Tell me about St Albans pls? Everything

[RandomCatGenerator]

I know there are location / property parts of the forum but I’d like to know everything please! Including, for example, what childcare and childcare costs are like, what the general vibe is / what people are like, how different parts of St Albans feel, what are the trains REALLY like…etc

Im considering a move from West London to St Albans with DH and DS (18 months). Basically we need more space.

I’ve been to St A a few times and on paper and from brief visits it seems fine - but I’m worried it might be a soulless yet expensive suburban hell.

V grateful for all input :)

Thank you everyone.

I do worry about the lack of diversity. I think it’s a really good thing for my kids to grow up seeing lots of different types of people in every sense, and St Albans does seem very white and middle class and naice.

We are now beginning to look in earnest now though - St Albans it is!

it is a really excellent place to live if you have young children. The state schools are all great. There are really lovely parks and play facilities, lots of playgroups and classes, two museums, theatre etc.

I mostly walk everywhere - we live about 12 mins from the station and 20 from town. but people here drive huge cars and insist on driving them for even short journeys. Which isn’t ideal considering how narrow some of the roads are.

it’s a small city but there are different areas within it. send us links to houses you are looking at and we can tell you about the area/schools! It is pretty white but I think on our small street alone, I can think of people/families from about 12 different countries (so about half the houses on the street), as well as British Asian families. So at least some parts are multicultural!