What’s going for it? You can tell Ormeau Road has changed when a “locally sourced” ramen restaurant opens, selling handmade noodles and a Belfast-by-way-of-Hokkaido flavour fusion. Delicious. Love a ramen, me. And more power to it.

But still. Ormeau is at the early, innocent stages of gentrification, which means nu-ramen bars and coffee can peacefully coexist with credit unions, Oxfams and traditional Irish music spots, and you hope it will be this way for ever, rather than metamorphosing overnight. And maybe it will. The place still has a bit of shab about it, and those with not very long memories will easily remember its pre-post-Troubles history, which still, occasionally, flashes up. The developers, though, have moved in, splurging apartment complexes along the River Lagan, and turning the old Ormeau Bakery buildings into an apartment complex, called, inevitably, The Bakery.

The district has big pulls: the river, the fabulous park, beautiful homes, relative quiet and, most important of all, the ability to walk to Queen’s University, Botanic Avenue and the Lyric theatre without having to dodge the “after-effects” of stag dos and student initiation ceremonies. Long may it be so.

The case against Please don’t change too much, Ormeau – your extraordinary ordinariness is your greatest attribute.

Well connected? Trains: stations at Botanic and Central are walkable. Driving: well, you could. Walking: it’s a half-hour walk to City Hall, 15 mins to Botanic Avenue and Queen’s University. Buses continually ply the main road.

Schools Primaries: Holy Rosary and St Michael’s are “good”, says the Education Training Inspectorate, with Forge integrated “very good”. Secondaries: no current inspection report for St Joseph’s College, but Wellington College has “significant areas for improvement”.

Hang out at… Bia Rebel, where else? Fabulous. Lots of other nice spots, though, like General Merchants. And a shout out, of course, for the regular traditional music sessions at the Errigle Inn.

Where to buy It’s the tree-lined streets of red-brick Victorian townhouses and terraces that are the draw; cheaper than posher Belfast spots, like Malone Road. Around South and North Parade by the Park; Deramore and Haypark Gardens; the dense streets off Haywood Avenue. Much more suburban in Lower Ormeau around Knockbreda Park, with Victorian and 20s/30s semis, and posh nooks like Hampton Park. Detacheds (just a few), around £500,000. Townhouses, £200,000‑£400,000. Semis, £160,000-£260,000. Terraces, £110,000-£200,000. Flats, £110,000+. Rentals: a three-bedroom house, £650-£850pcm.

Bargain of the week Three-bedroom Victorian terrace on Deramore Avenue, needs updating, £149,950, with hamptonestates.co.uk.

From the streets

Trisha Eaton ‘Root and Branch for fab coffee, Kaffe O for a Scandi feel, Soul Food for lovely lunch.’

David Barker ‘Bread and Banjo for fantastic sourdough.’

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Do you live in Croydon, south London? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, email lets.move@theguardian.com by Tuesday 10 September.