Melbourne Grove - safe area?

[daveshorty]

Hi all,

My partner and myself are looking to move to East Dulwich for the first time and have been looking at a place on Melbourne Grove (at the end quite near the station). Could anyone advise on whether that area is safe and nice to live in?

Thanks!

[indya]

Yes very nice, super convenient and as safe as anywhere in ED. good luck

[Alex K]

If you have a fondness for right angles, as in new-build rather than hundred-plus-year-old approximative construction, you might consider heading a few steps further away, into the 1990s St Francis estate -- centred on Abbotswood Road, accessible through Edgar Kail Way (think Sainsbo SuperStore).

Whichever way you jump, welcome to the 'hood!

[steveo]

It's gangland down there mate

[rendelharris]

The only thing I'd say against that end of Melbourne Grove is that as it's made very narrow with parking on both sides so it's frequently crammed with stationary traffic, so if noise and pollution bother you that could be a problem. Otherwise, great area and safer than most, in my experience.

[Earl Aelfheah]

steveo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's gangland down there mate

Don't be mean

[Jah Lush]

It's full of thieves, vagabonds and a very persistent and elusive highwayman down there.

[pecksniff]

I'm the dandy highwayman whom you're too scared to mention. I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention. The devil take your stereo and your record collection ( from all the allegedly stationary traffic).

[Robert Poste's Child]

It's safer than it used to be. I have vague memories of it being a mugging hotspot ten plus years ago, and a couple of shootings further up Melbourne Grove, but it's mellowed a lot since then.

[Earl Aelfheah]

It's a safe area. Crime rate is 'average' and has been falling for a number of years. Check out http://maps.met.police.uk/ for details.

[MarkE]

I don't live on MG or any of the adjacent streets, but do walk through it to the station (and back) every day.

The stretch between EDG and the station appears to be nice, quite typical of the sort of street of terraced houses that is common to East Dulwich. The primary differences that make MG stand out, in my view would be:

1) traffic - it's definitely a ratrun at times and can be a pain navigating through. I don't own a car, but if I did would consider this a pain.

2) parking - as per the above, there is a severe lack of it. that said, there's a lot more parking in front yards that have been converted than most streets, perhaps a reaction to the lack of parking itself. That the yards have enough space to park is a plus in my view. Most streets don't.

3) environs - the pavements feel wider than many of the other streets, and the trees (particularly the ones with blossom at the station end) are generally nice

4) safety - I've never felt unsafe walking through there, in the four years that I have

5) businesses - the part of the street beyond the kink definitely invites a different type of visitor to the street (compared with, say, Derwent Grove). More vans etc.

6) public transport - the proximity to the station and also both the 40/185/176 and 37 routes is a major, major plus

I actually think that MG is quite different to most of the residential streets in ED, but still as nice.

[Jeremy]

It's fine. But wear sensible shoes and try to keep reasonably fit. You never know when you might need to break into a prolonged sprint. Try to keep some kind of weapon handy after dark.

[heartblock]

It's safe. I walked that way to work for ten years, sometimes after a few post- work drinks, so late at night in the dark and I never felt at threat from muggers or traffic. The Sardinian restaurant would be an excellent local place to eat and the 'pre-loved' clothes shop is great to browse in.

[JDR]

I'd say very safe but be more aware that there will be a lot of building work on the old hospital site as a new health centre and secondary school to be built....

[minder]

Just to say that bike theft is rife in the area but other than that it's 'safe and nice' to live in!

[Sazzle30]

I lived there - other end to the station and never had any problems, used to walk to and from the station to get to work, frequently after catching the last train home home, drunk without any problems.