moving to st albans/harpenden??

[billiejo]

Hiya, me and the family are going to be moving to either st albans or harpenden from north london. We've got a 21mnth ds and another due mid dec. I really want to move because i'm hoping for a better quality of life for the kids but am absolutely terrified aswell because until six months ago i was really lonely with my life as a SAHM but have worked really hard building up a new circle of "mum" friends by going to every toddler group round!! i was pretty low before i found all my new friends but feel really happy now that i see them most days at either an organised group or just a park/coffee playdate. i was wondering if anybody who lives in the st albans/ harpenden area could tell me if there are many mum/toddler groups available?? thanks so much.xx

Loads! So many people move to St Albans/Harpenden after they have children there are 100s of toddler groups. Even a few mumsnetters... until you know where you'll end up it's hard to recommend any, but look at the NCT or Netmums sites for an idea. (Netmums does local listings, different to MN). There are meet-ups too - tend to be wider than just St A area though, think they include Barnet/Watford (have never managed to make one, sadly).

I don't know either area of late. But I grew up not too far from St Albans, and it's a lovely town.

I'm sure someone will be along soon, who knows these areas.

What I'm trying to say is you could go to a different M&T thing every morning and afternoon for a week and still not get round them all...

i know st albans, i just did my driving test there. its not that far from me (am in welwyn) and sparklymieow.

thanks everyone for getting back to me, i think i've just got abit of the jitters. i had pnd after my ds1 and the thought of being in a new place with a new babe and leaving behind my lovely friends is just a bit daunting. x

St Albans is lovely - I have a few friends there. I'm in Welwyn Garden City so not far and it's a very friendly area with lots of groups Am sure you will love it.

kazziegirl, where abouts in wgc are you? i'm in peartree area.

I'm not far from the hospital misdee

neither is sparklymieow. my parents live the chequers end of Hs.

i mean sparkly is near the hospital

small world

do we know you

SJN, left in 96.

I don't think you'd know me - I don't orginally come from WGC. I'm sure we probably know lots of the same people though. I think Sparkly knows one of my best friends.

Kazziegirl, are you katie's mum's friend???

Oh, St Albans is one big nappy valley. Packed to the gills with SAHMs having their nails done and going to Carluccios
And a few toddler groups too, I believe.
Don't live there but have friends who do. I think 90% of the population used to live in London tbh.

Yes Sparkly, I am

Message withdrawn

Hi billiejo. We moved out here almost 6 years ago because we were sick of the pollution, litter, grime, etc of Willesden Green. Also couldn't see there was much future for the kids, the nearest secondary school was a long long walk or bus ride away and every other person you passed in the street looked drunk or weird IYKWIM.

It's so much better here. Our daughers go to a really good secondary school 20 mins walk from our house, we had another baby, ds aged 5 now at a lovely junior school 10 mins walk away through quiet residential area.

In our old road many of the residents were backpackers or singletons living in bedsits, here our neighbours are families like us so we get to mix with people our children can enjoy too. All the local pubs, restaurants etc are geared up for families and there is plenty to do locally that's suitable for families.

We've never regretted coming out here for a moment.

Thanks everyone for all your kind messages, i'm feeling much better about things now, alibubbles thanks for your lovely offer of a property paper but we're actually going for a look around on thurs so hopefully we'll be able to pick one up.x

ooh actually, whilst i'm thinking on, for anybody who lives in the area, I'm having my second baby in dec, at the moment i'm booked into the Royal Free in Hampstead because that's where i had my ds1 and had a really good experience. At the Royal free i used the birth centre rather than the maternity unit and had a lovely midwife-led active/water birth. I was wondering if anybody knows of any similar birth centres in the area? thanks again.xx

Hi billiejo. Can't help on the birth centres I'm afraid - having my first at Lister in Stevenage in Feb, but their birthing pool isn't likely to be finished by Dec. Do you want to live right in centre of town, or will you be checking out villages in the area too? There are some lovely ones in this neck of the woods. I'm about 10-15 mins from Harpenden between 2 nice villages called Kimpton and Whitwell - well worth a look if you like the idea of village life, but with access to lots of diff towns nearby.

Hi Billiejo

I live in St Albans!! It is a fantastic place for families - stacks to do. In fact, people look at you a bit strange if you haven't got a toddler and buggy in tow... I recommend the nct - they do a really good local magazine and it is full of groups you can go to.

Watford hospital is the one most mums go to in st albans - it has the ABC - the Alexandra Birth Centre and its pretty new with birth pools, music, lights etc. Hemel Birth centre is also new and close to both st albans and harpenden - I am sure you could call and go on tours now if you like?

Harpenden is a bit smaller but very nice and lots of families and very active nct too. Very good schools in both if you are worried.

Young in Herts website lists all the local playgroups, coffee groups etc - there are things everyday. Good luck!!

Early welcome to the area!

I am in St Albans and there are LOADS of tots groups. I attend three - on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

I found that I like St Albans more than I thought - the markets on Wednesday and Saturday are terrific, the cathedral gives the town a focus and the primary school education is excellent (depending, of course, on where you live).

Good luck! Hope to see you at a Mums and Tots group someday!

Andrea

Wow, so many people in / near St Albans . There is a St Albans meet up being organised at the moment - have a look on the 'meetup' section. I've just moved down from north yorkshire this August. It would be great to meet some of you.