Postby Mrs Contractor Mum » Wed May 02, 2012 10:27 am
I'm a big fan of Tooting Bec and it seems to be becoming more family orientated all the time. You have a huge common with a great playground and if summer ever makes an appearance, the Lido is great fun. In terms of cafe culture, Ritherdon Road has Dee Lite bakery, the French Cafe, Locale and round the corner there is the big Bertie Boo cafe and soft play area.
Maintained schools seem to be a bit hit and miss but my son isn't school age yet and things may improve over the next few years. If you are catholic and don't mind attending church every sunday over the next three years, you may get into St Anselms which is a brilliant school. We are almost across the road from it but not being catholic, we won't bother applying. For private schools you have Eveline day school, Bertrum and Finton house all in easy walking distance and for primary maintained schools, depending where you move there is Fircroft, Hillbrook, and Ravenstone (nearer to Balham I think). Apparently, the old youth court may become an academy primary school too. Apart from Graveney School, I wouldn't rate the secondary schools in the near vicinity.
Transport is good and in rush hour you can still get on to the tube at Tooting Bec plus Wandsworth Common and Balham overground are in easy walking distance. Buses take you to Sloane Square, Elephant and Castle, Brixton and Wimbledon. The thing about most of these areas is in reality, you are never far from anywhere else so Northcote Road, Clapham etc are fairly easy to get to. Have a look at the properties and have a walk/ coffee in the area to get a feel.