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Original poster

Hitchin/WGC and close areas please help

44 replies

purplesun · 26/08/2013 09:56

Good morning ladies,
I have just accepted a job in Hatfield and I have only a few weeks to relocate from Glasgow. I don't know the area but I have read some very good things about Hertfordshire! I have two young boys so good schools is a priority. I have come across Hitchin and WGC so far that are both easy to commute for Hatfield/London/Cambridge, not too expensive and seem nice. Can you advise me better? Are they ok for primary and secondary? Any area to avoid when looking for a house? Any other suggestion?
I really appreciate. Thank you in advance!

OP posts:

mewkins · 02/09/2013 22:39

Hello!
I think the children's a&e is at the Lister in Stevenage now so easy to reach from wgc and hitchin. I believe that Hemel hospital may also have a children's a&e. There is a large hospital in wgc too but I think both maternity and a&e services have been remived from there. There's also a big hospital in Watford. In Hertford we are also in easy reach of a big hospital in Harlow, essex.hth

Original poster

purplesun · 03/09/2013 11:06

Hi,

thanks a lot!
We need a good cardiology unit since my baby has a heart condition (luckily it seems to be under control and he may only need surgery in a couple of years), but I think the hospital here in Glasgow will help us find something once we move. And definitely having an a&e nearby gives me a bit of peace of mind! because you never know!!!

I really appreciate mewkins!

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orangepudding · 03/09/2013 12:25

If you choose WGC I would stick to the West side of town, Handside and Knightsfield. Panshanger is supposed to be nice too but you can't walk to the town centre. The problem with the West side is the high prices - how much is your budget?

FishfingersAreOK · 03/09/2013 17:54

Addenbrookes (Cambridge) is doable for surgical stuff from Hitchin/Baldock as is from all areas but that bit further. Also Great Ormond Street doable for specialist stuff.

Do you have a house budget?

FeetUpUntilChristmas · 03/09/2013 18:08

Hertford is beautiful but expensive but so is St Albans, you haven't given us (I don't think) an idea of your budget and age of children, if you are trying to get them not schools now. At present most of the primary schools are oversubscribed due to new build. One has gone up to a 3 form intake to accommodate this.

In Hertford as already stated you need to avoid the Sele Farm area.

If your budget is limited you could consider Stevenage.

Original poster

purplesun · 04/09/2013 08:17

Hi,

we will rent first to have a feeling of the area (also because I will be on probation for three months and I cannot apply for a mortgage..) and then buy. The boys are 2 and a half and 7 months. So I will apply for nursery place in January/March and be near a good school. I am looking carefully at the areas where we could buy and find a flat to rent in the same area so that there is the chance my son will go in the same primary he will start nursery. WGC is giving me a headache since there are just a few properties for rent near schools. Hemel Hempstead is another option but I will have to give a look around and see if I like it. It's my first stop tomorrow.

I think we could go up to 330k quite comfortably. Maybe even more but I have to discuss with the bank what monthly payment we are talking about. Probably once we won't have to pay private nursery for DD1 we could consider borrowing more money (for the right house!)

So st Albans is out of budget.

Good to know we'll be probably referred to Cambridge for DD2!
Thanks!

OP posts:

orangepudding · 04/09/2013 09:31

purplesun, when I moved to WGC I was surprised at house few houses are available for rent - the majority or people own or are council tenants.

Original poster

purplesun · 04/09/2013 11:03

I think I will have to rule out WGC because of that! I've seen 3 flats in Hertford that look ok. My husband will be in Hatfield early next week so I think I will go to Hemel tomorrow and Hitchin on Friday and he will go to Hert on Tuesday/Wednesday. Hopefully end of next week we'll have something sorted!

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bunjies · 04/09/2013 11:55

We currently rent in Hitchin & find it's quite a landlord's market. Properties are expensive to rent & are snapped up very quickly. Primary schools are generally on the good rating. Personally I prefer the north end of town but the more expensive areas are south of the town. Only secondarys are one mixed & 2 single sex. Both the single sex schools are centrally located & are overscribed. My ds attends the mixed school as it is located north. It recently regained its ofsted good rating after having been (unfairly in mist people's opinion) downgraded to a satisfactory under the old system.

According to a Times article Hitchin is in the top 10 places to live & subsequently prices are high & I suspect school places will become even harder to secure.

Happy to give mire specific info if needed.

Original poster

purplesun · 04/09/2013 12:38

Hi Bunjis,

thank you so much! Do you have some areas to suggest in the north part of Hitchin?

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bunjies · 04/09/2013 14:02

Roads I like are Old Hale Way & Strathmore Avenue. Both are main roads but they are set back & are usually semis with garages & room to extend. Gardens are large too. 3 bed houses are round the £350k mark though so too expensive for us . This 4 bed one is down the road from me & I covet it!

I also like Bearton Green, Lancaster Avenue, Brampton Park Rd & Whitehurst Avenue although parking can be a bit of a problem in some of these roads as there is no off street parking.

Bessemer Close is an executive estate with 4-5 bedroom houses going for around £500k. I think it's soulless & gardens are tiny compared to the houses. Feels like they're all on top of each other despite being detached.

Willow Tree Way is a more affordable estate but houses don;t seem to come up very often here.

Most people will tell you to steer clear of the West Mill estate which is on the West side. You would need to make your own mind up about that but dd2 goes to the primary there & it is fine but it does have a bit of a reputation! However, due to the influx of people over the last few years & the pressure on other schools the nursery has had to expand and has been rated as outstanding by Ofsted. I do like Burford Way which is right at the northern end of the estate (& of Hitchin). It backs on to allotments and the Oughtonhead Nature Reserve which is lovely for walks. Houses are much more affordable here.

Justonemorebiteplease · 04/09/2013 14:10

We're in Letchworth and would recommend there, Baldock or Hitchin. Being slightly further up the A1 you do get a bit more for your money and the train links to London and Cambridge are very good.

Bre19 · 04/09/2013 14:27

Hi, sounds like a lot going on for you - god luck! We've just left Hertford to move further in to London to be closer to family but we were very sad to leave. It is a fab place to live, schools are great and it's a very pretty town with nice places to eat and drink. I have friends who live in Hitchin and prefer Hertford but don't have experience of the other areas you mention. In terms of your budget, there are lots of Victorian cottages in Hertford and they tend to sell for anything from £275-£350k-ish. The lower end is usually 2 bed but quite a few people convert their lofts to make 3. I agree that Bengeo is the more desirable end of town however Hertford east is also a great option as it is spitting distance from town, the park and the train into London. I had friends who were stranded in Bengeo during the heavy snow over the past few years as its on a hill and those in the east of town were busy making snow angels in the park and drinking hot chocolate in town! Good luck and more than happy to answer any questions!

Original poster

purplesun · 04/09/2013 23:19

That's really funny Bre19!!!
I would love Hertford or St Albans but at the moment it seems we canot afford them. But I am still considering them and doing everything I can. I am waiting for a couple of nurseries to come back at me and I have already seen 3 flats that I like!

bunjies thanks a lot! I have a couple of free hours on Friday afternoon. I may well take the chance to give a look around in Burford Way.

Justonemorebiteplease I was looking at a nursery in Letchworth today! who knows! If I am not happy with Hitchin, I may look further north!

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bunjies · 05/09/2013 10:13

Good luck purple.

I do think letchworth has a lot to offer but for me the secondary school situation puts me off as there aren't enough good ones.

FishfingersAreOK · 05/09/2013 17:53

The Letchworth/Hitchin Secondary lottery (some great some awful) is what made us pick Baldock. One secondary. And a great one. And 3 good/outstanding primaries.

bunjies · 06/09/2013 08:26

I wouldn't say there's a lottery with secondary schools in Hitchin as they are all rated the same, ie good. Agreed it is a different story in letchworth. It is a shame though as letchworth has a lot to offer as a town, I just don't get why the schools don't match up. I know there are quite a few private schools so maybe that explains it. For me Baldock has the schools but lacks the town centre facilities.

Original poster

purplesun · 08/09/2013 13:51

Hi ladies!

My trip was exhausting but at least I found a flat! Next month we'll move to Hitchin!! I really loved the town and people. I didn't like Hamel Hampstead. Boxmoor was really a nice area but I didn't like the rest of the town. It is a pity since the country is really nice and the sport and ski centre are impressive.

I still don't know about nurseries.. I saw a couple but I cannot make up my mind. I may ask my husband to go and see them this week so he can help me decide. Thank you!!!!

OP posts:

juneau · 08/09/2013 13:55

If you like to look of the St Albans area, but can't afford to live IN St Albans, how about London Colney, Park Street, Redbourn? They're all close to St Albans, and an easy commute to Hatfield. The A1 is horrible in rush hour, particularly if you've got a school drop off first. St Albans traffic is pretty horrible too, so living in one of the surrounding villages might be better.

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