scarlettbanks

Wow - thanks very much rendelharris and Jules-and-Boo. rendelharris - thanks very much for describing the two routes. Do you spend much time on busy streets with this route (buses and trucks etc?), or is most of it small streets, or even better segregated cycle paths? Jules-and-Boo - that's very reassuring to hear the journey isn't too bad. Which overground do you get on? (Denmark Hill, NOrth Dulwich, HOP?). How long does it take you, and are the trains not too crowded? You say 'hop on the tube' at Canada Waters, but I'd heard it's very busy there with long queues etc, and you have to push to get onto a train - is this not true? Thanks again!

Hi everyone, Was hoping for some local advice please. Need to work out where to move, and only a month to decide! I've lived in Shepherds Bush for 6 happy years, but want to move to SE London - partly because my civil service job is relocating to Canary Wharf :( However, I really don't know the area and so any local knowledge would be much much appreciated! Here's a description of my dream location, pretty much in order of importance, and I would be so so grateful if anyone has any suggestions re where we might start looking: - Good state primary and secondary schools. My son will be starting primary school in 2017, hence the urgency to move now! Would very much like an area that has both good primary and secondary, so that kids can stay with peer group when they move to secondary. Also, would like to avoid single sex and religious schools. From what I've found online, it looks like Bessemer Primary and Charter School Secondary (Herne Hill), Haberdashers Aske?s primary and secondary school (Brockley), John Ball Primary and Thomas Tallis secondary (Blackheath), and Rockmount/Paxton and Harris City Academy (Crystal Palace) are schools that might fit these criteria. So Herne Hill, Brockley, Blackheath, and Crystal Palace might be my possible areas... Anyone have any preferances between these schools? Charter School seems possibly the best. Some online say Harris City a bit rough. Difficult to judge on exam results when the pupils who attend are from different backgrounds of course. And can anyone describe the difference between the areas? Herne Hill more hippy, and fun being close to Brixton? Seems appealing to me. Brockley a bit posher and boring, with less greenery, but very pleasant? Blackheath not so good for schools, since locals send them private, and high street has more chains etc, and maybe less of a community feel as a result of bigger high street? Crystal Palace more lively, with more shops/restaurants, and more fun for future teenager, but a bit less 'nice' than the others, including less nice housing? I've deduced all of these sweeping generalisations from Google (haven't had a chance to visit any areas yet!) so please correct my prejudices! - Nice community vibe, with friendly neighbours and community spirit. From what I can see, this probably describes most of SE London, includin the 4 places listed above. Prefer smallish High Streets with lots of independent shops, where you get to know your shopkeepers etc, rather than big high streets with Fat Faces and Giraffes (which seems to be how Blackheath is). - Decent commute to Canary Wharf, if possible. Can take public transport or cycle, or a bit of both. - A local French community would be an added bonus! - We have quite a decent budget, and I think can afford in any of the above areas. Would you say Herne Hill most expensive of the above, or Blackheath or Brockley maybe? Any thoughts on any of the above would be most appreciated! Or if any other areas/schools come to mind. Sorry to ask so many questions, but I'm reaching panic-mode, since have 1-month to find house and move there, before primray school deadlines, and don't know the area at all!

We are planning to move to Herne Hill in the next few months, after 6 enjoyable years in Shepherds Bush. We've got two kids - both under 5. We're moving because our jobs are moving to Canary Wharf in 2017 (civil service relocation). We really like the feel of the area - independent shops, community spirit, nice greenery. Probably the main draw for Herne Hill (over other possibilities like East Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Forest Hill, Brockley, Blackheath) was the possibility of good primary and secondary state schools which are not religious and not single-sex - i.e. we are hoping to move so that we will be in the catchment area of Bessemer and Charter School (i.e. near North Dulwich station). I've been looking online how to commute to Canary Wharf, but some local knowledge would be much appreciated. Seems the best options are: 1. 39 mins from North Dulwich (Southern rail to London Bridge, then Jubilee to Canary Wharf). 2. 29 mins from Denmark Hill (overground to Canada Waters, the Jubilee to Canary Wharf). Or overground to Shadwell then DLR to Canary Wharf, to avoid the crush at Canada Waters (35 mins). Or instead take Southeastern to Lewisham then DLR to Canary Wharf (36 mins). I guess I could walk or cycle to Denmark Hill in the first place 3. 23 mins from Honor Oak Park (again via Canada Waters). I'd have to cycle to HOP. 4. Cycle all the way! Of options 1-3, which is the best? Are they all horrific and sweaty? I need to arrive at Canary Wharf by 8.45 or so. I'm not only interested in speed of journey - also reliability, how pleasant it is, how likely I am to get a seat or be squished like a sardine etc. Is London Bridge or Canada Waters worse for the change to Jubilee? Or is it worth staying on until Shadwell to get DLR instead? (or is that horrible too)? And does anyone have experience cycling this journey? 40 mins or so? Can you go through the Greenwich foot tunnel at 8.30am, or is it pedestrians only? Any thoughts much appreciated! Thanks!