Where to live in Herts/Essex?!

[sophiebecky]

Hello,

Need desperate help, going mad with the breadth of options!

• Budget: £450k
• House not flat
• Don't want a village, want a "naice" town or city with a choice of restaurants etc. Good walks nearby.
• Needs to be commutable to North London.

No children yet so not worried about schools.

DP and I liked Berkhamsted when we visited, looking for something with a similar feel. We appreciate that our budget isn't the highest.

Where would you suggest?

Sorry OP, can't help but will follow with interest as we're looking to retire in that area.

Broxbourne?

@DobbleDobble

Broxbourne?

Thank you, what is it like?

I think you'll struggle in Berkhamsted with that budget and to be honest, most of Hemel Hempstead too. I'd look more further east of the county or perhaps further out towards but it depends which part of north London you want for the trains.

I would say Hitchin, Hertford or Ware for naice towns - but I'm not sure what you would get for 450k.

Broxbourne doesn't really have a 'town centre' as such it's more of an area.

Which bit of North London?

I’d recommend Bishops Stortford- trains to Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street. East Herts, on the border with Essex.

You get more for your money housing-wise just up the road in Stansted Mountfitchet but less frequent train connections and fewer in-town facilities.

East Hertfordshire is generally better value than places like Hitchin - we looked at Bishops Stortford and Hitchin a few years ago and the former had better value and more varied housing stock.

Would also recommend Bishops Stortford. People seem to like it and I think the fastest trains to Tottenham Hale are something like 20 minutes.

Hertford is a good suggestion.

I live in Berko. Your budget might just about buy something the Northchurch end of town but then you are further from the station.

Tring might be worth a look if you are prepared to cycle or have a long walk to the station. House prices are much cheaper there because the station is out of town but I have plenty of friends who commute into London from there.

Don’t discount Chesham either. Some parts are a little rough around the edges but the town centre has changed significantly over the last few years. More coffee shops and independent shops appearing daily as people who can’t afford Berko move there. It’s definitely on the up, so much so we are considering buying a rental property there.

You could also get a small house in Amersham (has better train connections than Chesham). You have the benefit of the amenities of the new town and quaintness of the old town. Your money won’t go very far though, probably about Berkhamsted levels.

Oooh yes, Bishops Stortford is good I think. Shops and restaurants, good links to London, pretty good value for money and handy for the airport too if that's important at all!

Ware - on a busy ish road but walkable to town centre and station. London 45 min on train www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78578781#/?channel=RES_BUY

This is walkable to Waltham Abbey but not really to the station www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/115001591#/?channel=RES_BUY nice though!

Walkable to station and 30mins to liverpool street - walkable to pubs and restaurants as well. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/62639796#/?channel=RES_BUY

St Alban's

@Zodlebud

Hertford is a good suggestion.

I live in Berko. Your budget might just about buy something the Northchurch end of town but then you are further from the station.

Tring might be worth a look if you are prepared to cycle or have a long walk to the station. House prices are much cheaper there because the station is out of town but I have plenty of friends who commute into London from there.

Don’t discount Chesham either. Some parts are a little rough around the edges but the town centre has changed significantly over the last few years. More coffee shops and independent shops appearing daily as people who can’t afford Berko move there. It’s definitely on the up, so much so we are considering buying a rental property there.

You could also get a small house in Amersham (has better train connections than Chesham). You have the benefit of the amenities of the new town and quaintness of the old town. Your money won’t go very far though, probably about Berkhamsted levels.

DP and I visited Tring and didn't like it - hardly any restaurants and shops and seemed to be more suited to older people.

Try Saffron Walden

Rickmansworth?

Welwyn Garden City, a couple of years ago it felt that all the restaurants were pizza/pasta chains but there is. Is more variety.

If you're really ok with Essex, what about Chelmsford? Reasonably nice town, lots of restaurants, not too decrepit after Covid, lovely countryside and parks. Train takes about 40 mins into Liverpool St in rush hour.

I grew up in Bishops Stortford and it’s easy for London. Good schools, nice pubs and close to countryside . I left for Uni and met exh in Uni town. All my family still in Stortford and I like it

Saffron Walden is absolutely gorgeous. And, quite surprisingly for somewhere so far out (it's near Cambridge but is in Essex ), it actually on the fast train line into London.

Letchworth is lovely, we moved here for similar reasons. 30-45 min trains to Kings Cross and so much green space and beautiful walks. Look at Norton Common and the Greenway. I’ve searched sold
STC houses as they fly off here but if you’re chain free and registered with agents you can get something decent for your budget.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108101930?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107273717#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112378532#/?channel=RES_BUY

Also looked at Bishop Stortford and liked it but it was a bit far East for us location wise.

Wow, so mainly Hertfordshire recommendations over Essex! Any reason for this?

"Wow, so mainly Hertfordshire recommendations over Essex! Any reason for this?"

Well Herts is always kind of viewed as an extension of London, on the north side. Herts is a stones throw from London. A40,M25. You are never very far from London when you live in Herts.

Essex, well Essex is Essex!

Because it’s quicker transport links to north London - Essex you kinda have to traverse across.

Hitchin, Hertford are both lovely.

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