What is all the fuss about St Albans! is it all that everyone says it is?

[rene75]

Hello everyone, i know their lots of threads on St Albans, so pls bear with me a bit.

We a family of 5, with 3 boys ages 24, 15, 12 will be relocating to the UK from Ghana, we used to live in the UK but have been away for 11 years.

Anyway, Im keen to know is St Albans as great as I see the posts say about the areas, we are looking for a place that is diverse culturally, vibrant, affluent, safe and where its not ridiculously expensive. I know that sounds strange all in one sentence is that possible?
We will be moving from south east London so its a new area for us, but like the transport links and think it could be a good fit. We want to leave London behind.
What are the best or surrounding areas would anyone suggest. Is St Albans all hype and are there better areas to consider, or its truly the jewel in the crown. I would love to hear any thoughts pls, thank you.

I used to live there, the main park was great for the children when they were small and the conservation area is beautiful. Handy for London and good schools, but I found the town a bit suffocating in the end. Not loads to do, countryside and places to visit are limited. Everywhere crowded and overpriced, a horrible sense of competition behind everything, everyone obsessed with schools and house prices. I have happy memories from my time there but don't miss it. It's probably one of the best commuter towns though.

It's really REALLY white

Not diverse at all

To look around yes it’s not diverse. But to talk to people it’s international and European. It was very anti brexit for example. But yes it’s not London.

Some people won't agree, but if your looking for diverse and multicultural place to live I would recommend Luton.
I've been away for quite a few years now but no matter what the media say, it's always home. And property a lot cheaper than st.Albans and London.

@LaurieFairyCake

It's really REALLY white

Not diverse at all

Now it is, yes. It always makes me smile when I see Fleetville mentioned as one of the best areas. 20+ years ago it was very diverse and multicultural. It’s sadly had all that gentrified out of it and is horribly middle class.

I also agree with PP about Luton. Although crime is higher. Harpenden is very insular and also solidly middle class, with little diversity.

secondary schools - good ones. prefer state school but will consider independent if we cant get into a good one. i have to commute into Oxford Circus, but we are doing a couple of days a week. would like a great community feel

It is very white middle class. A stroll through Verulamium Park at the weekend will show you that. It is nice around the Abbey. It is REALLY expensive and you will find yourself talking about schools and house prices all the time. Transport links are good and it has a market!

Oh yes I remember when Fleetville was more diverse. I think a lot of people have been priced out if there over the years. I lived there almost 20 years ago.

I used to live there and still love it.

But not all of it is nice, some bits are bloody awful. About 85% of residents are white British, so not as diverse as residents would have you think.

Harpenden is much nicer, imo.

I live in St Albans and am not British, although am white. Like others have said, housing is very expensive. As for diverse, it depends on what you mean. My street has a lot of different nationalities living on it, so is culturally very diverse but largely white. (It is also a very friendly street). My daughter’s nursery is also culturally and racially pretty diverse - there are lots of children who speak another language as their first language for example, because of international couples moving out from London to have children. But economically, my experience is it isn’t very diverse at all. It is very expensive to rent or buy here, which prices out a lot of people (including plenty of people who grew up here). I used to live in a poorer part of a big city, and I was really quite surprised by the affluence and just how safe it all felt when I moved here. I used to joke it was yummy mummy land. Then I had children too.

It’s a good place to have children - there are lovely parks, lots of outdoor places to explore, good restaurants, cafes and pubs, and excellent schools. It feels safe. And has quite a lot of festivals etc, so often feels pretty lively.

It’s not London but it’s not middle England either. It was massively anti-Brexit (one of the biggest votes against in the country). It used to be a Tory seat, but now there’s a Lib Dem MP. There has been an influx of often wealthy international families. There’s plenty of Black Lives Matter posters around.

People move here expecting to be able to choose a primary. In-year admissions are particularly tricky. You get what you are given and the best schools have tiny catchments and huge waiting lists.