Tooting Bec station on the Northern Line is a 15-minute walk or a short bus journey away Tooting Bec Road has bus lanes and frequent, fast services. Nearby Tooting station on Thameslink serves Streatham, Elephant and Castle, Blackfriars and Kings Cross to the north, and Wimbledon in the other direction Streatham station also offers service to London Bridge Gatwick Airport is 20 miles away. What grade do the state schools earn? Furzedown, Franciscan, Penwortham and Sellincourt primary schools consistently boast above-average results. A lot of people move into the area to try to get their children into the excellent local secondary, Graveney, but many are disappointed. Agent Robin Lewis estimates that property prices in the school catchment areas are at least £50,000 higher than they would be if the schools were less popular - but if the alternative is a fee-paying school, you save on school fees. How are the amenities? Furzedown may have only one pub, but there are good bars and restaurants not far away in Balham and fantastic, cheap Indian restaurants in Tooting. The central road in Furzedown is Moyser Road, which has its own caf?a pretty flower shop, antique shop, two hairdressers, and convenience stores.
The week-long summer festival, this year on 18 to 26 June, has concerts, a parade, sports, quizzes and the usual festival fayre, and is organised by the Furzedown Community Network. Tell me more The network produces a newsletter, organises coffee mornings and other social events and oversees a website ( ), an internet discussion group for locals. The Furzedown Project offers a meeting place, classes, activities and health, and other support for older people. Green areas Furzedown Recreation Ground has a playground, tennis courts and bowling green Tooting Graveney Common is right next to Furzedown.
Across Tooting Bec Road, the much larger Tooting Bec Common has the famous Lido outdoor swimming pool. And one for the pub quiz? Why is Furzedown's one and only pub named the Samuel Johnson? Answer: The writer and critic was a frequent visitor to his close friend, Hester Thrale who, with first husband Henry, lived in Furzedown House. Home London, 020-8769 7900 Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, 020-8767 1400. THE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM Marc Fitzgibbon writes: "I have sold my buy-to-let house in London because my rental income has fallen more than 15 per cent since 2000. Although the capital value has risen by 50 per cent, there now seems little prospect of further increases in sale value so it seems the right time to quit while on top."I would like to use a little of my equity to do something with a higher risk, and a higher profit. I'd like to buy a property for £100,000 to restore, then sell cheaply at auction.
