Mellors

Not hugely local (although on the 363 bus) is TNG Youth Centre on Wells Park Rd in Sydenham. It has a climbing wall and great activities for age 8+ after school and during the holidays - all free.

Tooting Bec is probably better for younger children - lots more shade/grass/trees and a paddling pool for small children. I love Brockwell for swimming myself though.

Crystal Palace pool is 50m, and is fast (lots of lanes, not busy). 363 bus from ED. By far the best indoor training pool in the area IMO (although I still prefer Brockwell and Tooting Lidos when its warm enough).

The water play is open at Wells Park in Sydenham

Hi I have ben insuring au pairs on my car insurance for the last few years. Admiral are the only ones that have worked for us. They basically need to be 23+ or its astronomical - mine still went up by over ?1000 and my current au pair is an experienced driver.

Thanks Renata, much appreciated - my kids love it there!

Does anyone know the opening times over Easter please? Thanks

Can I be super nosy (or PM me) and ask what schools you are talking about/where you were offered? I'm in your position next year and wondering how the allocations are going this year.

Au pairs are normally recommended for children of school age as wraparound care, not for small children, and certainly not to be left unsupervised as they have little experience. You really need an experienced nanny/childminder with three kids of that age.

I agree on cycling route choice via the park in the daylight (although you still have to get to the park from wherever you are in ED), but going up/down College Rd every day is knackering for kids with bags, and the road section outside the College at the bottom from the tollgate to the lights is also a bit grim with all the non-looking 4 x 4 drivers. I'm still not sure I fancy mi kids on it without my supervision. Crossing the double roundabout at the top and the CP triangle isn't much fun either. If the kids are at CP Harris then they'll have Anerley Hill to finish them off good and proper at the other end!

On the cycling - until there is a safer way of travelling by bike (and possibly less hilly on the ED - CP run with a full bookbag) I'm not sure that a lot of parents will want their 11 years olds tackling the Lordship Lane - Sydenham Rise - Sydenham Hill carnage on bikes in rush hour. I do it regularly as an adult, and it can be pretty hairy, particularly in poor weather/darkness.

There is a textile recycling bin on Sydenham Hill at the Horniman end, about 200 metres before the entrance to Crescent Wood Rd on the left hand side (as you drive from ED).

I'd have thought that the Business Rate revaluation taking place on 1st April this year will have a massive impact on local independent retailers ability to continue operating, even without rent increases.

They do for primary school, but secondary school varies, and with the exception of a few schools its a lottery near here.

I agree, I've always wondered whey there isn't a better bus link between the two. The train station in CP isn't that near the shops/centre, nor is Gypsy Hill particularly. A bus would be far easier and more frequent (not least given the train issues at the moment). Lots of secondary school children go between the two - most schools aren't allocated on catchment area at that stage, so its very likely that a CP child could be at an ED school, or vice versa.