Advice on London neighborhoods for a young US family

I live in Dagenham now (in the east, technically Essex but still on the London Underground). Schools here are quite good - people move here just for the schools. A couple stops farther east in Hornchuch has even more of a suburban feel - a bit of a richer area - with FANTASTIC schools. (I don't know about playcenters though.)

However, living in the east crime tends to be a bit higher. This feels like heaven to me, because we were basically living in the ghetto when I first moved here, but it is still much more dangerous than where I lived in the states. Still, steer clear of East London, unless you're going to move a bit farther out of the city. I wouldn't recommend raising a child there.

If you have a higher budget, Northwest London is very nice. I'm about to start teaching at a school in Hampstead Heath and I am still just amazed at the area. It is so lovely, and also with really great schools. But this is quite a bit more affluent than where I'm from.

I can't speak for any other areas of London, but I hope that helps a bit.

Dagenham schools are good?  You sure?  Dagenham I always thought was the armpit of Essex/East London and that the schools were the same way.

Dagenham schools are good?  You sure?  Dagenham I always thought was the armpit of Essex/East London and that the schools were the same way.

Well, first, I live there. So thanks.

And second, yes the schools I have been to in Dagenham are much better than most London schools I've subbed in.

Dagenham schools are good?  You sure?  Dagenham I always thought was the armpit of Essex/East London and that the schools were the same way.

That's not very nice. You suggested Hackney, which, while not as bad as it once was, is hardly on most people's wish lists. Let's stick to helping the OP instead of insulting other people's living choices ok?

The OP may find it helpful to have a look at a site like upmystreet which gives lost of good information about different areas on amenities, schools, transport links etc.

Personally, I would look for areas on the tube/DLR rather than the train services into London Bridge (I really didn't enjoy commuting by train from southeast london, just my two cents). There are indeed some really nice areas not far from Tower Bridge along the river, like Limehouse. I also think Canary Wharf/Docklands might be too sterile, coming from Chicago.

Don't forget the south side of the river! There are some really nice parts of Borough/Southwark that you may be able to afford and your husband could probably walk to work, and you could walk nearly anywhere. This is one of the oldest parts of the city and might be more appealing than some of the rejuvenated areas east of Tower Hill.

Bottom line, it's hard to recommend areas of London because the city is so huge and each neighbourhood varies so much even within itself... and as you see, people have very strong opinions about where they live! I really recommend checking out places for yourself and not relying on reputations, if you can -- I always hear my neighbourhood is super dodgy (it's really not) and I've been surprised to see that areas I always heard were really nice didn't seem that great to me, or seemed kind of boring (I'm from NY/DC).

If you can get a temporary flat for like two or three months while you're looking for something more permanent, that would probably be ideal, so you can see things for yourselves...

you should check out wapping, staying on wapping high street which is on the river.   we have lived here off and on for 6 years, and it is very family oriented.  good transport (tube is currently closed till summer, but bus service is good), nice restaurants, butcher, waitrose, and a close walk for your DH.  there are lots of families here, a good sports centre with play times, and 2 nice parks for young kids.

Well, I'll interject... with your budget you have so much choice! Oh my god, if I had that much money to spend on rent I'd have such a better time here- I have a really nice little house but my neighborhood is so dreary. (Walworth. Avoid.) I think if you have a kid think about neighborhoods and flats near parks. Which is pretty much everywhere... St. Katharine's Docks and Wapping are great advice. St. K is right near Waitrose. It is really beautiful there. And like someone said try SE1 and find something nice. I love that park right under Tower Bridge. I love old parts of London but if I were you I might look at some of these trendy condo places around there. Victorian conversions are often pretty ratty and some of these wharfy Docklands Thames canal places look so cool.

I would LOVE to have 350-400 wk to spend on a place, OMG. I would think you will have plenty of options for you and your family. Good luck!

I would LOVE to have 350-400 wk to spend on a place, OMG. I would think you will have plenty of options for you and your family. Good luck!

Yeah, I definitely agree - I'm going to be looking for a place to live in Exeter (south west England) starting in April and my budget will be about £350 per month!! With £350-400 per week, your monthly housing budget is almost double my monthly salary !

Agree that St. Katherine's dock and Wapping are great choices.

St. Katherine's is lovely.  I can't swing it, but oh, so pretty. 

I live in Fulham right now, and it seems to be a ton of young families live around me (the park I run in has a lot of kids paying football/soccer games and stuff) and good restaurants, shops, located nearby.  The commute would be longer (on the district line, I'd say 25 minutes?) but no transfers or anything like that, so not too taxing. 

Wow!!!  Thank you, thank you!  This information is so valuable!  I have been checking out the neighborhoods you've recommended and they are beautiful!  It is quite overwhelming at the moment so I'm hoping we have a firmer grasp on things with our visit to London Feb 17th-21st.  Hoping the relo agent will be helpful, too?? 

Again, thanks so, so much!  I will continue to check in on here and report my findings after our trip.  Things will be moving fast after that since we are on a March 31st timeline for the move...  We have a couple from London (works for the same company as my husband) that will be renting our condo in Chicago, so that is very helpful!  Wish we could do a swap but they live out in Reading. 

There are fast commuter trains into central London from Reading, about 20 mins to Paddington. Reading isn't that great of a town but it has good shopping & amenities & it's close to lots of countryside.

Also, thanks for mentioning upmystreet.com  Very helpful!  

There are fast commuter trains into central London from Reading, about 20 mins to Paddington. Reading isn't that great of a town but it has good shopping & amenities & it's close to lots of countryside.

Purely anecdotal, but on the other hand, I have a friend who moved from Chicago to Reading and she's been in tears ever since! She really, really hates it. If you don't have to live there for financial or location reasons, it would be a shame to set down there when you could be in a really nice part of London, given your budget...