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?

The cops in Luton didn't choose to allow filming, decision was made from 'on high'. The cash for crash is well known, we were talking to someone hundreds of miles away about it last week!

Stevenage is where multiple police officers who work further south live, probably due to being priced out of other areas plus they wouldn't want to live near people they're dealing with, obviously. There's a particular area where they seem to congregate.

I haven't been to Luton but I once spent a day with a colleague who's from Luton and we went to a meeting in Oldham. I centrally locked all my car doors as it's rough round there and he said that Luton was worse 😮

Yeah I know the officer didn't get a say shizzle I meant why did the decision makers allow it. It's made their town look bad

I currently live in Harpenden having lived most of my 47 years in Welwyn Garden city (totally disagree it's ugly btw...it's a very pretty Garden city) Luton is and has been for as long as I can remember a god forsaken place. It has a serious crime problem and undercurrent of racial tension that is palpable 😟 Before I get people commenting that as Harpenden is naice how would I know the area I lived in WGC was rough (4 murders within 1/2 a mile in the 17 years we lived in our house!) I avoid shopping in Luton as it's just incredibly depressing and has a dirty grubby air about it. I personally don't know of anyone who would choose to live there and that's why the house prices are so reasonable for a place so close to London.

If your thinking of buying (rather than renting) I would suggest Hemel Hempstead or Stevenage well before Luton. Villages and towns North of Stevenge are even more affordable and still commutable.
As for Harpenden it's a lovely place to live we live with my father in law (who's 90) in the family home of nearly 45 years. We could never afford to buy here......put it this way for those who don't know we have a Waitrose Marks & Spencer's food and Sainsburys for food and that's it......we have prestige parking at the station (baby blue Ferrari!!) More fee paying schools than State run....you get the idea?
Anyway avoide Luton nod feel free to PM if you want to know more about other places locally

Thanks everyone for your responses - I really appreciate a better insight into the area - a lot of you are mentioning Harpenden - I went to uni with a girl from Harpenden - she was ever so well spoken!

Also know people in Letchworth Garden City/Welwyn Garden City.

Okay. I take it back on the car locking.

I can only add that you shouldn't live there. I did a visit to the police in Luton and that was an eye opener! Even though I was raised in a rough part of London!

Would rather go to Beruit to live. Best thing ever to cone out of Luton is the M1.

I used to live there 12 years ago and still have friends in the town. It's not a very nice place to live- the town centre is scary at night and there's lots of crime.

I must get round to reading Lord of the Rings!! - I must be one of the only ones who hasn't yet read it!!

Sorry my above post relates to previous posts I'm not just being random!!

this is an old thread, granted. but i'd look at dunstable, stevenage, or even hemel or stevenage over luton. Luton's shops, attractions, and overall facilities are far worse than these towns. nowhere nice to eat bar standard indian/chinese/chicken shops, and not many nice pubs or bars.

Dunstable may be smaller, but it has a nicer feel (imho) to it and has better shops/restaurants. Luton is just ugly and not much variety to it.

How unfortunate that people have not had a good experience of living in Luton. I’m originally from London mrself always have loved the City life. When I moved to Luton I felt it was very quiet since I was used to a very busy town/city. Now it’s been 14yrs. I have 2 children who have been going to Bramingham and one now in Lea Manor. We have family in Barton Hills and live in Bramingham Park. The town has developed a lot of the years with many new stores and new apartments, more jobs. Every town and city has its nice and bad areas, just like London. The best places if you want peace are Bramingham, Barton Hills, Bushmead, Warden Hills, New Bedford Road, Wigmore, Stopsley. I personally have only experienced a very small amount of rascism recently which you would get in any town around the UK. I used to think I will move out within 5 years because of my love for London but now I prefer Luton, less congestion, no parking stress I can park anytime outside my house, I can take my son to school by car in literally 5 mins the road is completely clear. I get to work within 10 mins even at 9am (the busiest time of the morning). We have a decent airport, direct trains to London, motorway exits from many parts of the town with Milton Keynes and other major towns close by. Many families are moving out of London and Milton Keynes to Luton with the cost of living lower than London. I guess if you have got the money then perhaps central London is the place for you. If you like a mix of country side and a developing town with lower costs then Luton is a pretty good choice.

Nope, shit tip. Look elsewhere

If you can't afford StAlbans, Brekhamstread, Hemel, as they are quite expensive then Milton keyes and
Leighton Buzzard are good. I love in MK, it is up and coming withhold roadlinks and shops. House prices are quite reasonable. I live in a nice part, there is very little crime.

@Legalegal I agree I'm also born and bred Londoner like you.

I've lived in Luton coming up to 10 years and I'm going to add Old Bedford road to your list.

The only thing I don't agree with is the traffic element. I travel to Herts and need to get on the lower luton road and the ring road is a night mare in the mornings I also find the driving is awful really really poor.

It's actually known to be the most congested in terms of traffic.

I haven't experienced racism I am a non white person but I'm born and bred British.

I wouldn't move back to London as it's far worse now than when I left.

Luton is always developing but they don't build the infrastructure to support it in terms of roads. Eg stockingstone rd.

I enjoy living here and it's home.

One more thing! Luton isn't that cheap anymore house prices are becoming silly round here.

I did a uni course there for a while and hated going there. When it was dark I didn’t feel safe walking back to the car either. Men kind of hanging around dark shop doorways kind of afraid

But haven’t lived there so can’t comment on that

I live in the middle of Birmingham and I'd swap for Stevenage in a flash if I could afford it. Soulless maybe but well organised, was designed to have amenities in walking distance and the old town and villages are nice. Great route into London, just 25 mins, and the town clean and relatively safe and I was always impressed at how green it was, being a city dweller. My sons are more likely to get knifed or hit by a car in my city and I miss the cycle paths (worked there years ago).

Luton always felt grottier to me. Parts of Bedfordshire up the A1 are nice, St Neots, Portion etc. Or Hitchin. Busy town bit more character than Stevenage.

Potton not Portion ffs 😁

I currently live about 10 miles from Luton, unfortunately for me. Avoid like the plague!

People hate Bedford but it is far and away nicer than Luton.

Hi puplelila,

I agree some parts will be more congested than others. I hate stockingstone Road it can be a nightmare during busy times. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, I respect that. For me right now Luton is a decent option with the way my work is, the school arrangements with my daughter being able to walk to school and a friend who lives on the same road helps since both our children go to the same school. I come to Croydon to visit family every school holidays and even the children say people here are very frustrated, aggressive, honking their horns and going from one side of Croydon to another can take about 45 mins in traffic. I’m a lawyer myself and my friend is a police Officer we agree that crime in Luton is on the rise but still not like London or other towns. I have decent neighbours who lookafter each other too. All these factors really help. I was actually born and bred in Croydon and even there you get very nice parts, clean expensive posh etc and very filthy parts too. So I’m afraid there is no one particular town or city which is perfect and can serve all your needs. I’m sure if I was a millionaire I wouldn’t mind living in central London

Try anywhere other than Luton

I lived in Luton - Stopsley, one of the nicer areas. Town centre isn’t great but I’ve been to plenty worse. St Albans/Harpenden/Bishops Stortford/Hitchin are nicer, but that is reflected in the price of property...