Thread: Northwood?

Hi all,

Firstly, apologies if this is in the wrong section, it's not really High Wycombe but it is London so I'm not really sure where I'm meant to post.

I was just wondering if anyone could give me any info on Northwood as there's a good chance we could be posted there. Quarters, area, childcare (the nursery looks quite nice but our LO is only 1 so I probably couldn't tell a good one from a bad one anyway!) etc. Anything really.

Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks

Hi AllTiedUp

My ex was at Northwood PJHQ before I knew him, so I have been driven round it but don't know it really well.

However, there seems to be a lot of handy stuff in this booklet (I think that the HIVE should have this in hard copy for you):

NorthLondon Service Community Official Guide

The HIVE would be a good contact point anyway:

Ministry of Defence | Defence For... | The Service Community | HIVE Information Service | London | Northwood HIVE

Bits and pieces on the MoD page:

Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Doctrine Operations and Diplomacy | PJHQ | Northwood Headquarters

I liked the look of the area as we drove around - it's pretty green and leafy for London.

Thanks soleil! I've had a little look on those links and had found a couple about daycare, nurseries etc previously.

But green and leafy is brilliant. I'd be very sad to be stuck in a really urban area as I'm a bit of a country girl at heart.

Thanks so much for replying

If you are given an address at Northwood please have a look at it even if it only through the window, there is a big problem with damp and subsidence there! DE are not very helpful in that sort of matter and are "too busy" to allow you to visit the house with the keys! Some people have had to be reallocated days before arrival and whilst schools are not an issue for you the childcare might be! A lot of folk at Northwood are housed in Bushey, Bushey Heath and Stanmore. The houses whilst a little un-cared for are generally better at these locations. Hope that helps.

Argh, there's no way I'll be able to have a look before we move there I'm afraid, we'll just have to chance it. Maybe I can ask a friend to go round or something.

I know there are patches nearby (presumably Bushey, Bushey Heath and Stanmore) but is there a patch in Northwood itself (all my googlings so far have been going from the tube station )?

Thanks for your help Welsh x

I know this post is a bit old, but I'm new on here! I'm a newly married RAF wife and just moved to our quarter at Northwood.... its lovely!
I'd seen a lot of worrying comments about the state of the houses, but our house had been newly painted, new carpets laid and new cooker installed just prior to us moving in. We only have 2 bedrooms, but its a lovely roomy house.

If you're looking for the area the quarters are in - its HA6 3LP.

I love the area, its really nice, lots of handy shops nearby. The tube is only a 15 minute walk away.. its on the metropolitan line, and you can be in Baker Street Station in 30 mins on the the tube!

I hope this helps!

This is our quarter in Northwood.... on Sirius Road.







xxx

Giving this a *bump* just in case there is anyone new to Northwood area... Would be nice to catch up with any newbie's to the area! X

Hubby got a choice of MOD or Northwood for his next job. Any info on Roads for any of the patches that are near Northwood would be much appreciated, we entitled to a Type IV (4-bed officer) (although last time we were knocked back to a Type V Special as we've only got one child). I've heard lots of horror stories, damaged, boarded up, Ickenham should be avoided, crime in Stanmore etc Its all a bit of a nightmare.

We kind of need some info so we can make an informed decision on the best way ahead for us so also thought we would drive up & have a good look around.

Many Thanks.

Hi there Scarlett... I'm at Northwood with hubby and I love the area, and I think we've been very lucky with our quarter, they seem to look after them here!

My hubby is an NCO, so we're on a diff street to the officer housing, but we are on Sirius road (just south of Northwood camp) our postcode is HA6 3LP... If you look on a map the officers quarters are just around the corner on Grosvenor Rd and Avior Drive (just west of camp)... All housing is outside the wire.

Pics of our quarter are above, if you'd lie any more info, just ask! :-) xx

Thanks for replying so quickly. I've just been having a nosey on Google earth at Bushey and Northwood. The houses look similar to the one we are in now. I have been based at Northwood before....mind you it was in the 90's & I was 21 at the time so it was party time in the city!

Nice to hear the quarters are well looked after. The houses on our patch in Portsmouth are not! Just worried about yet another crappy house with a bit of crime thrown in for good measure!

Aaah IO hope you get sorted soon... This is my first experience of being in quarters, but I have to say... not half as bad as I'd feared (or as bad as some MQ's of friends i've been in before!!!) x

I''m just about to move down to Northwood and I've been reading through all of you comments.
What is northwood area like? Are there many play groups etc for young kiddies. Also, does anyone know any good childminders?

xxx

Hi DPRD, I'm so excited at the prospect of a new neighbour!! I love the area, as it's great for London, but also really handy for some lovely countryside around about!!

Northwood itself is really nice and has all the necessities... I don't have kids myself, but I can tell you that there is a nursery on camp, and also a few other commercial nurseries around about... The hive may be able to help you out with that!

I hope this helps... When do you move? Xx

Hi Bonfire,

Sorry for the late reply. Life is pretty busy around here so I rarely get onto my laptop.

I move there in late July and I have just been allocated a quarter which I have been to look at and it is awful The rest of the street is lovely apart from two awful (prefab looking) houses, one of which is the one I have been allocated. Because I have to move in July they housing people have said this is my only choice Feeling a bit fed up but apart from that I am looking forward to all of the lovely things the area has to offer.

xxx

Oh no, I'm sorry you're not happy with your quarter. Have you been in to look at the inside, maybe you can make it home if you can't get it changed. Is it at Northwood?

It's frustrating as they tend to say that Northwood is difficult to get houses at... Although there are always empty houses on our street.... Our new next door neighbour had to commute for her first 2 months from Hampshire while she was waiting to be allocated a quarter... Though its been empty for almost a year!! Our neighbours on the other side moved away last month... So I wonder how long it will take for them to turn that one round!

If you want to meet and have a show round once your settled give me a shout... Hubby is going on 6-month detachment in August do I'll have plenty of time on my hands x

Bonfire,
Thank you I start back at work in August but I will make time
We have been allocated one in Stanmore. I did put Northwood as my first choice however they have given us the most awful house, which to be honest I agree with you, I could make it into a home but in the back garden there is a sub power station/plant? thing out there with huge signs saying 'Danger of Death' and I have two small children. One who is 2 and the other is 5 months old.

I'm still excited but very nervous about turning down this property as I don't want one which is worse but it has to be the safety of my boys.

It is frustrating how long they leave houses empty for isn't it.

How long have you been at Northwood?

OMG... no-one wants "Danger of Death"in their back garden!! I don't blame you for wanting to change...
I know that there are definitely 2 bedroom MQ's available at Northwood... but I'm not sure about larger houses... Its gotta be worth trying for tho... good luck! Like you say, the safety of your boys has to come first.

So are you going to be working on camp, or is just your other half that is forces? (I'm a civvy wife and have the luxury of working from home which is great!)

We got the keys to our quarter last January (2011) and hubby moved in then... I stayed back in Lincoln until August as I was waiting for redundancy at my old job - so I've been down here full-time since August... Its flown by, but starting to feel like home now! x

I'm glad its not just me being fussy I spoke to the housing people today who weren't very sympathetic but like you say safety first.
Just got to try and keep a positive mind now until we hear something. Eiikkk.

I'm in the forces and my husband works from home so I know your situation We are just the opposite way around to you. I would much rather work from home though. My hubbie gets to choose his own hours which I'm always quite envious of.

It must have been hard having to live apart for that amount of time.

Aha! I see! Yes, choosing your own hours and having the flexibility to work at home is a major perk... I would struggle with a daily commute now I think!...

I really think you should try and get something else if its possible.... Definitely safety first!

Yeah the distance wasn't ideal... But we did it for 2.5 years in all... From hubby being posted, we intended to both move as soon as we were married in November 2010, but then the opportunity of redundancy came up for me which seemed silly not to hang around for!!! It took some adjusting learning to live together again full time, but I now can't even imagine living apart (which I'll have to face pretty soon!)

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