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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you know Bricket wood, Herts

23 replies

AutumnNymph · 11/09/2023 18:40

We viewed a new build house that we really love and ticks our boxes, does anyone have personal experience about the area that could tell me more ?

dh and I wfh and dd12 is in secondary (we aren't looking to change schools, she will take the coach )

We currently live in Northwood and are completely new to Bricket wood. If we go ahead this will be our forever home so keen to hear about the village in general.

OP posts:
shivbo2014 · 11/09/2023 19:02

I live in Garston, Watford, just a couple of minutes away. So I don't know what it's like living within Bricket Wood. I think most amenities would be in St Albans or Watford, which are both are nice places to live. I run through Bricket Wood Common a lot, which is lovely.

Newgirls · 11/09/2023 19:11

Pretty area but nothing there really. You will need to drive to any shops, facilities, restaurants etc in Chiswell Green, London Colney or St Albans. Traffic can be very busy around there so you need to be ok with that

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 11/09/2023 19:40

Thanks @shivbo2014 @Newgirls
Do you have any ideas about how safe the area is in general?

@shivbo2014 I believe the secondary schools are in Garston, do you know how busy the secondary schools will be ? DD is year 7 and while we aren't looking to change schools , it would be good to more local in the long run.

OP posts:
shivbo2014 · 11/09/2023 20:17

My Dd has just started year 5. We are looking at Parmiters, St Michael's, or probably the most realistic Marlborough. I think all are quite difficult to get into tbh. I think the area is really safe, but then I am comparing it to where i grew up in North West London!

OrangeKettle · 11/09/2023 20:23

I used to live near there, now a few mins away. If it’s anywhere near this bit you are looking at….no! I always wonder
if anyone actually manages to pull out, because of the amount of traffic coming off the M1!

To ask if you know Bricket wood, Herts
OrangeKettle · 11/09/2023 20:25

All those schools are difficult to get into. Esp Parmiters, even if you’re close. It’s ridiculous! My child didn’t sit the consortium test so we had no chance.
I think St Michaels might be difficult unless you’re Catholic. I could be wrong!

Cherrysoup · 11/09/2023 20:34

St Michaels is hard to get into even if you are Catholic!

The turn off to the M1 going south is a shocker in rush hour, particularly the afternoon. Bricketwood has many good points, lots of nice walks, particularly if you go down School or Drop Lane to the river etc. You are minutes from Asda and Sainsbury if you live towards that end.

What coach goes to Northwood? Don’t think there are school buses for Northwood school, no idea about the other Northwood schools and it’s quite the journey from there (did it myself for a couple of years).

greengreengrass25 · 11/09/2023 20:44

I'm assuming OPs dc go to school by coach from Northwood to another area, maybe in Herts

I'd be interested to know myself what BW was like

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 11/09/2023 20:57

My DD goes to an independent school In Northwood and there is a coach service with a stop about 10-12 mins drive from the property we are looking qt , Linden homes Hanstead Park. We will ofcourse need ro do the drive a few times to ensure its doable.

OP posts:
StillProcrastinating · 11/09/2023 21:02

Aw, Bricket Wood. My dad worked at BRE and I loved seeing the model of the dam from the dambusters raid. Just amazing how it was just in a quiet corner of the grounds , almost forgotten.

greengreengrass25 · 11/09/2023 21:04

AutumnNymph · 11/09/2023 20:57

My DD goes to an independent school In Northwood and there is a coach service with a stop about 10-12 mins drive from the property we are looking qt , Linden homes Hanstead Park. We will ofcourse need ro do the drive a few times to ensure its doable.

Green or blue one 😀

bluebeardswife7 · 11/09/2023 21:12

I can't help you op, but I grew up in the area and have fond memories of Bricket Wood. Especially the Old Fox. I went to St Michaels so I am fascinated by the intel. Please keep it coming.

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 11/09/2023 21:17

greengreengrass25 · 11/09/2023 21:04

Green or blue one 😀

Show quote history

Team blue here

OP posts:
Original poster
AutumnNymph · 11/09/2023 21:18

OrangeKettle · 11/09/2023 20:23

I used to live near there, now a few mins away. If it’s anywhere near this bit you are looking at….no! I always wonder
if anyone actually manages to pull out, because of the amount of traffic coming off the M1!

Uh huh

OP posts:
greengreengrass25 · 11/09/2023 21:18

Fabulous😀

greengreengrass25 · 11/09/2023 21:19

Funnily enough dh looked at those houses online look very nice.

loreau · 11/09/2023 21:21

I guess it's best known for the nudist camp (Spielplatz) and proximity to the M1. (I'd check air quality) but I understand it's a nice place. There's a train that goes to St Albans Abbey in one direction and Watford in the other. From there you can connect on to a train to Euston or up to Milton Keynes and beyond.

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 11/09/2023 21:21

greengreengrass25 · 11/09/2023 21:19

Funnily enough dh looked at those houses online look very nice.

They are great, the only thing is to figure out the school as DD and we love her school, she has been there since nursery.

OP posts:
bluebeardswife7 · 11/09/2023 21:22

loreau · 11/09/2023 21:21

I guess it's best known for the nudist camp (Spielplatz) and proximity to the M1. (I'd check air quality) but I understand it's a nice place. There's a train that goes to St Albans Abbey in one direction and Watford in the other. From there you can connect on to a train to Euston or up to Milton Keynes and beyond.

The Abbey Flyer!

greengreengrass25 · 11/09/2023 21:49

Yes a lovely school

Cascade39 · 11/09/2023 21:57

I lived there for 18 years and I loved it. Only moved as I needed a bigger house and couldn't get one in the area.

It's generally very safe. Not really any speeding cars, you pass people on the street and they say hi. Walking back from the social club at 11.30pm is like walking through a ghost town, it's quiet. The area is just beautiful. Honestly would have loved to have stayed there.

The schools in Garston that have been mentioned are difficult to get into, but there is also Garston manor and future academies. They've both had a bad reputation in the past but have got better recently. Some Bricket Wood teens go to st Alban's schools as well, mainly Marlborough, STAGS and Townsend.

Overall it's a very friendly, quaint, quiet little village with a good community feel.

Newgirls · 12/09/2023 08:30

Safe as far as I know. Never heard of any issues.

teens I know there find it tricky to socialise as they rely on parents for lifts and go to schools with very wide catchments. Sounds like you are happy to drive though so maybe not an issue

Original poster
AutumnNymph · 12/09/2023 09:29

Newgirls · 12/09/2023 08:30

Safe as far as I know. Never heard of any issues.

teens I know there find it tricky to socialise as they rely on parents for lifts and go to schools with very wide catchments. Sounds like you are happy to drive though so maybe not an issue

Thanks so much! Yes we are happy to drive DD around (though she is an introvert and loner at heart) , both DH and I WFH and DD is an only.

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