Harpenden or Highgate? Wise words desperately sought.

[muffinchops]

Pleeeeeasse help with major indecision bordering on paralysis! In short, used to live in London pre-birth of ds, moved to commuter 'town' just outside Hertford where depression ensued and now want to move again. In my heart, I'm still hankering after London but hubster is dead against (but he gets to work there seemingly 24/7).
Have been torn apart by decision making process. Harpenden has lots to recommend it on paper but am terrified of making a mistake again and there is a potential house in the offing, but I am paralysed.
Please, please can anyone make the case for the respective 'H's for a young family.

if I could afford Highgate, I would live there

bundle, of N4, a far lowlier postcode

I live on Highgate Slopes... or so the estate agents tell me. Not actually in N6, you understand.
Mixed feelings about the 'village' which is all estate agents/silly boutiques selling posh kiddy clobber. If you want a light bulb or rawl plug, go whistle.
Why Highgate, rather than anywhere else in London proper?
on the upside: 2 decent primaries, lots of lovely green space, good views

and Ray Davies in Oddbins

Waterlow Park
Jacksons Lane Community centre
The view
The postcode
The architecture

Get out of Hertfordshire now. I'd be depressed too.

Marina, once of Hatfield (:(), then of adjacent N10, and now festering in SE9

Ray Davies! if ds and dh combine forces to sing Dedicated Follower of Fashion to me one more time I swear I will take out a contract on him

bp someone in my book group lives in cholmeley cresc, lovely up there

pmsl @ slopes

lol bakedpotato at the village!. It is a bit over-rated, not to mention overpriced.

I don't see it as a particularly family friendly place tbh (apart from the green spaces obv.) And it is very hilly!

RD bought two houses at the top of the hill and knocked them together

the local paper ran a story

the headline was 'Waterlow sunset'

bp i would have thought you were more Waterlow Borders

or whitehall views

there is quite a bit of child stuff...
sat morning shows at lauderdale house.
highgate woods, ace playgound with death slide
no to mention kenwood/heath
Bus drivers around her always let the buggies pile on, which is the real test of family friendliness
I love it, on reflection

SE9 Marina. Oh dear, I lived there most of my childhood. I won't say anymore

I can assure you it has gone downhill since then as well
Recent low point was my 81 year old dad being scammed at the cashpoint in the High Street :(

If you go for Highgate \link{http://www.primelocation.com/uk-property-for-sale/details/id/KFHAWS1015903/\this} is up for sale.

I think it was the house that was used for that Fame academy show wasn't it?

I saw this when you posted earlier and in all that time, I still can't think why you would want to live in Harpenden when you could live in Highgate (apols to anyone who lives in Harpenden)

Me too FIS - it's not looking good for Harpenden.

I have to confess I am biassed as two of the biggest buffoons I have ever encountered professionally lived in Harpenden and St Albans and I just imagine the streets packed with more of the same :(

hmmmmmmmmm, dunno much about either, but what communter town are u currently in?

if dh works in london then won't his commute be easier (more time for the family etc.)?

I agree with you that living in suburbia and commuting into London is not the same as living in suburbia when you're not working (and used to living in London).

Highgate, definitely. not sure why you're even hesitating

Oh no sorry to hear about your dad. Well I lived in Mottingham and it was dog rough. My grandparents lived in the posh bit of Eltham (Eltham Park)and apart from the helter skelter slide in the park, the only good thing I ever encountered in the area was dh. Kate Bush had a house in SE9! Anyway, sorry to hijack thread. Highgate is nice. Don't know Harpenden.

I agree Highgate before Harpenden (which I think would be the same as the town outside Hertford), but I don't think it is brilliant and particularly child friendly. Houses are really expensive, gardens are small, schools after primary level are crap. In fact I think it is really difficult to get into the 2 (which are they?) state primaries. And there's lots of annoying people there too.

yes there are loads of annoying people here
some of them are even related to me

st michael's and highgate p are the 2 good primaries

what's that catholic one like?

st joseph's, meant to be pretty good too

that's definitely on the Slopes, though

I quite like Harpenden.

Have you tried flipping a coin?