Family-friendly residential districts in Hamburg

Hi, this has probably been asked many times before...
We are moving to Hamburg in January with two children (3.5 and 6 months) and would appreciate any advice on places to live - in the first place to rent and possibly later to buy. Somewhere affordable with good transport links to the Lokstedt/Eimsbuttel area for work, if that exists.
Thanks

hi Fay,

Hamburg has a pretty good s-bahn, u-bahn & bus network system which will get u into Eimsbüttel.
Eimsbüttel is a great place to live, theres small hidden parks for kids all over the place!

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after renting in Germany for almost 15 years my wife and i bought our own home this year (our baby came in May this year), we looked into buying an apartment in Eimsbüttel... in the end we bought a house in the outskirts of hamburg, why: The price was the same as the apartment in central Eimsbüttel but the house gave us almost 3 times as much living space and a garden! plus theres a "kindergarden & school" within 10 mins.

result is: i travel everyday around 25 km to work(Eimsbüttel) with the car, it´s not so bad!
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HVV-Plan: http://www.hvv.de/pdf/fahrplaene/schnellbahn-regio-plan.pdf
MetroBus Plan: http://www.hvv.de/pdf/fahrplaene/metrobus-plan.pdf
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Volksdorf...very nice but could be pricey

I have a one year old and am renting in Northern Eimsbüttel. I agree that there are parks all over, and we are only one U-bahn stop from the zoo. (The zoo is a bit pricey for one day, so we just got a year pass and go often.) By car, Toys R Us is five minutes--not bad. Let me know if you have more questions!

I'm not sure about the transport links to the places you describe, though the S-Bahn is just down the road from me, so they are probably ok. I live in Wedel since July with 2 young children and I really love it. It's about 17km outside of Hamburg, and very child frienly. THere's even a little beach (really a estuary of the Elbe river) 10 mins walk from the house, with a lovely playground there... it's called the Strandbad.

Good luck with the move, let me know if I can help
Bren

I also lived in Wedel for a couple of years - my girlfriend (now wife) lived several years there whilst she studied etc. Its at the end of the S1 S-Bahn & its a long tedious way into Hamburg. Even worse at the time before we moved together as I lived in Krupunder which meant she had to take S-Bahn into Altona & back out towards Pinneberg. Hamburg S-Bahn & U-Bahn network is basically star-formed with lines radiating out from the centre. Hence if you want to go from the West to the North you generally go via the centre.

When looking for a house (2 room flat rather cramped when child #1 appeared) Wedel was too expensive for us & we ended up on the outskirts of Pinneberg where we have been since 1989.

Thanks for the comments. Wedel and Rissen look good but we're also thinking about the NE side to be closer to the airport. Does anyone know anything about Poppenbuettel, Sasel etc?

We have German friends who live in Sasel but I would not call that close to the airport.

Where I live in Pinneberg its normally 20 - 25 minutes to airport (down the A23, up the A7 & round Ring3 & the airport ring road). Failed week last Saturday when access to A7 was closed and arrived at HAM airport 10 minutes after check-in but still made it onto plane...

Beware the fixed speeding cameras at end of airport road when driving away from airport towards Norderstedt/Ring 3 - they are new.

If you are going to live here long term them think about kitas and schools.
There are big differences in the standards of educational establishments
related to area. (Just like the UK...).
Once this was a taboo subject for Germans, but now the (sad) truth is out.
More and more parents are sending their kids to church or private schools.
Finding the right place to live can save a lot in school fees...

When I first came here my kids were 4, 2 and 5 months. They're now 14, 12 & 10 and I would definitely recommend Wellingsbuettel.

There are several kindergartens and loads of schools all within walking distance, it's got woods without being stuck in the countryside and a S-bahn station 25 minutes from the city centre.

Good luck!

Anywhere on the "S" Bahn north of Ohlsdorf.

Hi Fay,

Where did you choose in the end?

Hi, we have been in Poppenbuettel for almost a month now. There wasn't actually much on offer when we were looking back in October but we're quite happy with it so far. It has also taken more than a month to finally get phone and internet connected at home, which we weren't really prepared for!

Fay

Judging by what some people write you got it connected in double-quick time!

...and you could update your profile with your location

Glad to hear you got somewhere.
Poppenbuettel's nice - I'm just next door in Wellingsbuettel.