[yackandandah]

hey guys im thinking of getting a flat in willesden green and was wondering if anyone has any info about the area. im really new here so anything would be great. i dont want to move somewhere and then end up hating it.

[Cov]

yackandandah ... I have lived in Willesden Green from March 1999 to middle of 2003 on Griffin Close.

The area is diverse. There are nice corners and shitty ones. The highroad is not nice in my opinion. Many shops have third world country standards and offer overpriced goods.
When I moved to Willesden, there was still Somerfield ... that has now changed to Sainsburys, where it is a pleasure to do your shopping.

Of course there are dozens of Estate Agencies ... and that they're rip off by nature is not only limited to Willesden, that is London wide unfortunately.

My very favourite fast food is Charcoal Grill on 13 Walm Lane ... honestly ! ... I go there for many years, and decpite me living somewhere else now, I sometimes come to Willesden just for this food !!!
The prices are silly cheap !! The food quality is over average !! compared to all places I have tried !! The owner as well as the staff are friendly !! That is something, considering the many shitty places around.

Gladstone Park is nice to have there. In the summer you might be able to meet up with others to play football or bring the children to the playground. Nice nice.

The North West College is another landmark towards Dollis Hill. You can sign up for many different courses - if you have the time for that.

The children of my ex went to Gladstone Primary School nearby.

The Library is together with the ONE STOP SHOP (of borough Brent), a Cinema and a Pub (very expensive but have live music sometimes) under one roof. At the Library you can use a PC for internet for 1 hour a day - if you don't have internet at home.

A few negative memories I have to tell as well. I am a pationate bicycle rider. Unfortunately, since I'm in London, people have stolen 8 !!! bicycles from me. All of them were locked. Some onto a post, other just locked and left infront of a shop. Who would have thought thieves are so ruthless and just carry it away if I'm only in the shop for 10 minutes ??

The last one had a Motorbike Lock which did cost alone £75.- !!! ... and the wheels had extra special locks. But that didn't hinder the thieves to steal everything what might get them a few bucks when selling.
I can't tell you enough to be carefull with that ... in Willesden Green especially !!!

After a few years living there I was looking to buy a flat by myself. I remember to have seen a nice 1 bedroom flat in a semi-detached house in the first floor for £ 150.000.- ... how much do they take these days ?

Anyway, there're worse parts of London for sure, and even if Willesden is not the nicest place, I do like it somehow. Maybe because it was my home once where I thought I live much longer than only a few years, but one day I did split up from my ex and everything went downhill for me.
You know, it is down to personal taste at the end. So you better explore the area by yourself, especially when you're thinking to buy cause that's far more serious than renting. Go and walk around and sniff in every shop to collect impressions. Think that you may live there for a very long time.

I wish you good luck with getting the right deal for a mortgage. However, the time is not the best to buy property in my opinion, anywhere in London. Prices are due to come down in the next 2 to 3 years. The banks are doing everything to keep them artificially high as long as possible. And when the property prices eventually fall, the interest rate will go up.

Let us know how you're deciding and how things developing for you.

[yackandandah]

thanks very much cov. im actually just looking to rent a place. i am here from australia and looking for a 2 bed flat for me and a friend and saw a couple near willesden greem tube for 250pw, which seems to be pretty good from what ive seen so far.

if anyone else has any info id really like to hear it.

thanks again for the reply cov.