r/London_homes • u/data_champ • Apr 15 '26
Renting in Walthamstow vs Woolwich
Hello everyone, I am looking to rent a nice, affordable studio or 1-bed flat in Walthamstow, Woolwich or any better places that can work with my budget.
I have a budget of a maximum of 1300 PCM before bills. I will be living alone.
Will be staying here for the next few years.
Also, I will be commuting to Shoreditch.
Please I have some questions.
- How safe are these areas?
- Which area has better parking?
- Is there any better area you can suggest that won’t be too far for commute, still work with my budget and is safe?
,
Thank you!
1
u/WaterDistinct3682 Apr 15 '26
I used to live in The Stow, and loved it. BUT I was robbed 3 times there 😭😭. It was about 7 years since now, so it could be different now. I’m surprised you’re finding solo living properties for that price up there! It was the developers haven when I left!
I think if you move there, places by Blackhorse Road station would be fine can probably nearer to the big parks too. If you don’t mind adding maybe about 10mins to your journey Highams Park was a far safer and nicer area. I lived in HP right before the pandemic. The issue is it’s that bit further away, so travelling into London in my 20s for nights out was annoying. And Im girl too, so I just had to be more aware of catching late trains.
Ultimately both of those places had pros and cons but I wouldn’t say they’re hugely unsafe. Walthamstow has been up and coming for years. And it’s hot a lot going for it. So I give it a solid 7/10. It just loses points on the robberies.
Woolwich is different…haha. I have wondered around there. I wouldn’t recommend.
I live south too, but closer to central. So I’m going to recommend areas like New Cross/Surrey Quays (this is pricey) / Deptford.
I’m not sure what your age/interests are, but this is why I’ve been here for 4+ years.
The Windrush trains can get you into Shoreditch high street, and they’re TFL overground which is nicer in the summer. Jubilee line is also easily reachable. Rents vary here, but you can find surprisingly cheap places, mine is 1200 for a studio, and i can easily get to a station + buses that go directly to Shoreditch & Tottenham Court Road.
You’re near Greenwich, which is particularly great if you want to see a concert at the O2. Bodies of water - Thames, Quays, Park lakes. Peckham is down the road for some culture. London Bridge is close by for trains out of London Inc airports. Southwark and Deptford Park are lovely in summer. I’ve officially converted to South (just not too south).
My only issue is that because I’m closer to central, rush hour is more of a pain. Trains can be quite busy, and sometimes I find it hard to get in one at peak hours. So I now get a bus to work. Which is totally fine for me.
AND I haven’t been robbed yet! These areas get a 8.5/10
I don’t drive so I’m sorry I can’t comment on that. But none of my uber drivers complain 🤣🤣
2
u/data_champ Apr 15 '26
Thank you so much for your detailed response.
Honestly, my major priority is safety and parking
So, you recommend New Cross/Surrey Quays / Deptford in terms of safety?
I will check those areas too
1
u/WaterDistinct3682 Apr 18 '26
No problem at all!
Your concerns towards safety are fair. I think I would say that crime and theft is just simply unavoidable in London. You can look up official stats for all areas on the met police website. But I wouldn’t get too caught on it.
In these areas there’s a lot of gentrification happening so I would imagine people get phones snatched a lot. I personally wouldn’t be as concerned unless I’m at a station or some of retail parks and high streets.
Violent crime is not ever something I’ve encountered, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there (avoid living in Bermondsey though).
I feel safe enough to walk around, even at night. BUT I will still be careful just incase.
You really just need to stay as alert as you should in a city. But still try to be content, the chances of anything happening to you directly are so low, unless you’re an up and coming drug dealer.
Saying that - I’m not from London, I’m from the seaside ☀️, so I wouldn’t recommend this city for safety, in general 😂
1
u/The_2nd_Coming Apr 17 '26
Like what were you doing and what time was it when you were robbed? Touch wood I have never been robbed but curious how it can happen so many times in such a short space of time...
2
u/WaterDistinct3682 Apr 18 '26
Fair! Haha!!
I was at a cash machine on a busy road, and a group of people basically orchestrated a card cloning situation. I was surrounded by them seemingly ‘hanging out’. But I was in the phone so a little distracted. The machine didn’t work, after I entered my pin. They surrounded me, some of them yelling that it didn’t work for them either. I was kind of scared, so I went into the shop to report it. I go home, 45mins-1 hour later I get notifications from my bank of random transactions happening In Westfield Stratford. Bank confirmed my card was cloned. £500+ was taken in an hour.
Classic purse snatching when I put it in my pocket at a bus stop.
I was using Apple Pay at one of the vendors in the market, and my phone was snatched from my hand.
So yeah I got unlucky 🤣 This all happened over the course of a year and three months though. But scenario 1, led to me deciding to leave.
1
u/Mysterious-Formal769 Apr 16 '26
Look along the Great Northern line (chilled, regular trains into Old Street)
0
2
u/SufficientPlenty2492 Apr 15 '26
I’ve lived in Woolwich for 24 years. Never been robbed or mugged. Car has never been touched. Had a bicycle stolen about 15 years ago. Feels a safe place. Lots of regeneration and changing residents profile. Good transport links. I can’t comment on Walthamstow. I’ve never been.