Good Afternoon !
I need some local advice please ! I have just accepted a new job in London and need to relocate with my family from Portsmouth. Sydenham is on our shortlist !
Is it a nice place to live with a young family ? I already know the transport links into the city are good, which is one of the main attractions, but it helps if the town is nice too !
Any advice, greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Dan
Relocating to Sydenham
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
You've google earthed / streetviewed the areas, right? Google earth's best for locating parks for the kiddies, google streetviews best for getting a feel for actual streets.
If you're not familiar with London, you might not know a couple of factors. Firstly, local high streets tend to be a bit grotty. That's just a fact of life in all but the poshest areas. So don't worry about that - look at the residential streets just a couple of roads back.
Second, areas turn from "nice" to "not so nice" in a very few streets - and then back again. So it's difficult to pick out "nice" and "not so nice" areas. Sydenham's not so bad in that it doesn't have any vast, run down estates.
Personally, I prefer Crystal Palace to Sydenham, because there's more (child friendly) bars and pubs up there. The best roads are probably Auckland or Halmet Road, because the housing stock is REALLY nice.
If you're not familiar with London, you might not know a couple of factors. Firstly, local high streets tend to be a bit grotty. That's just a fact of life in all but the poshest areas. So don't worry about that - look at the residential streets just a couple of roads back.
Second, areas turn from "nice" to "not so nice" in a very few streets - and then back again. So it's difficult to pick out "nice" and "not so nice" areas. Sydenham's not so bad in that it doesn't have any vast, run down estates.
Personally, I prefer Crystal Palace to Sydenham, because there's more (child friendly) bars and pubs up there. The best roads are probably Auckland or Halmet Road, because the housing stock is REALLY nice.
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Hi and thank you for your reply.
Pubs and bars are not really a priority for me. Just having a family friendly, fairly safe neighbourhood to live in is most important.
I gather the Sydenham/Crystal Palace area in general is a safe bet.
Pubs and bars are not really a priority for me. Just having a family friendly, fairly safe neighbourhood to live in is most important.
I gather the Sydenham/Crystal Palace area in general is a safe bet.
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
P.s. i have to ask, because your username is quite distinctive. I am aware of a bookem from another forum i post on. You,re not a lawyer, are you...?
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Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Hi, no it must be a coincidence !
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[ Post made via Mobile Device ]
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Hello,
I moved to SE26 three years ago, when I was hugely pregnant. I absolutely love living here, much more than I thought I would. There's plenty of open space for kids, and great facilities around in the local area.
I have to say that I've always felt safe here, although with a small child, I don't go out at night that much. I've lived in London for 15 years, and this is the first place where I know all my neighbours, and have felt a part of a community.
The high street in Sydenham may not look very promising, but there's everything you need and some of the shops are very friendly. And there's lots of great housing stock around. There's also other factors which make it a good place to live, like having a brilliant GP surgery.
So a big thumbs up for Sydders from me, you wouldn't regret it!
Good luck.
I moved to SE26 three years ago, when I was hugely pregnant. I absolutely love living here, much more than I thought I would. There's plenty of open space for kids, and great facilities around in the local area.
I have to say that I've always felt safe here, although with a small child, I don't go out at night that much. I've lived in London for 15 years, and this is the first place where I know all my neighbours, and have felt a part of a community.
The high street in Sydenham may not look very promising, but there's everything you need and some of the shops are very friendly. And there's lots of great housing stock around. There's also other factors which make it a good place to live, like having a brilliant GP surgery.
So a big thumbs up for Sydders from me, you wouldn't regret it!
Good luck.
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Is your second name 'Danno' by any chance, Bookem?
We have been in Sydenham almost 4 years and like it here. There are loads of threads on this very forum similar to yours, it's worth searching for them. I'd recommend it.
We have been in Sydenham almost 4 years and like it here. There are loads of threads on this very forum similar to yours, it's worth searching for them. I'd recommend it.
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Hi Dorino
Thanks very much for your input, very helpful indeed ! We are coming up to Sydenham tomorrow and Thursday to view some properties.
And Leenewham, you got it !
Cheers
Thanks very much for your input, very helpful indeed ! We are coming up to Sydenham tomorrow and Thursday to view some properties.
And Leenewham, you got it !
Cheers
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Hi Dan - and welcome to Sydenham. Not that long ago (11 May) someone posted a thread very similar to your entitled (I think) Thinking of moving to Sydenham... please help in Town Hall - and got numerous replies from all sort of helpful neighbours.
If you trace those messages you will get... well, everything you need to know about our fabulous area.
Good luck
maria
If you trace those messages you will get... well, everything you need to know about our fabulous area.
Good luck
maria
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Thanks Maria, will look it up.
We have just returned from 2 days house hunting in the area. Didn't find anything unfortunately, but will keep searching, as it is definitely the town for us !
We have just returned from 2 days house hunting in the area. Didn't find anything unfortunately, but will keep searching, as it is definitely the town for us !
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Hey Dan
I moved up here over 10 years ago and have spent a good 8 of those in Forest Hill and Sydenham.
As most have pointed out, in London you generally get both good and 'bad' areas right next to eachother. I do find though that this particular part of SE London (Honor Oak Park through to Crystal Palace) has always felt pretty safe to me and is so much better value for money and far greener than most other parts of London.
I see that you've already had a nose around, so to sum up some of the local areas: Lewisham High Street is like being down town, Catford is like Havant, Honor Oak Park is like Baffins or Copnor, Forest Hill is like a small North End (but greener and with the great Horniman Museum!), Crystal Palace is more Palmerston Rd'ish whilst Syd is more like Hilsea but with Kingston/Fratton Rd running through it!
Hope that helps - and good luck with the new job/house hunt!
Gaz
I moved up here over 10 years ago and have spent a good 8 of those in Forest Hill and Sydenham.
As most have pointed out, in London you generally get both good and 'bad' areas right next to eachother. I do find though that this particular part of SE London (Honor Oak Park through to Crystal Palace) has always felt pretty safe to me and is so much better value for money and far greener than most other parts of London.
I see that you've already had a nose around, so to sum up some of the local areas: Lewisham High Street is like being down town, Catford is like Havant, Honor Oak Park is like Baffins or Copnor, Forest Hill is like a small North End (but greener and with the great Horniman Museum!), Crystal Palace is more Palmerston Rd'ish whilst Syd is more like Hilsea but with Kingston/Fratton Rd running through it!
Hope that helps - and good luck with the new job/house hunt!
Gaz
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Hilarious description, coming from near Pompey myself. Very funny.Gaz wrote: I see that you've already had a nose around, so to sum up some of the local areas: Lewisham High Street is like being down town, Catford is like Havant, Honor Oak Park is like Baffins or Copnor, Forest Hill is like a small North End (but greener and with the great Horniman Museum!), Crystal Palace is more Palmerston Rd'ish whilst Syd is more like Hilsea but with Kingston/Fratton Rd running through it!
Do we not have a little bit of Albert Road in Sydenham?
Cheers
G-Man
Re: Relocating to Sydenham
Nah, East Dulwich is Albert Road surely!?