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Hello from Australia

Author Message
Jwana
Joined 24-11-2006
Posted on Saturday, 25 November, 2006 - 11:04 am:   

Hi there - at the risk of putting people off as being yet another 'colonial' wanting to move to the UK, I just wanted to find out a bit more about the areas in or around Lewisham (SE23 included).

I am planning to re-locate to London in mid-2007 and from my own research (possibly a dangerous course of action!) I am quite taken with the borough of Lewisham although I am aware that there are 'good' and 'not-so-good' areas...so would really appreciate some advice on this.

Initially, we'll be renting & one of my children will need to go to a secondary school. I also would like to know more about the transport links to central London from this area.

Finally, we live in a fairly rough neighbourhood here in Oz (i.e. I wouldn't catch public transport here or walk around after dark) so not looking for a 'perfect' place - just somwhere reasonable to live, with access to things & some sense of community.

Any advice happily received!

Thanks.

Jwana
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Saturday, 25 November, 2006 - 08:51 pm:   

Jwana,

Transport to central London is good.
I usually travel up to Charing Cross from Forest Hill railway station. The train journey takes about 20 minutes. Trains are mormally every 10 minutes. (But this does reduce to every 30 minutes on Sunday.)
Alternatives are the bus 185 to Victoria (approximately every 12 minutes), which takes about an hour. Or I could use the 172, which takes about 50 minutes (according to the timetable).
For advice about a secondary school, we would need to know approximately where you intend to live and whether you have a son or a daughter. also personal preferences of your child might be relevant. But you (obviously) can only get your child into a secondary school when you live here and if there is a vacant place in the school.
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Saturday, 25 November, 2006 - 10:30 pm:   

Jwana,

I catch public transport after dark and walk home in SE23 at night from Forest Hill railway station until midnight.

If you read this forum regularly, you will see that some members talk about UDB (west Forest Hill) and the wrong side of the tracks for east Forest Hill.
But I suspect that property in UDB is more expensive.
Leaf
Joined 05-08-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 07:51 am:   

I am amazed at the lack of response to this thread!

does this prove the theory that members of this forum only like to moan and argue about fh issues?

*I am from sydenham,but i will suggest to you jwana that you google "upmystreet" and look up about forest hill and sydenham,id say go for sydenham! ;o)
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 11:32 am:   

traitor! run him out of town!!

:-)

seriously, this is a great place. Admittedly this forum can sometimes focus on the things that need fixed, but that is also why we get together. That just proves it is a great place to be because we are trying to make a difference.

My family has been here for about 2 years and we have had no trouble. We moved here to get better value for money in the housing, and because it is so well connected transport-wise and because the schools and parks are so close.

Lewisham as a whole is a big place, but you will see on the site that Leaf sugests that there are one or two spots that are really quite nice. The postcode for the best bits will start with SE23

;-)
Leaf
Joined 05-08-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 11:44 am:   

...............or se26 ;o)
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 12:28 pm:   

Leaf, I think you must be lost.

Was it those cold autumnal winds that blew you over in this direction? Or just visiting the wide open parkland in SE23?
Wayfarer
Joined 01-11-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 02:58 pm:   

Jwana,

My wife and I (we both mid-30s) have lived in FH for 5 years, and plan on staying, with our next move being to a larger property within SE23.

As has been commented on, this forum can be quite negative, but on the whole the is a good place to live.

Quick links into London make commuting and socialising very easy. The many local bars cater for all tastes and pockets. In terms of restaurants we certainly lack a good "bistro", but we have some excellent Indian & chinese restaurants, and the gastro pub is pretty good as well. As for the local shops, whilst we lack a "high street" as such, the shops are getting better - It all depends on what you want your local shops to offer.

For a guide on the type of properties available check out findaproperty.com, the prices are a little out of date (maybe add another 5% to that listed), but should give you an idea.

Anyway, hope this helps
Leaf
Joined 05-08-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 04:16 pm:   

"Leaf, I think you must be lost.

Was it those cold autumnal winds that blew you over in this direction? Or just visiting the wide open parkland in SE23?"

Another great example of this 'friendly' forum!

Plenty of parkspace in my neck of the woods actually Rob,its funny because there was never that much distiction between the two places-more as extentions of each other,until of course estate agents made up the rubbish about 'forest hill village' to entice the dulwich wannabes.....

jwana,forest hill has lots of lovely parts as does sydenham,check out that website "upmystreet" it'll give you the low down on both.
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 05:40 pm:   

If you find a road that you like you can find out the price of property recently sold at www.houseprices.co.uk
Leaf
Joined 05-08-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 05:43 pm:   

Rob Winton

apologies for my last post,was being overly sensitive and missed the fact that it was you that had posted prior to me....sorry :-)
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 05:56 pm:   

no problem leafy ol' chap (gal?).

I guess that more smilies might have helped with the attempted ironic tone.

:-)

I agree, however, that we ought to be less sensitive around here and focus on some more positives
Leaf
Joined 05-08-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 28 November, 2006 - 07:58 pm:   

gal ;)
Jwana
Joined 24-11-2006
Posted on Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 - 05:45 am:   

Hi everyone - thanks for ALL your responses - much appreciated! And thanks for the suggestion about Sydenham...I checked it out & it seems quite good...but that may be the wrong thing to say on this forum!

One thing I would like more info on if people have the time/inclination is about the transport link options into central London by train. I've tried to look at the timetables but find them quite confusing & because I'm not totally familiar with London, not sure of the most direct service(s).

Thanks again!

Jwana
Leaf
Joined 05-08-2006
Posted on Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 - 08:36 am:   

Hi Jwana

there are brilliant transport links into central london from both sydenham and forest hill[they are on the same line-one stop apart],i think its about 20 minutes into town? or maybe a couple of minutes less?

direct trains into london bridge from where you can go to most places via tubeline or train.
Fhssecretary
Joined 12-10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 - 09:10 am:   

The fast train from Forest Hill can be as quick as 7 mins into London Bridge. They are normally timetabled to stop at intermediate stations and take 13-15.
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 - 09:45 am:   

Jwana,

if you tell us where you want to go in central London, we can tell you the best/quickest route.
from Forest Hill station you can go to London Bridge, (from there ) to Waterloo East and Charing Cross.
Alternatively, every half hour the train goes (the other way) to Victoria.


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