Potters Bar

[EagerStork]

Hello,
Would you recommend Potters Bar for a young professional couple with a baby?
We are thinking of buying a flat in Potters Bar. Is it safe? Is commuting to central London easy? Are there good nurseries?

The commute is very easy. One train line straight into Kings Cross, stopping at Finsbury Park along the way. Another slow train straight into Moorgate, stopping at various points across north London.

I don’t know about nurseries but Dame Alice Owen’s school is there when your child is secondary age, so if you can get into the catchment area, great. If not there’s always the 11+ route for the school.

All around a great area IMO.

Also great for links to other places…it’s right by the M25. Good sports facilities and a fair amount of green spaces as well. And close to lots of pretty little Hertfordshire towns and villages for day trips.

If you want to live in a retirement community yes, you'll be quite safe with the over 80's
🤷🏽‍♀️ it's a funny place with 2 high streets and not much else. there's 2 school exclusion units there which might not fit your pretty picture and yeah the trains/M25

Brookmans Park is nicer. There are some good roads in PB and some great (and expensive) private schools to counter the exclusion unit argument. High street not wonderful though. A bit further out of London, but Berkhamsted or Tring are nicer - trains to Euston if that matters. I’d also look at Welwyn Garden City or St Albans - the latter is expensive though. PB is just a bit dull when compared to other towns.

Like @TizerorFizz ,the first word that springs to mind is dull. It's safe, it's near to nicer places and I have friends living there very happily.

But I prefer WGC too. Hitchin is further out but has a nice reputation.

Probably wouldn't live in Stevenage or Hatfield with any enthusiam..

Grew up near there and wouldn't move back! The 2 high streets are poor, lots of bungalows (elderly population). WGC better!

Agree about Hitchin.

IMO potters bar is more London suburb vibe It has a theatre and so on. Short commute. How often do you want to be in London.

WGC is a town full of old people It doesn't have a good night life and schools are average there. However it is safe. Trains are getting worse too. Always cancelling.

Hitchen is lovely. Loads going on but the commute will be longer. Schools are good.

Tring and berkhamstead are a completely different area and righton the edge of herts so depends where in London you need to be work wise.

The population is aging everywhere! WGC has mostly “Good” rated primary schools. In 11 years time, secondary can change a great deal.