Anyone know anything about Hitchin?

[sparklechops]

Hi everyone and happy Mother's Day! I am looking for some advice on Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

We currently live in SE London but can't afford to buy here and have been looking for the right place to move to for ages. We're keen to leave London for a more relaxed pace of life.

We have finally found somewhere we really like - Hitchin. It ticks so many boxes - affordable, easy commute for DH into London and good schools. When we went to look around the other week, we liked what we saw.

I'd love to hear from anyone who lives in Hitchin with a family to find out more - what's it really like? It seemed like a buzzy, friendly place when we were there and there were loads of young families around. There also seemed to be lots of groups for kids, from looking at notices in shops, Starbucks etc.

Does anyone know the Poets Estate? It's in our budget (250k max) so it's one of the places we're looking at. I would prefer one of the lovely Victorian terraces but they all seem to have downstairs bathrooms, which we're not keen on. Anyone live in one and find the downstairs bathroom thing ok?

We've also seen properties further out from the station - over a mile away - but aren't sure about being so far out. Does anyone commute into London and live a bit further away from Hitchin station? How do you find it?

Also keen to hear about nurseries/childminders you'd recommend. DD is one and we'd like to put her in childcare two days a week so I can work from home.

So....lots of questions. Any guidance and opinions gratefully received!

[MakewayforNoddy]

Blimey. Is that the peterborough train by any chance?

[PiratePanda]

We live on the train line from Kings X that passes through Hitchin, and if you get the stopping train at night there are frequently drug pushers, pimps and prostitutes shuttling back and forth between Hitchin and Stevenage. I'm pretty tough and un shockable, and I don't like it at all; I try to avoid the stopper if at all possible.

Sorry.

[MissHighandMighty]

BOBBI
I don't know what your issue is with HGS but what you have posted is completely untrue.

We have lived in Hitchin for 30 years. My DD went to HGS as did many of the girls in our village.We are a normal, caring middle class family with high aspirations and I'm a former teacher.
DD did very well and went to study science at a top RG uni, thanks to HGS.

It is a GOOD school and the price of houses in the catchment area reflect the ends people go to in order to get their DDs into the school.

For some reason you seem to have a grudge against the school and what you say is far from accurate.

[ginzillas]

The girls I've seen near the school have always seemed very polite. Same goes for the boys' school!

[Rainbow44]

Well I went there..( many moons ago ). I have no idea what is like now, I only know what I hear from other mums whose girls go there and it is generally regarded as a very good school.

I am proud that I went there and I have fond memories.

I am certainly not ' scum'.

[olivemegmog]

Hitchin is lovely. Has a lovely charm to it.. But like anywhere there are good and bad parts... The town on a Saturday night has a great buzz but can also be very rough.. I have witnessed lots of fighting and generally gross behaviour. The problem is that it is a small town which is great in many respects but there is bound to be trouble when there are so many pubs overflowing with young piss heads at midnight...
Letchworth is also a nice town to live in but for different reasons. It is a lovely leafy town with great open spaces. The housing stock is a bit different from the norm. It does have some rougher areas too...like hitchin. I can think of more rough areas in hitchin than in letchworth actually..
I think both towns are nice, for different reasons. There is plenty going on for family's in both towns and both hitchin and letchworth have good schools

[MrsRLondontown]

Hi we've just moved to a village near hitchin 6 weeks ago and just found your thread. I have a 5 month old baby and have also moved from SE London for more space. Let me know if you come across any good mummy hangouts, really keen to meet new people!

[YippeeKiYayMakkaPakka]

So if I was looking to move to Hitchin, had a budget of £400-450k (hoping for at least 3 bedrooms) and wanted to be within walking distance of the station and decent nursery and infant school(s), where would you advise me to look (apologies for complete thread hijack )?

[Cosmosis1]

I'm massively surprised to see a few negative comments. Hitchin was voted the 9th best place to live in the UK earlier this year by The Times and house prices have rocketed over the last few years.

The town is pretty, one of the few in the country with a cobbled Georgian and Tudor market square. There are loads and loads on lovely independent shops and great restaurants. Pitcher and Piano hand Vinegar Hill have both opened both of which are only in much larger 'grander' towns else where such as Bath, York etc. Says a lot for Hitchin.

Hitchin is only 23 mins on a quick train to Kings Cross and there are far more trains each hour than from Letchworth.

It's not even worth comparing with Letchworth. Nice houses but so many deprived council estates bands terrible schools. Town centre a dump full of pound shops.

As for Hitchin being rough that's nonsense. Maybe on some estate but certainly not in the town. My husband and I walk into town most Saturday and Friday nights for dinner and it is nevere rough, quite the opposite. We always remark and friends visiting us also, how quiet and peaceful it is. It's almost like walking through a pretty square in France.

I cannot recommend Hitchin enough.

[sparklechops]

Hi Ydnam

What do you mean about Starbucks and Neros? I have been to Starbucks quite a bit. Are there meet ups in there?

I am definitely going to try MAMA and I went to a fab toddler group yesterday which Dd loved. Loads of friendly mums too.

[Ydnam]

sparklechops,

Wow, well done for the move. Hadn't realised it was so imminent. Glad to hear you are enjoying it, long may that last.

Are you a Starbucks or Neros meet mum? Whatever, enjoy!

[sparklechops]

That should read Hi Yippee, obviously...

[sparklechops]

Him Yippee - it is great here and only 25 mins into Finsbury Park on a fast train if you need your north London fix!

[YippeeKiYayMakkaPakka]

Interesting thread. We're considering a move to Hitchin from N. London next year. Need more space since DD2 was born and just can't afford it here. Glad to hear you're settling in sparkle :)

[sparklechops]

Hello Ydnam and thank you for all the fab info.

We moved to Hitchin last month!! So far, we LOVE it. We are really enjoying exploring the town and going to toddler group. Everyone is so friendly and the town has a real buzz about it.

Thanks to everyone who offered their advice and wisdom on this thread. We feel we have definitely picked the right place for our family.

[Ydnam]

sparklechops,

You have bumped this thread. Hope things have moved on for you in the meantime.

Hitchin was a Quaker town and education has always been important. The town has good links to London and Cambridge by train. By road Cambridge and Milton Keynes are good also.
Most areas of Hitchin are easy to walk into town.

I have lived in HItchin for 16 years and loved it. My saving was MAMA as we arrived form abroad knowing no-one. Lots for the littlies to do and for teenagers it is a good safe place for them to explore on their own to develop independence.

Excellent provision for pre-schoolers;
Goslings - attached to Whitehill
Highbury
York Road Nursery
St Andrews Nursery

Loads of activities for pre schoolers as well -
Library - Tues 2.45 - story time
In Hitchin there are music groups - Music Train, North Herts Music School etc. Look in the Churches they also have a lot going on e.g. Bump and Babes, toddler groups etc.

In terms of primary schools it is worth investigating a few. Ones to look at are:-
William Ransom - v popular and catchment area is its side of the railway and close vicinity
Mary Exton - good school - catchment area Poets Estate except Chaucer.
Samuel Lucas - opposite end of town to the above.
HIghbury - this is the junior school which feeds into Whitehill. Catchment Whitehill Road and surrounding.

Other schools are Purwell, Oughton Head but housing is not so good in those areas.
HAving said that the area off Bedford Road - Oughton Head Way and south of that has some lovely housing with a small green and pub - almost Hampstead in feel but not nearly as expensive. That southern area is catchment for Sam Lucas. Other Victorian areas are Your an Lancaster Roads and Kings Road area although it is in the take-away Triangle so gets v busy

A couple of other good schools are:
St Ippolyts - but you need to live in St Ippolyts. With no transport it would be challenging to get into Hitchin. Helps to have your children christened (C of E)to get in
Wymondley school - in Little Wymondley. Ditto to above in terms of getting to Hitchin.

Secondary; All schools in Hitchin are good academically. Hitchin Girls gives a good challenge to the private schools in the area. Have a look at BBC Education site. Put the county in and all the schools will come up

Hitchin Girls - need to live in post codes SG4 9 to get in.
HItchin Boys - SG4 and SG5 post codes
Priory - not sure - probably North west Hitchin along Bedford Road.Have a look at Herts County Council for the catchment areas.

As far as I am aware having a sibling is no longer a priority it is purely catchment.

Best of luck in your choices.

[sparklechops]

Bumping...any Hitchinites on here who can give me some pointers on Highover? Thanks!

[sparklechops]

I hope noone minds me resurrecting this thread about Hitchin. I'm hoping for some more insider knowledge.

We have seen some lovely properties near Highover school. Can anyone tell me what it's like as a school please?

We got a good vibe from walking around the area today but I know it's out of catchment for the very good schools.

Thank you!

[sparklechops]

Thanks, Troubleintmill - yeah, we looked at Harpenden and quickly realised it's out of our league price wise!

[Troubleintmill]

Looks like you've already got some good info and positive thoughts on Hitchin but thought I'd add my 2ps worth!
We used to live in a village near Hitchin pre DC and thought it was a great little town. I don't drive either and always thought the public transport was pretty good, most stuff in the town seemed in walking distance anyway. Some great shops, great market and nice restaurants. Good local area with countryside not too far and things to do within a short distance. We loved Harpenden too but think that's pricier.

[sparklechops]

And thanks everyone for your very helpful comments.

[sparklechops]

Yes, I hope so! We are getting excited about coming back for a second visit now.

[Elansofar]

I had no kids when i lived there, but I did have horsey interests and made local friends that way and through a job on the industrial estate. My partner of the time made friends playing football for a local pub team. We moved from Glasgow so we truly knew no one after a year we knew quite a few. I think with kids it will be easier defo.