Can anyone tell me about Letchworth and surrounding area's?

[Nix01]

It looks nice, not as rural as I'd like, but very pretty nonetheless.

Is there a catch?

I used to live in Letchworth. Is a nice place although the amount of money you have to spend will influence which part you are in and not all parts are equal. The original Garden City houses are lovely but out of reach of many people. We moved over the border into Bedfordshire to get a bit more for our money and that was 7 years ago so not sure exactly what different areas are like now, but like most places there are better and worse areas.

Schools also are better and worse - we moved before I had children at school but friends stayed in Letchworth and so I have a bit of an idea which ones seemed to be more or less popular. That may well have changed now of course.

Trains into London are fast which is good. There's a nice old fashioned cinema as well. When I was there, there wasn't a great choice of restaurants but that may have changed. Hopefully there are people with more up to date knowledge than me :)

I grew up in Bedfordshire not far from Letchworth and agree with Miranda.

Some parts of Letchworth are beautiful but like everywhere there are good and bad parts.

We just moved from a small village near Letchworth (up to Leeds..for work) but were there for two years having left London. The countryside's lovely, Letchworth itself has some nice areas and is pretty quiet. I preferred Hitchin - market town, more character, Letchworth sometimes seems a bit dead, nicer restaurants and pubs in Hitchin. Both places very friendly and plenty to do for kids. Some of the villages around are really beautiful - I love Weston. Baldock is a really nice town with fast trains to London as well, and quick to Cambridge. Schools in Baldock are v good, especially secondary.

Agree with Miranda - but limited knowledge on Letchworth - just know that some lovely bits and some dire bits. We are in Baldock - love it - have the facilites of Letchworth/Stevenage/Hitchin/train to Cambridge & London - but guaranteed a great (outstanding/academy) secondary. 3 good or outstanding primaries. Hitchin can be a bit the same as Letchworth school wise - great or poor depending on which school.

"Rural" wise there are some lovely parts of countryside/woods all on the outskirts for a good walk etc. Else maybe look at surrounding villages like Ashwell?