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Original poster

Moving to Bedfordshire

45 replies

littleharry · 21/02/2007 12:43

Looking to move to Bedfordshire from London with husband and 16 month old does anyone know anything about living in Flitwick - schools/childcare - what's it like as a place? Any other recommendations for nice commutable areas in bedfordshire?

OP posts:
DaveOHara · 21/02/2007 12:45

I don't know much about Flitwick, Toddington is nice and right near M1 if dh plans to drive in.. lot's of little villages that are beautiful, sepends how close you want to be to the M1 and/or trainstation. Do you have any idea?

DaveOHara · 21/02/2007 12:46

I'm between J13 and J14. Toddigton is J12..

detoxdiva · 21/02/2007 12:49

Hi littleharry - I too am moving to Bedfordshire in the next couple of weeks. I grew up there so I know a little bit about the areas. We're going to Potton which seems nice, and is close to Sandy and Biggleswade stations for trains into London.

We looked at Flitwick, but much preferred Ampthill. It is more expensive, but felt that Flitwick was basically just a collection of houses and a train station (sorry to any flitwick mums ). Ampthill has more of a town feel to it with places to go that you could just walk to. I do think the schools in the area have a good reputation.

The town of Shefford is nice, as are the villages around it. Do you need to be close to a train station for commuting, or are you driving?

DaveOHara · 21/02/2007 12:50

Ampthill is nice but going down hill (sorry Ampthill mums) I always thought (sorry again) that Flitwick was supposed to be quite rough

DaveOHara · 21/02/2007 12:51

I think I drove through Potton once, is it nice over that way Detox?

detoxdiva · 21/02/2007 12:53

We like it .

It's a small market town - we live in a village at the moment (Bristol area) and wanted to be somewhere small, but where there's things to do that I can walk to with dd, as I have to drive everywhere here.

Whereabout are you? Are there many Beds mums about, and do you meet up, as it would be good to get to know people in the area when we get settled.

detoxdiva · 21/02/2007 12:55

..although no-one in Flitwick is going to want to meet up after my comments !!

littleharry - there's a website that I have lurking in the depths of my memory which I'll put a link to if I can remember it, about things to do etc in the area if that helps.

detoxdiva · 21/02/2007 12:57

Think it was www.what-to-do.org then you can just chose your county.

DaveOHara · 21/02/2007 12:58

there's about half a dozen of us (that admit it) but we've never got round to a meet up.. QE and I cross paths on the odd thread talking baout meeting but it's not happened yet. There's someone here who's near the butterfly garden as well.

Then there's the lutonions.. a good few of those too, although not entirely sure many of them are still around.

IdrisTheDragon · 21/02/2007 13:01

We live in Henlow, which is a few miles from Shefford. DH drives to work (he works in North London) and I commute to central London (working 3 days a week). I either get the train from Arlesey, or drive 15 min and get the train from Letchworth.

We are happy where we are - DS goes to the village pre-school and he and DD also go to a very nice childminder.

TenaLady · 21/02/2007 13:01

Lovely little place, easy access to the motorway. Own rail station, shops including Tesco, not heard complaints about the schools.

Biggleswade is a great little place. I used to hate it but it has really been given a face lift and has loads there including mainline station and links to A1.

TenaLady · 21/02/2007 13:02

oooh, Potton, sucking my teeth. Sorry but not the best address. Cute little square though.

detoxdiva · 21/02/2007 13:08

aaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggghhh!

What's wrong with Potton!!!!!!!!!

Original poster
littleharry · 21/02/2007 13:13

Thanks for all the advice - we both need to be near train station to commute into central london - what's Arlesey like? There seemed to be some quite nice houses advertised at biggleswade - has potton got a train station? Don't really want to drive as DH drops DS off in morning and I pick up in evening.

OP posts:
TenaLady · 21/02/2007 13:15

No train station in Potton, Arlesey has a train station and easy access to A1. Not much else there though. Its known as the longest village in the Uk. Its ok but again not the best address.

3xamum · 21/02/2007 13:15

One of my friends lives in Flitwick & I would give my right arm for her house its gorgeous. Always considered it to be a more upmaket area & she loves it.

TenaLady · 21/02/2007 13:16

Too late now detox, but always been associated with Gypsy trouble. Its a shame cos its a lovely looking quaint old village.

DaveOHara · 21/02/2007 13:18

great missenden and surrounding areas are nice but expensive as very much commuter land

detoxdiva · 21/02/2007 13:21

Places with train stations..

Arlesey - improved a lot since I went to school, but still not the best place (IMO)

Biggleswade - nice town, plenty to do

Sandy - Biggleswade's nicer I think.

Harlington - nice, good school

Hitchin - (techically in Herts!) v nice, but expensive.

Obv, it's all just personal opinion - I mean, I like Potton !!

ArcticRoll · 21/02/2007 13:22

I grew up in Bedforshire and I would never choose to move to Arlesey (train station is only thing going for it).

MuffinMclay · 21/02/2007 14:40

I'm (just) over the border in Herts.

Hitchin is by far the nicest of the places mentioned, IMO, although it is Herts. Prices are higher though.

Sandy is a dump with few redeeming features. We loved there for a few weeks - long enough.

Biggleswade is far nicer than it used to be, but secondary schools aren't very good (SIL with primary school age children is trying to move from there for that reason).

Potton seems fine, in a pleasant sleepy sort of way, but horrible to drive through (and not good for stations).

Much of it depends on where in London you want to get to, and which trainline you'd want to use.

MuffinMclay · 21/02/2007 14:40

Lived there, not loved there

DaveOHara · 21/02/2007 14:51

is Mk too far.. I live it

DaveOHara · 21/02/2007 14:51

i like it there

Oati · 21/02/2007 14:56

shhhh Dave, it's a secret, we don't want just anybody moving here