To be honest, what better way to gauge an area, than post on the local forum and see what sort of replies you get. Needless to say Gabbi has done a runner, and decided on settling in the asylum instead, where at least the residents are on meds to control their extraordinary and eccentric behaviour lol !

I'm sure a visit to the area will come at some point, but nothing wrong with feeling your way around first. Maybe its just not practical to spend half a day in every town you have considered.

I have to chuckle at some of the opposing opinions posted, and some of the more extravagant ones too.

For an area of its size, sliced up with a train line (which apparently there is a right and wrong side to live on) The A205 South Circ, which slices right through the middle of the area, some housing estates, some very old and history filled buildings, a couple of stations, an abundance of schools and convenience stores of all kinds, there sure seem to be some differences within such a small distance.

At the end of the day, there are quiet little leafy streets, main road, wide roads, narrow roads, noisy ones and quiet ones. But to for one second to believe that there is a wild difference in total quality of living within such a small area, is quite frankly madness.

Just my opinion of course, but what would I know, I am in the bottom bracket of almost every measurement on the social judgement scale.

I shall leave you with a somewhat interesting, local info link. And a map to remind a few how small the area is in reality, and just how close by disruption to paradise is.

http://www.postcodearea.co.uk/postaltown...ographics/