St Alban's v Harpenden? Plane noise?

[ChocolateHegg]

DH can no longer stand the noise from the planes in our corner of London and so we've decided to move out. We have friends in St Alban's and Harpenden, family Up North, and work near a Thameslink station, so this area is a clear front runner.

It's early days - internet research at the moment (although we do know the area a bit from visiting friends) - but I think I will prefer the leafiness of Harpenden and that it will be a nicer place to bring up our two DC (currently 2yrs and 3 months).

DH is concerned Harpenden may be affected by noise from Luton airport - and if that's right, it is a complete deal breaker - I'm not moving yet again to escape plane noise.

We have a healthy budget - £1.2m - for a family home. I'd be really interested to hear the experiences of any noise-sensitive Hertfordshire residents and people's views about how the two locations stack up, noise aside?

newgirl - Once you get off at St Albans, you have no idea where the unfunky, old people are heading. They might be going to Bedford or Luton. I travel on that train for work, you've probably seen me getting off at Farringdon

My husband is very fussy about noise and he isn't a bit worried about the proposed Luton expansion as it will increase the number of planes, not alter the take-off and landing directions. It won't alter the direction of the runway or the direction in which they travel. So if we can't hear them now, we won't hear them when they are more frequent. We live in the centre of Harpenden on the west side of the High street.

I always assumed the 'old people' were going to Harlington and Flitwick. No good reason for that assumption though, just that the only people I know who live there are friends' parents.

OP- can I offer you some alternatives? We used to live in St Albans by the Abbey and moved out to a village near Berkhamsted. My DH used to get the Thameslink into Moorgate and now goes from Berkhamsted to Euston then tube. HIs commute is 1hr 10mins door to door. If you are going to send DC to state then I would advise Harpenden (just make sure of your catchements). However, if you are sending private then there are alternatives to Harpenden or St Albans.
My village is in the Ashridge Estate www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge/ which is lovely for walks, hacking, etc... The villages are lovely and all have local primarys - Nettleden, Great Gaddesden, Frithsden (Alford Arms is lovely), Little Gaddesden, Ringshall, and Aldbury. I send my DS to the mixed independent in Markyate (Beechwood Park), which most of the intake is from Harpenden, St Albans, Wheathamsted etc... Other good independents locally include Lockers Park (Hemel Hempsted, pre and prep) Berkhamsted Collegiate, Westbrook Hay.
I still shop in St Albans and Harpenden and Berkhamsted has some lovely independents. The area is semi-rural but not isolated. PM me if you want a local tour/advice. Good luck.