A cheaper and quieter alternative to St Albans?

[Mummyinoz]

Sorry me again!! We need to decide once and for all where to settle before school applications in Jan. Currently living in St Albans and like it, but don't love it and can't afford the type of house we'd really like here.

Our key requirements are: excellent schools, easy transport into London (and probably areas to west of London - husband is a consultant so not in a fixed location in London), green space, a nice, safe feel, some local amenities, although don't need as many as St Albans.

I personally find St Albans too busy and polluted but we need to stay well connected for transport.

I really like Berko and liked Hertford, Hitchin but feel they are a little further out and may make the commute difficult.

Considering areas around Ricky and maybe Watford as they are better connected with good schools.

We have two boys so looking for mixed or boys schools. Would consider faith schools but don't need to be.

Any suggestions gratefully received as I'm going crazy trying to decide.

I was going to suggest Hertford and see it's on your list.

The commute is quicker from Hertford North than from Hertford East, and prices are (a bit) cheaper than St Albans. Have a look at Bengeo which is close to Hertford North station.

If you need easy transport into London I would suggest Amersham, Chesham, Kings Langley, Berkhamsted - or what about Bricket Wood or one of the villages around St Albans? Basically you need to pull up a map of the train lines in the southeast and then see where they connect into in London and how fast/frequent the trains are.

If you think St Albans is too busy and polluted I wouldn't look at Watford, as it's bigger (and, for the most part, not as nice), as St A, so I can't imagine you'll like it any better. The schools are decent and there are a few grammars in and around, but if you want a quieter location I'd look outside Watford.

Thanks, Bengeo looks nice and the schools look decent. I'll look into it some more.

Thanks Juneau, yes fair point about Watford. I guess I was thinking we could afford more the type of house we'd like and the area around Cassiobury looks nice.

I'll check out Chesham and Amersham as I'm not familiar with those.

Did you check out welwyn garden city?

I've been shopping there a few times and I know the schools are good but it is a little dull? That may be unfair but that's what I've been told

Radlett? Kings Langley is lovely but trains only every half an hour.

Be aware that the met line at Watford is moving so cassiobury is lovely and an easy commute at the moment but very soon it will be in the centre of town so either a bus or car journey away

It's certainly not as vibrant as st Albans but is just a short drive away.

Thanks Kattatty I didn't know that about he met line, would certainly rule our cassiobury as an area for us.

In all honesty fukesakefay I'm only going on other people's comments about WGC plus the fact that it's slightly further out from London. I also like all the historic buildings in St Albans so it has a nice "feel". I enjoy having lots of shops close by and the high street is quite enjoyable to just have a wander around. I like the links into London and the fact that there are a number of stations in easy reach. I think I fear feeling isolated in a suburban town to be honest.

But the price of houses and the stress of getting into a catchment for a decent school is crazy. Plus I'd like some more green space and parks in easy reach of my house.

This will be controversial but what about thinking further south, maybe even into Surrey. Schools great in many areas and you can sometimes get more green space but be even closer to London or inside the M25 (e.g. Staines or around Shepperton).

Are you wedded to that area? If not, consider Fleet. Two very good state secondaries (plenty of good primaries), definitely cheaper prices than St A, and good train links to Waterloo - takes about 45 minutes, can be as little as 38 minutes. Can be as much as 1 hour 5 on a Sunday.

Shops aren't great but Guildford/Winchester/Kingston all within easy reach and Farnham is only 10 minutes away. You might also want to consider Guildford although I don't know how good the state schools are, I only really hear about the private schools there.

There are lots of green spaces in/around St Albans, but I take your point about price. There have been a number of articles in the press recently about the most expensive place to buy a house in England and St Albans is often said to be it www.cityam.com/237148/this-is-the-city-in-england-with-the-highest-house-prices-and-it-isnt-london

I agree though that if you don't have a specific reason to be in Herts or north of London then cast your net wider. There are lots of nice towns within the London catchment area and some of them have great schools. A friend of mine lives in Carshalton, Surrey, and they are within the catchment for a number of excellent grammars (although they're not the only ones - parts of London also fall within that catchment, so competition is fierce).

Yes, Hitchin is really nice and has a historic town centre if that is important to the OP. I don't really know Letchworth and WGC is ugly and 60s to me, but it does have decent shops, restaurants, cinema, etc and it's far more affordable housing-wise.

I was born in Watford (and agree - no offence, but it's not very nice apart from ease of commute) and have lived in really nice places in London, before finally moving back to Herts for schools and to be nearer my folks. Looked at St Albans, Radlett, Berko, and so on. Finally settled in Rickmansworth/Croxley Green. Both have really good links to town via the Met line and the Chiltern turbo (RIcky) and I cannot believe how friendly and kind people are around here. Three rivers, big aquadrome, Waitrose, smaller independent shops and a generally stress free way of life. My son is curently at York House - prep school about half a mile away, but will go on to Rickmansworth or Watford Boys' Grammar. We are close to Croxley Green, beautiful countryside, two great pubs and the village church. No, it's NOT Shoreditch, but then I can walk to the tube in 8 minutes and be in Baker St in half an hour, so I think that's the best of both worlds. Know all the neightbours and they do look out for you, especially as I am a single mum. And not an estate agent :-)

This is controversial but we moved to hatfield from St Albans. It's a great location- near all the motorways, 20 mins into kings cross on the train (and the commute is cheaper than St Albans!) and smack between WGC and St Albans for shopping and restaurants.

It's not cheap, but it is cheaper. We live in ellenbrook/garden village area and really like it. It's less transient than St Albans but a lot more north London - accents and everything! The town is horrible but there are plans afoot for regeneration and it's already improved in the few years we've been here. I have high hopes!

Anyway, the main reason we're here is the good school: house price ratio which is very favourable. Bishops hatfield is outstanding (girls) and the primaries are good. You are in the catchment to take the test for dame Alice Owen if your child is inclined.

So sales patter over- other areas I would try are potters bar (for the schools and bigger houses) brookmans park (although it is expensive) Hemel Hempstead ( boxmoor area) wheathampstead?

Hitchin is featured in The Sunday Times today as a cheaper alternative to St Albans!