how to know if the property is in a good area or not

milkydrink

I was born & bred in south London (init!). So I know it well. Brixton, Loughbrough Junction, Camberwell, Streatham, Sydenham, Bermondsey, Surrey Quays.
I wouldn't live in any part of it now.
But if you REALLY want to, I would say SW is probably better than SE, better transport too.
Either right up around the river or as far out as possible.
Stay WELL away from Camberwell (THERE IS NO NICE PART - you are NEVER more than one street away from a drug ridden council estate), ditto for Brixton, Peckham, Elephant, Walworth (urgh), Catford, New Cross, Deptford.
I see people above have referred to Greenwich as nice, is that the same Greenwich beside Deptford & Lewisham?
Dulwich village is nice, but out if most peoples price range & surrounded by bad areas, look at Dulwiches state school - can't remember the name right now - it wa bad when I was a kid, right behind Dulwich college.

Richmond, Barnes, Wimbolden (sp?) not too bad, stay away from Roehampton.

Stay well away from Abbey Wood & Thamesmead and anywhere near them.

Do yourself a favour & commute a little further and come live in Surrey :-)

derek.gtalk

> I know Orpington and St Marys Cray very well, I lived there for 2 years, it was Hell!

Is Orpington that bad? I viewed a property in BR6, and it looks not bad. 2 primary schools nearby are very good too. I know there are many council houses in St Marys Cray.

Doozergirl

kimevans wrote: »

Richmond, Barnes, Wimbledon not too bad

"not bad" :eek:

If those areas are not bad then I'd avoid the entirity of London altogether!

Where in London is good if they are not bad?

milkydrink

Doozergirl wrote: »

"not bad" :eek:

If those areas are not bad then I'd avoid the entirity of London altogether!

Where in London is good if they are not bad?

I wouldn't live ANYWHERE in London again, & thats based on living there for not far of 40 years.

My Brother-in-law lives in Barnes, so I know it a little.

Doozergirl

kimevans wrote: »

I wouldn't live ANYWHERE in London again, & thats based on living there for not far of 40 years.

My Brother-in-law lives in Barnes, so I know it a little.

I don't want to live in London either but that doesn't help the OP who not only wants to live in London but can't afford Richmond!

I have to admit that if money were no object, I'd be very happy to live in Richmond. It is a fabulous place!

Doozergirl

msmicawber wrote: »

I spent 3 happy years there, and can assure you I don't glow in the dark :rotfl:

LOL! It really does have a nuclear bunker built in beneath Pear Tree House on the edge of that estate! I wasn't trying to be horrid about it or anything, even if that estate is the ugliest piece of architecture on earth. It all moulds into one like it's a giant ant nest or something, it's weird!

sooz

Doozergirl wrote: »

I don't want to live in London either but that doesn't help the OP who not only wants to live in London but can't afford Richmond!

I have to admit that if money were no object, I'd be very happy to live in Richmond. It is a fabulous place!

I think the OP was after a £300 grand house...I'd love to find one of those in Richmond too :rotfl:

Perhaps one of those studio flats that get converted out of the old broom cupboard in a mansion block? :eek:

milkydrink

Doozergirl wrote: »

I don't want to live in London either but that doesn't help the OP who not only wants to live in London but can't afford Richmond!

I have to admit that if money were no object, I'd be very happy to live in Richmond. It is a fabulous place!

Actually the OP has expressed an interest in Orpington, St. Marys Cray & Bromley.

Bromley is on the edge of London & the first two are kent.

So I don't think he is fixed on SE London.

I actually DO think its helpful to give him an honest picture of what the vast majority of SE London is like. IF I go to London, I make sure I drive around with my car doors locked & windows open a crack. I don't need to do that here!!!

To those who say this & that area is OK, you are nearly all new-comers to London who don't know it well enough.

Those of us raised in South London or lived there a LONG time will nearly all tell you, its not good.

What about Canada Water or Surrey Quays if you really want to be near the city, mind you I don't have a clue about prices now.

Doozergirl

kimevans wrote: »

Actually the OP has expressed an interest in Orpington, St. Marys Cray & Bromley.

Bromley is on the edge of London & the first two are kent.

Those of us raised in South London or lived there a LONG time will nearly all tell you, its not good.

I know that he expressed an interest in areas he might be able to afford!

Being born in Greenwich, raised in Crystal Palace, Streatham, schooled in Croydon, and worked in Richmond and the Oval not good enough for you!

olly300

kimevans wrote: »

To those who say this & that area is OK, you are nearly all new-comers to London who don't know it well enough.

Those of us raised in South London or lived there a LONG time will nearly all tell you, its not good.

You don't know anything about the people who are posting on these boards so you can't say whether they are new- comers or not. Also you don't know where they went to school, if they have children and where the children go to school etc.

All parts of London have their faults mainly due to the fact that nearly every wealthy area of London has a large council estate nearby. The only places that don't seem to have problems don't have decent public transport. BTW I don't call having a train that calls every half hour on a loop or places where you can only have the choice of 2 bus numbers to take you to a train station decent transport.