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!

[BumpyMum3]

Oooh do we all know each other? It is a bit like that in Hitchin. I bet we do!!

[Quenelle]

I might have passed you in Bancroft today!

[BumpyMum3]

I wasn't in town today but now I'll be wondering who everyone is!! I love Hitchin.

[tethersend]

Well, I grew up in Hitchin and moved to London when I was 18- My mum and brother still live there.

I decided to move back when DD1 was born- we lasted six months before moving back to London and I have never been so miserable in all my life.

I think the was an element of sadness over how much the place had changed; it is much less cosmopolitan than it was, and is as pamplemousse asserts, it's all style and no substance. Lots of people trying very hard to be 'alternative' whilst inadvertently being the most boring fuckers on the planet. It was the most unfriendly place- and I say that having friends there! It was whilst I was pushing baby DD on a swing and started a conversation with the mother next to me pushing her baby and she looked at me like I was a nut job and turned her back on me which was the last straw.

You could have a different experience to me, but do learn to drive. I couldn't (still can't), and it was incredibly isolating as the bus service is shite and the train is ridiculously expensive. There are only so many times you can walk around town with the buggy before cracking up and maiming an innocent bystander.

Oh, and the poets estate absolutely fine. Nothing to compare with SE London

[MrsJohnDeere]

Crikey! I have to disagree. I've lived in many different towns/cities/countries but have found it to be the friendliest place by some distance.

[tethersend]

If I didn't know a number of people who felt the same way, I'd think it was me

I didn't fit in at all; which felt weird, because it's my home town.

I'm back in east London now which is far, far friendlier.

[Morgan]

We lived there from 2002 to 2005 as my DH is from there when my DS was 1 - 4 . It's a good place for families . We lived on The Avenue so near to the station . DH got the 6.40 train and went 1st class to get a seat ! I used to walk a lot with the push chair and did all the usual classes , singing , tumble tots , Mama playgroup on a Fri morning . Made lots of good friends . Would recommend it .

[TattyCatty]

Bumpy, if you are who I think you are, you'll remember my DD for her late crawling antics

[BumpyMum3]

Boom boom! Gotcha!!!! I'm not regular on here but could not resist bugging up Hit h

[BumpyMum3]

Bloody hell no edit button?? Could not resist bigging up Hitch

[BumpyMum3]

Stupid iPhone, doesn't like the word Hitchin, clearly!! And hello you :-)

[MysteriousHamster]

Letchworth is nice, I didn't mean to dull it down so much, but it does suffer with the schools. There are some really lovely unique houses (many of the roads are built with completely different houses at each number), you get more for your money. If getting a bit more room for your money is important it's definitely worth a look. Most places are easy to get to the station from.

[Elansofar]

Lived there for a while, not far from wymondley road. Great fast train to London. Good access to road networks. Met some life friends and i loved the countryside round about. You will not lose money on a house in hitchin unless its an asbestos hut.

[sparklechops]

Hi again...thanks for all these comments. More to think about!

We are getting a mortgage in principle sorted (fingers crossed) and then we are coming back to Hitchin for another look around.

Bumpymum3, thanks for the info on childcare.

It does seem as though Hitchin is tailored for us.

What did you mean about people trying to be alternative, tethersend? In what way?

[sparklechops]

The friendliness thing really concerns me as we will know noone (argh!) when we arrive.

I know people say London is unfriendly but I have always found the opposite in our little area of the city, especially with a baby. I am always having lovely chats with random people on buses, in shops etc. I was hoping a small town would be similar.

Tethersend, I can't believe that another mum turned her back on you in the playground. Clearly she had no social skills whatsoever. So rude!! That would really upset me.

[MrsJohnDeere]

I think it is very easy to make friends in Hitchin if you have small children. I didn't really have friends in other places we lived but have lots here. Fwiw, I find Hitchin itself friendly enough but the villages outside much more so (but they're probably not an option if you don't drive), but it could just be because that's what I know.

[TattyCatty]

Completely agree that it is easy to make friends if you have children. We didn't really know anybody for the first few years that we lived here, as both DH and I were working elsewhere throughout the week. However, as soon as we had DD, we quickly developed a large group of friends. Good place to start is the MAMA playgroup on a Friday morning - great for toddlers, but it really lives up to it's name - MAMA stands for Meet A Mum Association, and it has a strong social side to it too.

[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.

[sparklechops]

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

[sparklechops]

And thanks everyone for your very helpful comments.

[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]

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

[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]

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

[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.