Luton as an area to move to?

[WoburnSands]

Just weighing up different relocation options...any one got any recommendations as to what kind of a place Luton would to be like to live?

My Dad was once warned off going into a pub in Luton as a guy who worked there said it was rough, had a long at my Dad, and obviously decided he didn't think my Dad would handle it - "I wouldn't go in there, mate"! (or words to that effect) How rude!! But that's just one isolated story..what are the house prices and general areas like?

You'll need to go for some visits op - some of the people on this thread have discounted whole counties as suitable places to live - only you know what environments you enjoy, your budget and the kind of amenities you're after.

One thing that did surprise me about the Beds/Herts/Bucks area actually is how much countryside/greenery there is close to London

You might want to consider Wheathampstead - it's a village with Roman origins south of Luton east of Harpenden and north of St. Albans - more expensive than Luton but not as expensive as Harpenden or St Albans. It's a fairly big village - population 7000 but lovely, lots of greenery/ woods, great pubs, good schools, lots going on and lots of community feel, good schools, nice people and close to Luton airport if you need to get away. We're very happy here. They told us "once you arrive you never want to leave" .... It's true.

I live near it (about half hour away). I would not live there ever. I sometimes use the shopping centre which I actually think has improved massively but I never feel 10@% safe. Some of the surrounding villages are lovely tho so would you be able to afford those? Hitchin is also lovely and not very far from Luton.

Another vote against Luton - firmly car doors locked from the inside territory!
Lots of nicer places in Beds/Herts, and not all as expensive as St Albans and Harpenden.

Beds villages are so much nicer. Don't live far from Luton but, personally, I would not want to live there.

There are some nice smaller towns and villages in the area. And you're right, there's some lovely countryside, particularly around Bedford/MK - although I wouldn't recommend either town itself.

Have you thought about Woburn Sands?

Lots of very lovely villages around Luton.

I've worked in the town lots over the past 20+ years but I'm glad I've never lived there.

That said, it's very vibrant and diverse socially.
Lots of interesting arts/culture etc.

The deprived areas are some of the worst in the country, unfortunately.

I do live in Luton having lived in other places including Cambridgeshire and London. It is diverse, it has many parts, it has houses that range from relatively cheap to ridiculously expensive. What I do know is it has some outstanding schools, excellent transport links and lots of very lovely people. Saying an entire town which is as diverse as Luton is all bad is at best uneducated. There are three huge projects planned which will bring in business, housing and opportunities in and around the town and I think that buying here 'could' prove a real investment in a few years. The villages and towns around are great too - although some have more problems with crime (Dunstable/Houghton Regis) but unfortunately Luton is often the labelled town for that trouble. The book that named it the 'worst town in UK' named Windsor as the second worst, I'd say Liz would deny that. Id say have a good look around and see for yourself, agents will know the right areas for the right audiences. Good Luck OP.

No. No! NO NO NO NO NO ! ( I know Luton pretty well..and am immensely pissed off about having to give my day off this Wednesday coming to go there to a meeting)
It's my worst place
Notorious for crime and animal cruelty /neglect. I work for an animal charity and we are stretched the max by caring for Luton… it's one of the worst in the country (if not the worst) for animal cruelty . We literally can't cope with the amount (we cover South Beds but Luton completely breaks us)
To sum it up..the last time I went to the Arndale, there was a massive STEAMING i.e. fresh, human turd on the stairwell of the carpark. You could say this could happen anywhere..but to me it sums up Luton.. and no, I've not seen it elsewhere.
I live near a lovely village about ten miles away (Bucks, but by the Beds border)

A resident of Luton described it to me as 'a bit of a shithole'
My only personal experience of the town is from travelling through it on a national express, but to be fair it did look a complete shithole 😬

Alltoomuch. Ewwwww

Move 20 minutes away from Luton in the direction of Hitchin. Fab town, great place to live, excellent schools, happy vibe (just voted 9th best place to live in UK) Really nice surrounding villages: St Ippolyts, Gt Wymondley, Ickleford. Some lovely villages near Luton too: Offley, Breachwood Green, Lilley, Kimpton etc. And the countryside around is wondrous. Not sure why anyone would think it isn't. The Barton Hills and Pegsdon hills are stunning and my dog's kennels are in the country beyond Stevenage and it is lush. If it is cheaper you are after there are more economical properties in Little Wymondley and villages near Stevenage. Transport into London for commuters is good too. Plenty of places around Luton that are not as pricey as St Albans but which are genuinely good places to live.

Why are you moving op. I mean wheats your priory. Is it house prices. Rail links Job there?

Ohhhh no no no !
Awful,rough,horrid,depressing place!
I'm not far away but wouldn't live in Luton if you actually paid me to!

Central Bedfordshire villages are a million times nicer. SIL and BIL rent a tiny two bed maisonette near Stockwood Park for £800 which is criminal. It's not even a nice area, IMO.

I agree that Biggleswade will be the place to be soon enough, the investment there is staggering.

Really depends on if you need transport links etc.

Don't discount a whole town just because of the rough parts (or based on a book). Do your research, there are nice areas here. Putteridge, Stopsley, Wigmore etc. Good schools, lots on for families & well funded. As HC said, there are some huge redevelopment projects coming up in Luton, and an investment here now could prove to be a good thing in years to come.
I like it here, bringing up my family here and don't recognise the descriptions I always see come up on threads about Luton. I'm in no way saying it's perfect, some parts are grim, but I've travelled all over the UK and there are places that are much worse.

I lived there for a while. It's horrid. Find somewhere else.

NowFour I lived in Wigmore. Still a shithole.

Wow! Thanks for all the responses. I'm keeping a broad mind - even though Luton for me has got some nice memories with the past - I don't have particular 'priorities' in terms of house prices etc.

Hmm it seems there are more negatives than positives. Maybe I should start trying to speak like Lorraine Chase - maybe it would increase my chances of 'fitting in? ;)

AnnPerkins - yes Woburn Sands is a possible option!!

I'd recommend Barton le clay, Bedford, silsoe is lovely. Anywhere but Luton.

I lived in Luton as a child. I would seriously recommend to you, that you keep well away from the town.

Luton seems to have a benefit culture, lots of racial tensions, paired with a high addiction and crime rate, it's not exactly the place you want to bring kids up.

Also, please note, the guy who told your dad to keep away from the pubs was right, not being funny but the pubs on the estates always had a pretty "rough" reputation. There were pubs in Lewsey Farm, that would be done up, done over, done up, done over, done up, done over until the brewery got fed up and refused to do it any more.

Dallow Road, where many, many of the addicted live. My father lived there for years whilst in the depths of his addiction. Much of the area has been bought by one man, who rents rooms in houses to those on HB. The amount of stuff that goes on down there is crazy.

Marsh Farm, also has a bit of a rep, a few years ago there were armed police on the streets there. My DDs GF works the ambulances in Luzon, I remember him telling me, Marsh Farm was a no go without a police escort some 8 years ago. It was quite common to have all medication stolen from the ambulance and or multiple bricks thrown at them.

Oh I could go on and on about this town. You should visit. Have a look at the Arndale, have a look at the Galaxy...check out the bowling area. That hasn't been touched in 20 odd years since it was first opened.
Check out crime rates.
Look at the school performance stats. Don't think they do too well.

Pissing myself at people suggesting Harpenden as an alternative! Poster wouldn't be asking about Luton if he/she could afford Harpenden.

Off the Dallow road, there are multiple streets where drug dealers walk up and down all day selling drugs. (I have a house there) Much like anywhere, I'd say it's fine once you get home and close your door. Town centre has been done up, it's ok. I'd live near Stockwell or Caddington.

Come Hitchin way! I've just moved to a tiny village outside of Hitchin from St Albans (which is shit now, for the record) and cannot recommend it enough! It's a beautiful area, lovely town centre (how St Albans used to be), and reasonable house prices.

My brother lives in Luton and loves it. I attend uni there...never like going back but it isn't the worst place I've been to.

Come to North Herts...it's lush and green

it's a complete shit hole

I wouldn't live there. It has a lot of problems that the local police force is too small and badly funded to deal with adequately. And I say that as someone who lives in a diverse city not a million miles from there that is known for its pockets of deprivation, but is ultimately a decent place to live. Lots of better places to live in Beds and Cambs with reasonably priced property.