SE London Living

[AnythingButVanilla]

I've finally managed to convince the bank that I'm a nice person who deserves a mortgage and they've promised me that they'll give me one, albeit a piddly little sum. I've seen a couple of places online that I sort of like the look of but I've no idea if they're worth considering as most of southeast London is a black hole of nothingness to me; I've only ever lived in Battersea and currently Clapham and, short of my numbers coming up, there's no way I can ever afford to buy here. I'm not fussed about bars and clubs and restaurants and certainly not school catchment areas but I need to have semi decent public transport (I don't drive) and feel safe walking around.

I'm viewing a flat in Eglinton Hill, SE18 on Saturday and possibly one in Broadfield Road, SE6. Mistake?

 

[ianrauk]

SE6 is Catford is it not?
Catford has 2 train stations (Into Cannon Street and Charing Cross). And more bus routes then you can shake a stick at. Both southwards (towards Bromley) and north (towards London)

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

It's definitely Catford and the flat is 0.6 of a mile from Hither Green overground. I'm hearing mixed things about Catford but I think it might be easier for me to get to from there than it would further east. Mind you, my manager and one of my doctors live in Sidcup and Shortlands and they have reasonably easy and short commutes and I'd like to cycle as much as possible rather than being held to ransom by trains.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Eglinton Hill's a bit savage on the bike! But, depending on where the flat is, there's a view over the river and there's a great bit of old tiled shop frontage down at the roundabout at the bottom, also it's not far from bits of greenery - Oxleas wood. Broadfield Road is less interesting from a location point of view - the area's all right-angled roads. But not so much of a hill!

I really don't know much about public transport but neither have a railway station that's only a short walk away so it's probably going to be train, bus, then walk. Broadfield Road would probably be the easier for PT because it's just off the South Circular, which will have good bus connections to the Catford Stations.

 

[Beebo]

Eglington hill is the north face of shooters hill, it is a steep hill that will get your climbing legs going.
It is near woolwich, not the greatest area but shooters hill is ok. Woolwich has good transport links, trains, dlr, riverboat, buses and will soon have cross rail. There is a nice wood and park on the south side of shooters hill

 

[ianrauk]

HIther Green has fast trains into London (London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross and Cannon Street).
Catford is certainly not one of the worst places you could live in SE6. There are some really nice quiet back streets away from the main drag (The A21). And for cycling into London, it's certainly very easy. The A21 will take you to Lewisham (All bus lane).. then on into London either via New Cross (A20/A2) or via Rotherhithe. (A200) Both of which are very popular with cycle commuters.

You also have Ladywell Fields not far and also the Waterlink Way, both of which are lovely to cycle through on a nice spring/summer day.

Going south on the A21 and you are only 6 or 7 miles from Keston and the Kent countryside.

 

[Brains]

I've finally managed to convince the bank that I'm a nice person who deserves a mortgage and they've promised me that they'll give me one, albeit a piddly little sum. I've seen a couple of places online that I sort of like the look of but I've no idea if they're worth considering as most of southeast London is a black hole of nothingness to me; I've only ever lived in Battersea and currently Clapham and, short of my numbers coming up, there's no way I can ever afford to buy here. I'm not fussed about bars and clubs and restaurants and certainly not school catchment areas but I need to have semi decent public transport (I don't drive) and feel safe walking around.

I'm viewing a flat in Eglinton Hill, SE18 on Saturday and possibly one in Broadfield Road, SE6. Mistake?

Shooters Hill is a nice place, however it's a hill, so from a cycling point of view it' a bit of a non starter. It also has zero public transport which is why you get a lot for your money there, its nearly all 1930's semi detached houses with young families. Local school is one of the best in the area (not that you care) but a car is required unless you like hill climbs.

The wilds of Hither Green are nice Victorian 3 bed terraced houses, a bit soulless as nothing is local, it does have the big railway station but not much else.

Given the choice of two identical houses in those locations I'd go for Shooters Hill as its a nice area and the views are great.

However I'm sure you know to go and look and look and look again, narrow down the area, and then ride around and around it on the bike, over a period of several days, see where the transport and schools are, the doctor and the dentist, the local curry and Pub etc etc.
Then think about putting in an offer

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

On the tricky question of local pubs, I think much of Catford was developed by a temperance property developer....

I've cycled around both areas and neither seemed to have any feeling of menace about them.

 

[dellzeqq]

If you're looking around....Gipsy Hill might be ok-ish. The area around the Station and the Paxton pub is nice, and there's a decent route in to the centre of town.

There is a decent bike route in from Greenwich all the way to Tooley Street, which serves both SE18 and SE6.(almost). And east out of town from SE18 isn't bad if you know the way. I do think SE6 is a bit, well, undistinguished though. One street looks the same as the next. Is SE4 that much more expensive?

 

[vickster]

Beckenham too far out? 3 railway stations (one has quick trains to Victoria) and tram link

I grew up around the Bromley area and actually miss it (albeit I am only 15 miles away now)

 

[martint235]

Hither Green south of the railway line used to be a little iffy but I think they've done it up quite a bit since I lived in HG (about 18 years ago). There are very few pubs, the Station springs to mind just up from the north exit from the station.

I'd go for Shooters Hill. It is a hill but you'll get used to it. Great views, couple of decent pubs. Woolwich, Welling, Blackheath and Eltham all within spitting distance.

Beckenham I've wanted to see razed to the ground ever since I was sued by a cyclist from there. Purely irrational but I'd never live there just in case the means to raze it ever fell into my hands.

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

Wow, so many replies and so much to think about, thank you! When I say I have a tiny amount of money I really do mean that (105k to be exact). I can't even afford New Cross or Deptford!

I'm taking everything on board though so do keep all the idea coming!

 

[ianrauk]

Hither Green south of the railway line used to be a little iffy but I think they've done it up quite a bit since I lived in HG (about 18 years ago). There are very few pubs, the Station springs to mind just up from the north exit from the station.

I'd go for Shooters Hill. It is a hill but you'll get used to it. Great views, couple of decent pubs. Woolwich, Welling, Blackheath and Eltham all within spitting distance.

Beckenham I've wanted to see razed to the ground ever since I was sued by a cyclist from there. Purely irrational but I'd never live there just in case the means to raze it ever fell into my hands.

Oi, I was born in Beckenham I have you know.
(beats Martin to the that's another reason to have it razed to the ground thing)

 

[ianrauk]

Wow, so many replies and so much to think about, thank you! When I say I have a tiny amount of money I really do mean that (105k to be exact). I can't even afford New Cross or Deptford!

I'm taking everything on board though so do keep all the idea coming!

I actually work in Deptford (on Greenwich Quay) and over the past 10 years the amount of new builds that has gone up is amazing. It's been totally transformed and more is still to be done. The whole of Deptford High St will be getting a Multimillion pound makeover too.

 

[User482]

I have freinds in Honor Oak which is a nice area. Good independent shops and pubs on the high street into Brockley, plus possibly the world's best off licence. The Horniman museum is nearby, and there's an overground service to London Bridge.

http://www.mrlawrencewinemerchant.co.uk/