property advice from mums in / around home counties

[strangerthanfiction]

HI, dp has just landed a job (hurray!) near Trent Park in London and we're hoping to move from our depressing council flat in SE London to somewhere in the North. We don't know the area at all and I've been googling like crazy to get some ideas but thought I'd see if anyone who lives around the home counties / Hertfordshire might be able to help. We don't have much money and will have to rent. We need at least 2 bedrooms but our top limit will be £700 a month. So far I've seen the odd place in Potters Bar or St. Albans (the latter is a bit further out than we'd ideally like). Are we dreaming to think we'll find somewhere decent within that budget? Any areas which are ok to live in with a little toddler and not too expensive?

All advice gratefully received.

Hi have you managed to look at any places. Stevenage is made up of old town and new town, large shopping centre with woolies, primark, mothercare, elc etc., great train links to london and peterborough - north. You will find it cheaper to rent a house here, it is based on areas = chells, bedwell, pin green, poplars, shephall. There is a mix of private and govt. housing, with lots of parks and a great leisure/art centre, movies, most schools are good. What about towns on the hertford east line going towards enfield - ware, broxbourne, hoddesdon, cheshunt. All have high streets and may be better rent and travel wise. Good luck