Moving to Earlsfield Post Reply

[Jane_B]

Hi there
I'm hoping somebody might be kind enough to give me some insider local info on Earlsfield. We're looking to buy a house in the area between Openview and Swaby Road as it seems like a lovely, quiet residential area. Does anybody have any experience to the contrary or think there are any good or bad points about living there? Any info or advice would be really appreciated!
Thank you,
Jane

[Pc1008]

hi jane
we moved here a year ago from Fulham - we are on Earlsfield Road. We haven't been disappointed.
What we like
- Nice and residential, neighbours seem great
- Garratt Lane has some lovely restaurants and a couple of quirky shops. We like Earlsfield Deli on a weekend morning.
- Commute is great, 15 mins into waterloo with trains every few mins. Not far from Tooting, Southfields or Wimbledon if you want the tube
- Southside not far. Not the nicest shopping centre but has everything you need including a Waitrose (big plus point for me!), Boots, Argos etc.
- 2 good gyms - Nuffield Health and Virgin Active in the area
- A few good option for parks - St Georges, Wimbledon Park and Wandsworth Common
- Plenty not too far away ie wimbledon is 1 stop, southfields is walking distance and tooting for those asian supplies!

We are really happy. Not sure if you have any specific questions but PM me if you do and I am happy to share thoughts!

[Jane_B]

PC1008 - thanks so much for taking the time for such a detailed reply. It's all very useful stuff (and, yes, the Waitrose is definitely a big plus for me too).

I was mainly hoping for reassurance that I'm not making a mistake with Earlsfield. I guess I'm a bit of a cynic, but buying property in London can be such a nightmare, and Earlsfield seems like a lovely area where I can afford a home which makes me worry it's all too good to be true! So it's great to hear so much enthusiasm from a local, and much appreciated.

Jane

[SFMC]

I would echo and agree with everything Pc1008 has said. We moved to Earlsfield almost 2 years ago now and love it. We in fact live just up the hill from where you are looking.
There are also some great primary schools in the area too. I think where you are looking it would be Earlsfield Primary which I heard is a great school (so maybe check out the distances and buy as close to it as you can!).

While transport is great - as only 3 stops to Waterloo, and trains every few minutes trains are very busy in the morning during rush hour. It's usually fine to get on a train (but unlikely any seats!) unless there is a delay then you might wait for second or third train to get in a carriage.

Earlsfield station is the middle of an upgrade, Sainsburys local on Magdalen Rd expanded so while not Waitrose will suffice for a lot of shopping, It's a Kids Thing, several good restaurants, Wandsworth Common just up the hill, easy links to Northcote Rd, Balham, Tooting, Wimbledon but feels very residential. Lots of young families around but I also think the area is also on the up still!

One o'clock club in Garratt Park too! I walk home up Magdalen Road on my own at night. Also happy to answer any questions you may have.
Good luck with house hunting!

[Almaceti]

I've been living in Earlsfield for 3 years and although I agree with most previous positive comments, I would not spend my life here.
a few negatives points to me:
1) parks: I hate King Georges park, just grass full of dogs poo, no nice views. We go to Wandsworth Common or Wimbledon common which are nice but not that close; especially in the winter when you just want the kids to be out for 30-45 min before getting home, it is a bit far to go.Also I dont think the playgrounds are very nice here. we go to one near Earlsfield school or the big one near southside shopping centre; the kids like them but I don't like the surroundings...
2) shopping: I go to southside shopping centre very often for food groceries and it is great you have sainsburys and waitrose; also nice to have agros, boots, waterstones... as someone said previously. However most of the other shops are rubbish, there is no way you can buy a proper pair of shoes for kids here. I go to Northcote Road or King's road.
3) other shops on garratt lane are not great. It lacks of kids clothing (or even adults), things for home... as said before I do my shopping in Clapham or chelsea, which means always take the bus or car...
However it is improving a lot over the years; it is already much better than 3 years ago and I am sure that it will continue... By the way, house prices have increased by 30 to 50% over 2-3 years; I think it is a bit expensive for what it has to offer at the moment, but maybe it is a good time to invest here I don't know...

[darlingmummy]

Hello,

we have been living in Earsfiled for almost four years and we are happier by the day.
we love the villagey atmosphere, being able to have a garden, being close to quite a few parks, supermarkets and the train station is great. you get into Waterloo in 10 minutes and can get to the Westfield in less then half an hour.
in regards to what Almaceti is saying the Southside is about to open a Debenhams and the Sainsburys is going through a massive expansion so it will be a superstore with homewear and clothing.

also there are some good state and independent schools not to mention playgroups for when the children are small.

all in all I would recommend moving here.

[Jane_B]

Again, thanks - it's great to have all this information and some different perspectives too.

As elylon72 says, I had got the impression of Earlsfield as quite villagey. Where we are now feels much more 'urban', with a low-level but constant theme of lurking hoodies, blasting car stereos and neighbour noise, but I haven't noticed any of that when I look around Earlsfield.

House prices do seem to be going a bit crazy (I've noticed them jump even since I first started checking out property before Christmas!) but it does seem the nicest area I've found so far within its price bracket.

[soph]

Hi, in my opinion it makes a big difference which side of earlsfield station you live on. We used to live the wandsworth town side and I agree with the other post that this is the less desirable side and king George's park isn't all that pleasant. However, we now live the other side of the station up towards wand common and this is much more family orientated and feels generally safer. On this side there is the added plus of earlsfield and bp schools. Anyway that is just my view having lived on both sides of earlsfield...

[J-Dad]

I don't know if this is any help but we've just moved to the area between tooting bec and Wandsworth common, just off Beachcroft road. We looked at earlsfield but found it quite expensive. Where we live seems much better value, nearer to Wandsorth common, we have tube (northern line) and main line rail (Wandsworth common to victoria) and within easy reach of earlsfield, balham, Bellevue road, northcote rd and Wimbledon village.

I agree with the earlier post that in earlsfield itself you need to stay south of railway station and ideally in the catchment of bp primary school I.e south east.

You need to bear in mind that the hospital site on burntwood lane will soon be redeveloped too.

[CitySlicker]

Am not a huge fan of Earlsfield. Think Garrett Lane is a bit grotty, the antithesis of villagey imho.
Much prefer Northcote Road. But I guess you get more for your money in Earlsifield.

[shalasz]

We moved to Earlsfield in August 2008 when prices were dropping. Although i was pregnant, we did not think of the schools, which is something i would urge anyone to do now. In the last five years, Earlsfield has developed quite a lot. Garratt Lane is coming along, and the Earlsfield Deli in my opinion has made a big difference. I am really trying to support the local shops so the little high street gets better. The estate agents now say Earlsfield is massively picking up in price as it was undervalued for years, and because of its location it is now attracting exactly those people from Fulham and Putney who search for a house instead of a flat. Our house has increased in value, and hopefully will come along even more. So a good time to buy...

[Helgibbs]

We moved to Earlsfield from Fulham in 2004.
We have one child and live on the Wandsworth side of the station, in a beautiful tree-lined DESIRABLE street! I take offence at those dismissing this side of Earlsfield! Our house has nearly doubled in value(!)

We have been very happy here, and were able to buy a good sized house with a garden, which we did not have in Fulham.

My daughter has gone through Earlsfield Primary and is doing exceptionally well, it is a brilliant school, but I understand that these days you do have to live very close to get in.

I like the local churches, toddler groups, library, shops, restaurants etc, there is a wide choice here.

We walk to wimbledon Park, Garratt Park and King George's Park, and sometimes the one by Wimbledon Park Primary school.

I do a lot of shopping in Southside, and I also hop on the train to Wimbledon for Debenhams and Elys, and a wider range of shops. Also Kingston is not far on the train for John Lewis etc

I am happy here, I know a lot of people, and I feel safe. I dont drive so I use the buses and trains a lot. It is easy to get up into central London wth a child.

X

[Jane_B]

Thanks all. It's particularly good to hear your thoughts about property values in Earlsfield. Shame I missed out on the lower prices a couple of years ago the continuing increase seems like a vote of confidence in the area.

[Spotty26]

I pretty much hold myself responsible for Earlsfield being so desirable, as between 2002 and 2006 I did my best to promote it to anyone who would listen. Back then there was no Carluccios! Then I did rather too much promotion and we were priced out when we came to upscale from a maisonette to a house. We were very happy there and knew it would just keep getting better but the prices are astronomical now!

We moved to Furzedown (at the time also a bit undiscovered being a Tooting address and Streatham postcode) and have never looked back. We do occasionally pop over for dinner at Carluccios or to Its a Kids Thing.

The curse of gentrification hey! The same appears to now be happening in Tooting, as Earlsfield ten years ago. People discover equally lovely but cheaper housing stock one postcode away.