Harold Wood

puneet_g80

Hi,

We have seen a house in Harold wood area which we like and wanted to get people's opinion on the area and if it is worth buying there.

Things we are considering.

1. Comunting into the city: This is zone 6 and fairly quick to get in
2. Schools: my son is only a 1.5 yrs but schools there are rated good by ofstead, we were looking at upminster area as well but for the money you don't get much space there.

Any help will be much appreciated

Thanks.

pinkapplepie21

Hi,

I just sold my flat in Hornchurch and live with my bf in Havering Atte Bower which is literally 5 mins from Harold Wood.

The area is very close to a notoriously downtrodden and disreputable area known as Harold Hill - avoid this like the plague.

Harold Wood however is ok-ish, midway in reputation between Romford and Upminster.

Upminster is very upmarket and has a much nicer class of people, but as you've already stated prices are much higher.

Have you considered Hornchurch? Its a nice area, small high street and lots of nice houses.

I commute in on the overground to the City every day and trains from Harold Wood / Gidea Park / Romford etc are very reliable and frequent, not too costly either.

Schools vary but there are some very good ones in the area for your little boy.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM me with any more specific questions if you want to.

Good luck!

hazyjo

As above, really (and agree re Hornchurch). Gidea Park next to it is also nice, but Harold Wood is very hit 'n' miss.

However, I have recently moved from that line (was in Brentwood) and IT WAS A NIGHTMARE! But maybe that's just the trains I got at certain times. I have never turned up late so often to work! There were constant problems, several a week usually. Was exremely rare for me to go a whole week without at least one delay of sorts. I used to comment on FB about them and it became a bit of a standing joke. It's also very much a stop-start line which seems to go on forever. That Stratford bottleneck was sometimes a problem, very crowded, and, I don't know why, but so many of the people were annoying as hell. Constant noise, phone conversations, I saw various arguments... I couldn't wait to get off that line.

Now on the Chingford line which feels like heaven in comparison!

There was a train on a different line (well, same line, but different train) which terminated at Gidea Park. I suppose that would have experienced the same problems, but might not have stopped at as many stations and might not have been so crowded - can't be sure as never used it.

If you could consider Shenfield (much further out), that's a GREAT commute. Fast to Stratford then Liverpool Street (most trains, some had one more stop I think, or went straight from Shenfield to Liv St with no stop).

Jx

mellie13

Hi there

I live in Upminster which is also nice, the C2C is quick into Fenchurch St in 25 mins.

Harold wood is okay. Not the best areas as its hemmed in by the A127 and A12 and can be a nightmare to get anywhere when roads are jammed.

x