We're looking to move before January (renting if we can't sell by then) in order to hit the deadline for primary school admissions for DD. DH needs to commute into Kings Cross and is happy to walk up to 1.25 miles or so to the station. Possibly even cycle a way (along a safe route) for the right house.
After months of research, and a fair bit of drive-bys and occasional wanders on foot, I think we've pretty much settled on moving to one of the shortlisted places above as they tick the boxes over budget, distance etc.
Whether we temporarily rent or buy shortly, whichever location we choose in the next few months is likely to be "it" for the foreseeable as we'll be locked into schools then. We're ultimately hoping to purchase a home for the young DCs to ultimately leave as adults, so pretty long term.
We live in SE London and know little about the Hemel area and surrounds really, so please hit me with tales of good and bad of these shortlisted places! I've read some threads on here, but would love to hear more up to date stuff plus I'm sure there are newer people around too with opinions.
I'm mostly a SAHM for at least the next few years, so looking to make local parent friends hopefully. Am attachment-parenting-friendly, but not extremely so, and pretty open-minded and will happily make friends with just about anyone so long as they're not a twat or toxic! And as long as they don't expect me to be plastered in make-up just to answer the front door to the postie.
Decent state schools are important, but they don't have to be absolutely outstanding.
So..
I realise Berkhamsted is the most pricey by far, but is it worth the extra? DH doesn't mind the walk from Northchurch, but why is it so much cheaper - is it just the distance to the station, or is there more to it?
Is Tring dull and completely lacking in diversity? (something I've picked up from old threads) It looks nice from a drive-through, although houses for sale seem to be mostly estate houses. Obviously this is probably going to be a cycle-to-the-station place.
Are the schools any good in Kings Langley? Kings Langley itself looks nice, but the schools didn't seem that hot, I think the secondary school in particular from what I remember from my research a while back. This is the place I've looked into least.
When driving around Boxmoor, it looked very estatey. This is something we want to avoid, was I looking at the wrong bits? Which are the best primary schools here, as there are so many it will be important due to the admissions rules to be closest to the right one!
I walked around Apsley today with two young DCs, deliberately smiling at people if they made eye contact, and found that people were very unfriendly, which is a shame as it was top of my list otherwise - was the place just having a bad day? (People nearly always smile back here in my very deprived and diverse part of SE London!) There were also some really rude drivers. Have not tried the smiling thing in the other places yet.
Would love to hear honest opinions on these places in particular! Thank you 