Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

St.Albans and Surroundings?

53 replies

blahblah234432p2 · 12/10/2023 15:28

Hello!
I am currently 25 weeks pregnant and looking to move. I am originally from St.Albans and hoping to move back to be slower to home.

All I can say, this just seems impossible. My husband and I are high earners and have lots of savings. We have no support or family money. I am finding it nigh on impossible to find a house.

The challenge I have is, we are looking to find a 3-4 bed house, big garden, nice area near good schools and education. Those requirements just seem, HARD. Although I grew up in St.A, I haven't lived there since I was 17 and really struggling to understand schools and where is good/bad as I know some areas change drastically.

We are viewing places in Bricket Wood (no idea how schools and catchments are there), Hemel (All I know, is they have bad schools?), Harpenden (good schools, but cheap places just not nice areas otherwise just crazy).

There are affordable places in New Greens. I went to school there and honestly, I only have memories of it being dodgy at heck. Is this right?

Cottonmill, good location but I know radius to get in schools is bad especially seocndary.

Any help or guidance on areas/schools/reps would be appreciated.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Cherrysoup · 12/10/2023 15:34

North Watford is literally next door to Bricket Wood, more value for money, catchment area for Parmiters, St Michaels, although both are bloody tricky to get into. Which schools are you considering in St Albans? I’d avoid one starting V for boys like the plague.

monpetitlapin · 12/10/2023 15:34

We were in the same boat. We thought we'd found something in Berkhamsted but it's fallen through as it turned out it was unmortgageable. I'm sorry to say we've given up and are moving away as soon as we can sort out work, schools and a house purchase. Housing in Hertfordshire is a total joke, even in areas like Hemel because there are just so many people who buy here to commute into London, and those people don't necessarily need functioning amenities like schools or shops.

What's your budget? Would you go as far out as Dunstable or Leighton Buzzard? We can't due to DH's work, but they're good options for people who can.

Tinklyheadtilt · 12/10/2023 16:06

St Albans is massively overpriced. I would look at Hitchin or Welwyn Garden City where houses are much more affordable and areas are decent.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2nd trimester General pregnancy
Moodwill · 12/10/2023 20:06

Cottonmill has great primaries (Mandeville and St Adrians) but secondary is Marlborough which is quite rough. If you live at the town end of Cottonmill you can get in Samuel Ryder though which is a brilliant over subscribed school now.

New Greens is actually fine these days, but Townsend probably St Albans' weakest school. STAGS is great though if you have a girl.

You could also apply to Verulam (boys) in their lottery, or Loretto (girls) if you're catholic.

Bunnycat101 · 12/10/2023 20:17

I gave up and looked at other counties. I couldn’t get what I wanted in St Albans.

snazzychair · 12/10/2023 20:19

How about Hitchin or near there to get into Hitchin Boys/Girls school?

Original poster
blahblah234432p2 · 12/10/2023 20:48

Yeah I have gone as far as Berko yet. So we are looking at max 650k which some estate agents just laugh at. Especially as we just want more space and SO many have tiny box rooms or tiny square gardens. Half the reason we want to move is to be closer to family, in St.Albans. If we move that far away, we'll be far as we are currently so pointless moving!

Its actually super complicated :(

OP posts:
Original poster
blahblah234432p2 · 12/10/2023 20:50

monpetitlapin · 12/10/2023 15:34

We were in the same boat. We thought we'd found something in Berkhamsted but it's fallen through as it turned out it was unmortgageable. I'm sorry to say we've given up and are moving away as soon as we can sort out work, schools and a house purchase. Housing in Hertfordshire is a total joke, even in areas like Hemel because there are just so many people who buy here to commute into London, and those people don't necessarily need functioning amenities like schools or shops.

What's your budget? Would you go as far out as Dunstable or Leighton Buzzard? We can't due to DH's work, but they're good options for people who can.

Edited

Yeah I have gone as far as Berko yet. So we are looking at max 650k which some estate agents just laugh at. Especially as we just want more space and SO many have tiny box rooms or tiny square gardens. Half the reason we want to move is to be closer to family, in St.Albans. If we move that far away, we'll be far as we are currently so pointless moving!

Its actually super complicated :(

OP posts:
Original poster
blahblah234432p2 · 12/10/2023 20:51

Moodwill · 12/10/2023 20:06

Cottonmill has great primaries (Mandeville and St Adrians) but secondary is Marlborough which is quite rough. If you live at the town end of Cottonmill you can get in Samuel Ryder though which is a brilliant over subscribed school now.

New Greens is actually fine these days, but Townsend probably St Albans' weakest school. STAGS is great though if you have a girl.

You could also apply to Verulam (boys) in their lottery, or Loretto (girls) if you're catholic.

Yeah I went to Townsend. We viewed around New Greens today and honestly it just doesn't seem like it has improved since I went there!

OP posts:
Original poster
blahblah234432p2 · 12/10/2023 20:53

Cherrysoup · 12/10/2023 15:34

North Watford is literally next door to Bricket Wood, more value for money, catchment area for Parmiters, St Michaels, although both are bloody tricky to get into. Which schools are you considering in St Albans? I’d avoid one starting V for boys like the plague.

Are they hard to get into? I have literally no clue about schools or anything like that whatsoever (obviously pregnant with my first). A house we look at was really nice tonight in Bricket Wood, but a challenge to think over 10 years ahead!

OP posts:
BibbleandSqwauk · 12/10/2023 20:54

Crazy though it sounds, no, you won't get much for 650k, certainly not 4 beds and a large garden, you'd be looking at twice that. I second Hitchin, Welwyn, some of the villages. In the villages, though you may not have a huge garden you'll be surrounded by open space, nice village schools with "everyone knows everyone" type feel. Depends if you like that. Letchworth and Baldock maybe also worth a look.

Parker231 · 12/10/2023 20:58

Two sets of friends have moved to that area from London - one to Shenley and the other to Radlett. They have been impressed with the schools but no idea of house prices.

tunapokebowl · 12/10/2023 21:21

We have a similar budget and similar requirements, St A isn't even an option.

We moved to Welwyn as much more affordable, but 4 bed and a decent garden still challenging for that price in nicer parts of WGC.

Cherrysoup · 12/10/2023 21:29

blahblah234432p2 · 12/10/2023 20:53

Are they hard to get into? I have literally no clue about schools or anything like that whatsoever (obviously pregnant with my first). A house we look at was really nice tonight in Bricket Wood, but a challenge to think over 10 years ahead!

Show quote history

Parmiters is selective, St Michael's is catholic. Even my church attending friend didn't get her son in.

Totalwasteofpaper · 12/10/2023 21:41

Radlett and harpenden are generally £££...

I agree Welwyn garden city is a good shout.
I would also go closer to London. Potters bar and high Barnet are the same price / cheaper than st Alban's especially when you look at monthly costs for mortgage and monthly commute. We just couldn't make st Alban's stack up. Also the traffic is a nightmare.

I would see if you could stretch your budget at all. £700-725k would give you a lot more in terms of options

Saxendi · 12/10/2023 21:53

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139064264

Would need updating;near popular schools

Sharletonz · 12/10/2023 22:04

Have you considered Harpenden?

SmithfamilyRobinson · 12/10/2023 22:25

You might be lucky with Bushey for that budget. About 25 mins drive to St Albans but not feasible if you were relying on family for childcare due to the traffic. Quicker and cheaper commute to London. Compact, lots of good schools and secondaries, childminders and a nursery. Nice Park & library. We've been here 24 years and also started looking in St Albans.

Riverlee · 13/10/2023 03:00

Sharletonz · 12/10/2023 22:04

Have you considered Harpenden?

Too Expensive.

BibbleandSqwauk · 13/10/2023 07:11

If you go into Beds you're risking some of the schools in Luton which are not good. Wheathamsptead or Sandridge / Smallford might be doable but YY to the traffic. It is truly awful.

AmyJohnsonsplane · 13/10/2023 07:16

BibbleandSqwauk · 13/10/2023 07:11

If you go into Beds you're risking some of the schools in Luton which are not good. Wheathamsptead or Sandridge / Smallford might be doable but YY to the traffic. It is truly awful.

Bedfordshire is much bigger than just Luton....in the example above shefford is 20 mins away from hitchin.....and there is no "danger" kids going to school in Luton

HAF1119 · 13/10/2023 07:28

Have you looked at some of the AL postcode villages?

Redbourn, Markyate, Flamstead - they have their own primary schools which are good schools, and in catchment for secondary school in harpenden (they are good schools)

You can get a lot more for your money

On the other side there is Wheathampstead and Kimpton but I'm not sure what catchment they put you in for secondary

Swipe left for the next trending thread