Tooting Bec Post Reply

[JenPanxhi]

Hi,
We are thinking of moving to Tooting Bec. Can anyone confirm if it's a nice area and up and coming area.

Thanks

Jen

[twomonkeys]

Yes it's a wonderful area and yes it is definitely 'up and coming'!

This thread might help although it's a little outdated as it started in 2012.

http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/mums/view ... ooting+bec

We live here and love it. PM me if you have any questions.

[tooposhtopush]

I think it's so up and coming its been and went!

Tooting has become seriously cool. The foodie stuff going on there has to be seen to be believed with Time Out *today* calling it

"the trendiest village on the Northern Line" (page 54 of the November 18th-24th issue).

It's got the Northern Line but you can actually get a seat, it's got bigger houses with gardens, great schools and some of the best, and I mean BEST restaurants.

Chicken Shop (from Soho House guys), Tota, Mesa, Dosa n Chutney and a million other places.

If I had to whinge I'd say the state schools are yet to follow. I wouldn't worry about that though. There is a very strong precendent which says

1) middle class newly married trendies move in (Clapham in early/mid-nineties, Balham late nineties, Tooting noughties)
2) trendies have kids (Clapham mid nineties, Balham 2000, Tooting about 2010)
3) schools become amazing as middle class trendies *improve* schools with their sharp elbows and pushy parenting (Honeywell/Belleville in late nineties, Balham mid-noughties, Tooting on it's way).

I have asterisked the word improve as many parents would feel that sharp elbows, 4x4's, pushy parents and Dad's yelling "Push Jasper Push" to their floppy haired brood playing rugby on school sports fixtures is not an improvement but you know what I'm getting at.

Joking aside, it's a brilliant place

[papinian]

If I had to whinge I'd say the state schools are yet to follow.

Generally a great post, but I was a bit when I read this.

When it comes to primary schools, I think Tooting is way ahead of Balham:
- Fircroft is rated good by Oftsed and has very good results
- Hillbrook has just been rated outstanding by Ofsted and results are improving
- Franciscan - okay, not much I can say about that
- Two new free schools - Tooting Primary School (run by Graveney) and Rutherford House School (described as Balham but in SW17 so really Balham/Tooting border), both of which are already quite popular (based on admissions distance for 2014 entry)
- Two Ofsted outstanding Catholic primary schools - St Anselm's and St Boniface (Sunday Times last Sunday had St Anselm's in top 150 primary schools in the country (including both state and independent)!)
- Ofsted good Muslim primary school - Gatton.

I don't know the south end of Tooting that well so can't speak to all the schools there, but I think that is a pretty good show compared with a lot of SW London. Of course, you won't find the same parents in Tooting that you'll find Between the Commons. As tooposhtopush says, whether that's a good or a bad thing depends on your perspective.

[JenPanxhi]

Thanks guys. We are moving from Balham to Tooting Bec. We are hoping to get a bigger place.

I told a neighbour of our possible move from Balham to Tooting and she frowned..saying Tooting is not a great. Personally I prefer Tooting Bec.

I just wanted opinions from others.

[Mrs Contractor Mum]

Tooting Bec is less than 10 minutes walk from Balham and depending on who you talk to, half of Balham is within view of Tooting Bec Station anyway.
Tooting Bec isn't yet full of pushy middle class parents as yet; honestly I'd be surprised if it ever did go the way of Northcote Road - I am not going to comment whether this is a good or bad thing. One thing is for sure, there are more pound shops in Balham then there are in Tooting Bec

[LauraBrown]

If we're talking about Tooting schools, both Broadwater and Smallwood should definitely get a mention as fantastic schools.

[Honeybee]

To the OP: I'd say that if your neighbour frowned at the mention of Tooting Bec, it is time to get out of Balham!

Seriously though - I would say that there is a large choice of schools in Tooting Bec (and Broadway). As others have said, there are loads more restaurants, cafes, etc, springing up left right and centre, loads of kids' activities, loads of green space, and what I love about our neighbourhood is that lots of different cultures seem to mingle together, making it a fantastic and interesting place to live.

[falconmum]

Having asked for advice on this site a million times on similar topics, I had to respond.
We have moved recently from Battersea/Clapham to a street between Tooting Bec & Tooting Broadway.
We have gone from a 3 bed leasehold maisonette to a 4 bedroom freehold Victorian house .
Yes, it is not the poshest street, it is not the cleanest street and has a vendor in the beginning of the street and the high street with its busy road is about 10 steps away.
But both my husband and I are convinced that it was the right move.
The foodie scene is great. I could do takeaways for an entire week and not repeat the restaurant .
My son has recently joined toddler rugby on Tooting Bec Common where they also have football on Saturdays.
There are choice of nurseries that start from Fransican Road to Upper Tooting Road (although our son is going to his old nursery for now)
Schools was the biggest reason we made this move and the previous posters have it spot on in terms of the choices that you have for schools. You could aim for Outstanding/ Good schools for all of your 6 options unlike Battersea/Clapham where I was definitely planning to go private .

Hillbrook is a massive school that has recently gone outstanding and has recd. a £6mil grant for expansion .
I have the others on my list to attend open days.

Having only recently moved, I do miss Clapham and the high street . But we are slowly discovering that between Balham , Tooting and Southside , the shopping is totally covered. Hopefully, in a couple of years, the Tooting high street will also be developed . We have also recently been informed about the Cross rail consultations starting which could really have an impact on property prices and the gentrification of the area.
So, in terms of investment , a definite thumbs up.

[catty29a]

We moved to Furzedown just over 2 years ago from Abbeville Road area and whilst it took me a while to settle in down here, I haven't regretted our decision at all. Quite apart from being able to buy a big house and garden for under a million, the neighbourhood is friendly and vibrant. Tooting has become incredibly trendy as others have said - the beards and tattoos are out in force nowadays - which means you're spoilt for choice in terms of places to eat but there's still a genuine community feel and plenty for families and kids to do. I'd take the leap!

[KateHelloMums]

Tooting Bec is great, but I am not sure how much cheaper you will find houses around here - so far all I have seen is above a million!
You won't regret the move though - it is lovely plus you will have both Tooting and Wandsworth Common nearby:)
Kate

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Much of the Heaver Estate is in Tooting Bec - wouldn't mind slumming it in one of those dingy hovels.

Fantastic, huge common.

Fab restaurants, eg, Apollo Banana Leaf, Mirch Masala, Honest Burger. Places like Bodean's and the French Cafe are SW17, so just about in the Bec too.

You might need to walk to Balham/Northcote for your more upmarket wares - though marching through the common to Balham helped me shed a lot of baby weight, so worked out well.

[balhammac]

Have you thought about looking at Streatham? We moved here from Balham four years ago and it was the best move. Lovely big houses, close to the other end of Tooting Bec common, lots of great restaurants. It is really on the up - and you get so much more for your money (although a lot less than you used to)

[firsttimerSW11]

Do you only want to hear the positive? If not, and I'll assume the latter since you asked for opinions, I personally wouldn't live there. The high street is choked with traffic and a bit downmarket in my very humble opinion. I drive through fairly regularly and it always seems a bit grim. But I've only ever lived BTC so what do I know... I'm sure a lot of people in Tooting wouldn't fancy that! All that said, if I buy a rental property anytime soon, I'll absolutely be buying in Tooting, I reckon house price growth there will outpace most of its neighbours over the next few years. So up and coming it certainly is.

[twomonkeys]

I'm not sure the original poster was looking for an opinion of Tooting Bec from someone who "drives through fairly regularly"!

Tooting Bec may well not be as picturesque as BTC, but I can assure you that it is far from 'grim'. As previous posters (who live here!) have said - Tooting Bec is a fantastic place to call home:

Genuinely friendly and interesting neighbours from diverse backgrounds
A large number of excellent local schools that are possible to get in to
Wonderful independent local shops
The ability to park outside your house easily at all times of day
and great transport links.

Tooting rocks!!!!