (7)
Wimbledon Park (2)

A bit farther out:
Barnet
Bromley
Kingston Upon Thames

Finally, it seems that while there may be nice areas of Brixton, on the whole, it probably isn't recommended for an expat just getting to know the city.

I never expected to get such an exhaustive list but I must admit that it makes me realize that there is no shortage of very nice places to live in London. Thank you everyone for your suggestions!

god you lot and your "brixton, brixton - eek, eek" you shandy drinking big girls' blouses!

agree that it is not the best place for the gently reared expat to start out in london though

Would carefully check the requirements beforehand for bringing your dogs into the UK because they may well have to go into quarantine for six months.

www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm

This site may prove helpful as well with regards to bringing your animals into the UK.

Both dogs must be vaccinated against rabies.

Thanks for the warning. As soon as we found out about the move, we started getting them vaccinated and performing all the necessary paperwork. Turns out, they will have to stay here in US for a few months at my mom's house because there is a 6 month waiting period that is obligatory after the vaccinations. Luckily, however, there is no longer quarantine!

Just looked at the "survey results".
I can't believe no-one recommended Peckham !