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Original poster

I'm moving house not sure where to buy Harpenden vs St albans vs redbourn!

10 replies

bulawayo · 12/04/2012 22:22

Im moving hosue not sure where to buy harpenden vs st albans vs redbourn

I want my boys to be happy at a good local sch i know who dosnt

Does anyone know if westfield road is a good place to stay in harpenden i went to view a house but wasnt sure its 0.5 miles to st georges surely i should buy on this road right?

I dont have a big budget

Any roads anyone can think of that stand out and dosnt cost the eart - i know i know its a bit imposssible!

Ps is anyone out there selling a 3 bed in these areas?

OP posts:
FamiliesShareGerms · 12/04/2012 23:01

What ages are your boys?

HalleLouja · 13/04/2012 10:45

Wheathampstead is lovely too. Great schools. The only problem is secondary school places. But think Redbourn is the same.

Original poster
bulawayo · 13/04/2012 20:53

hi my LB (lovely boys)re 4 and 6.

I like ST Albans because of the shops and stations i'd have to go into work

i know redbourn has access to roundwood

OP posts:
Original poster
bulawayo · 13/04/2012 20:55

when im looking at properties in harpenden i find the houses are so small and the pricee higee!

Plus the big houses are in ex council houses - I dont mind that at all but a few ppl say that the area may not be that great

ST Albans if i go there i might try and get something close to sandringham - what do you think about those schools

OP posts:
Original poster
bulawayo · 13/04/2012 21:02

im living in redbourn at the moment and want but just dont know st albans or harpenden so well.

Just wondering which one is a better option. I think longterm i need something close to the station and shops/banks so st ablans and harpenden appeal to me

I think if i get a place in harpenden that will tick a lot of the boxes

OP posts:
HalleLouja · 14/04/2012 19:36

Depends on your budget. My (not so small) budget wouldn't get much in Harpenden or St Albans near the station. But in Wheathampstead I have a large 3 bed ex council house for a price we could afford.

Southdown in Harpenden is nice and slightly cheaper. Its lovely there.

Wigeon · 14/04/2012 19:43

By "not big budget" what do you mean? If you want to be close to the station in St Albans, and close to good schools (eg Sandringham, Beaumont, Verulam), you are going to pay £££ for a 3 bed. Have just had a quick check of Rightmove and houses are £350k plus for Fleetville kind of area (ie near those good schools). Some are more like £450k plus.

You really will pay to be close to St Albans town centre, shops and the mainline station. But the town is lovely.

GilbertandGeorge · 14/04/2012 19:54

If you wanted Sandringham or Beaumont, you'd have to be pretty near them.

Verulam gets quite a lot of bad press - it has gone downhill, but has a newish head who is improving things.

I would choose Harpenden over St Albans - it's much nicer. St Albans has been overdeveloped and has insufficient schools to cope. Although a new primary is opening in the town centre.

edam · 14/04/2012 20:08

If your boys are 4 and 6, then surely it's primary you are worrying about, not secondary? Or are you moving now and staying put until they are teenagers? All three secondary schools in Harpenden are very good, but St George's is CofE and you have to have a letter from your vicar saying you've been at least once a month for years before they'll let you in. No skin off the noses of atheists because Roundwood and Sir John Lawes are just as good (if not better).

If your boys are in primary and you don't want to move them, Westfield Road would be fine. Not so good if you are moving and want a primary school place as you'd get The Lea which is the least popular school in Harpenden. Anywhere else it'd be very desirable, btw, and I know people whose kids go there who are very happy with it. One of its things is small classes - but that's because there are unfilled spaces because plenty of people who get the Lea appeal, wait until a place comes up at another school or go private.

Other thing worth knowing about Harpenden is that every year a handful of kids who live on the Southern edges, closest to St Albans, don't get into Harpenden secondary schools. There's always stuff about this in the local paper. They are offered Francis Bacon or whatever it's called now, the least popular secondary in St Albans (hence the name change but have forgotten what the new name is).

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