Furzedown Post Reply

[Jodie1984]

Have you looked at Streatham? You get more for your buck here too.

Good schools, transport links with three trainstations and buses taking you directly to central London. Lovely open spaces with both Tooting Common and Streatham Common. Lots to do with children, children's centres clubs etc.

According to the Guardian it is becoming a well heeled area!

[SamT]

Hello,

Thanks for the suggestion, yes I have thought of Streatham but I don't know it at all.

I need to investigate as I am not sure which are the good areas schools wise, or not so good areas...?

You have a good point about the train stations.

I will am going to track down that Guardian article!

Thanks again....

[Jodie1984]

Sorry it's the Times not Guardian.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/prop ... 660306.ece

[EatMoreCake]

Hiya,

I live on the Streatham/ furzedown borders and love it. Loads of stuff to do with kids - I have a 20 month old. We're looking to move and want to go deeper into furzedown, regardless of transport links. There are good bus routes down Mitcham lane to tooting in one direction and all the way to Brixton in the other, and the 319 from the other side , tooting bec road goes all the way to sloane sq via northcote rd. it's what you're used to, I suppose, but I didn't expect to live right next to a tube for the £££££.

Good luck! But don't steal all the good houses, cos we want one too!!

X

[venusmum]

Just read all the replies and though somebody may be able to help.

We are currently looking for a 3 bed house around the Furzedown. Ideally walking distance to Streatham Common rail.

We have sold our property and we are ready to go.

We would consider buying privately if anybody wants to save on Estate agent fees and hassle ? !

[Miss_Muppet]

I've lived here for over nine 9 years and couldn't praise the place enough! The posts about a good community feel to this place are all so true!
I also know all my neighbours more than 6 houses each way and opposite, every body keeps an eye out for each other. I've had many a time when different neighbours have knocked on my door to let me know I've left my car headlamps on, window down etc. and I've done the same for others. We're all saying hello to each other old or young. When I need to go away I'm spoilt for choice who to leave the key with but always go reassured that they will come in every day and feed the cat etc.
We even know each others cats!
If there are any suspicious cold callers at anyone's they immediately let the rest of us know.
I don't understand about the transport problems?? only a taxi service could be better than this! what more could you ask for? We have buses coming in from central london and Victoria, tube and train stations nearby, parking is free and not a problem plus the bonus that bus stops etc are not overcrowded so your most likely to get a seat on the buses and tube before you get to the really busy places. Ok we're just missing an airport but would you really Rather have aeroplanes passing over your house every minute?
My older one goes to Graveny and she is doing extremely well and no she wasn't admitted upon the test it was the location. She loves it so much you should see her getting ready early in the mornings and her dismay at the start of holidays. My younger one has to go to Sellincourt because of special needs but that too being a 5 min drive has been and still is a highly regarded school.
There are lovely play centres around here where I take little one to, the one in Graveny also faylands.
The best thing is the peaceful and calm environment which is priceless !

[catty29a]

We moved to furzedown last year fro abbeville road and we love it. As others have said the community is great and the sense of space and size of houses are much greater than in neighbouring areas. Our kids are still at their private school in clapham common - it only takes 10/15mins to drive or you could get the 249 bus straight up to clapham old town. There's also hornsby house just behind chesnut grove which is an exelkent prep and would take you 5 mins to drive to. Nursery wise there is evelina day in seely hall which is supposed to be very good as well as the looking glass. Transport is fine - it's a but daunting at first but it really is only a 15 min walk to tooting bec or you can get the very frequent buses straight down to tooting broadway. Please feel free to pm me if you want anymore info! It really is a great place to live. Cat

[caffres]

Hi There,

It is daunting moving especcially to an area that you are unsure about. We moved to Furzedown almost 2 years ago and haven't looked back. We searhed in Balham, Tooting Bec, had offers on houses that fell through and then finally moved here. It is a wonderful place to live. We moved from Battersea, we atually rented down here first for 2 reasons to see if we liked it and also to put us in a really strong position to buy. Houses don't come up that often and when they do you have to move quickly. Also if you are thinking of moving I would seriosuly do it sooner rather than later as house prices down here are on the move probably because you can get brilliant space for your money. A house came on the market 3 weeks ago with KFH - Gracedale Road, it needed full modernisation and it has sold already. Not sure what it sold for but it was on at £550K everyone thought it would be on the market for ages but it went!

We have 2 children a 3 year old and a 10 month old. Our 3 year old goes to Seeley Hall Nursery which is part of the Eveline Day Group and it is the most fabulous nursery a really loving and caring enviroment. When we moved our little boy from Bridge Lane Nursery Batersea we were gutted but Seely Hall proved a true winner hands down he came on leaps and bounds, cannot recommend it highly enough.

As for schools we were concerned due to the Ofsted rating of both Penwortham and Furzedown but after living here and getting to know a lot of parents whose children go to both schools we have no concerns and are hoping to get our little boy into Penwortham next September, if he doesn't get in there he will probably go to Furzedown you need to go and see them both, but what I will say is all the children that go to both seem to be very well behaved, happy and content little people.

As for other positives, it is really near the common, it is 20 mimute walk to Balham, 15 minute walk to Tooting, the transport isn't amazing but it is not that horrific you can hop on the bus to the tube or you can walk it takes about 15-20 mins from Moyser Road.

The people who live in the area are really lovely, very friendly and everyone kind of looks out for each other which is so refreshing in London. We have made some fantastic new friends here and in such a short time.

I could go on and on but will stop there whatever you decide the best of luck. But Furxedown is a hidden gem and we think it rocks and I am one tough cookie to please

[Streathammum]

Hi

I'd agree with others, Furzedown is great for new mums. We didn't have children when we moved here so had no idea until recently how great it is for babies. It was a pleasant surprise to find loads of baby classes, great childrens centres, friendly local mums and a very handy facebook page. I've been able to walk to everything so havent had to rely on driving. And Tooting Common is fantastic, a real lifesaver.

Bally

[kittags]

We moved to Furzedown, Nimrod Road, when our elder son was 2 weeks old in 2001. We knew nothing about the area, we had the choice of affording Duiwich or Furzedown, the latter one as it saved 30 minutes on the South Circ'. We moved to Wiltshire ten years later having made good friends, seen the area change and more.

Yes, transport is a 15 minute walk away, but how many places except Balham can give you a choice of reaching every mainline station (London Bridge, Victoria and Waterloo) if there's a tube strike. The buses are 249 and I think 319, they are pretty efficient. If you want immediate transport from F'down, then Furzedown Cars only let us down once in ten years!

Furzedown is one of the most amazing communities I have known in my life. Having lived around the world and in country villages, Furzedown IS a village of its own making. There are people who have lived there all their lives and there are those who moved there recently, but all will smile at you as you walk down Moyser Road past Budgens. I admit that I for one was active in the community and prolific on Furzedown.net; it started in 2001 and probably has over 600 regular users.

You have the Festival as Concetta said, there is Sprout which has 'sprouted' from the old vegetable shop. And although it lost the post office a few years ago, there aren't many local areas that can give you everything you need, a hairdresser, a dry cleaner (and good alterations) on your doorstep.

For schools our son went to Furzedown and then on to St Anselms, both of which were fantastic.

Those who live in the hidden gem of Furzedown have a right to be proud. For me the best thing was to look out, towards the South, of the study window in our loft conversion and see fireworks displays across the South of England, you don't realise how high up Furzedown is!

I've attached an article from the Independent some years ago, I was one of the interviewees and I meant every word I said!

Go on, give Furzedown a go, you won't be sorry if you're going to stay in London.

[SamT]

Thanks for all the useful posts.... I am amazed at how informative they all are.

[Concetta]

Hi
to answer your question, we use Tooting Broadway and buses 57 / 127 / 333 / 270 / 44/ 77 and 355 all go from by our house to the Broadway (and we get the bus straight to Southbank too). We live at Southcroft Road side of Furzedown (loads of roads running up from Southcroft).

We used Modern Montessori International nursery on Mitcham Lane and kids were really happy there - now at Furzedown and all good

Hope that helps.

Good luck!!
Concetta

[Dros]

Just wanted to let you know there is another primary school in Furzedown - Eardley which does have a good Ofsted rating. My eldest moved to Graveney from there and in my experience both are fab schools.

Totally agree about village feel in Furzedown. Transport is good i think. Streatham Common is less than 20 mins to Victoria.

[SamT]

Does anyone know which roads in Furzedown have the buses to tooting /streatham on them also is there a bus direct to clapham junction or somewhere in clapham as I think I am going to visit on public transport and see how it goes !

[mumsw16]

The 319 and 249 both go along Tooting Bec Road.

The 319 goes to Clapham Junction via Bellevue Road and Northcote Road and the 249 goes to Clapham Common via Balham......

Hope this helps!