Moving to Welwyn Garden City

[Ayana19]

Hi I could really use some advice please.
We have a 5 month old baby and have lived in London for the last 5 years but can't afford to buy so we found a lovely house in WGC and we placed an offer pretty much after seeing it as didn't want to lose house. Been back to WGC many times since and I'm more apprehensive than My husband as we both work in London and the commute from house near Panshanger near morrisons is a good 25-30 min walk bus service isn't great I'd be driving in but hubby e I UK probably walk on mornings he can't wait for me.
Can I please get some advice on Wgc but also the area and nursery's - we are considering Rowan nursery and I would probably park my car at West Campus car park as it's £5. There doesn't seem to be much to do on weekends are there any nice family pubs? Are there any mummy groups that you know of so I can make new friends? Any advice you can give please would be greatly appreciated as I am really confused/over whelmed many changes likely to happen in next few months : possible move, returning to work leaving my Lil one at nursery.

How long would your commute be ? Would you be able to get back to nursery in time for pick up ?

There aren't many pubs in WGC at all as the town was built by quakers. Panshanger is a fair way from the town and the bus service from that side in not as good as it is from the main road on the other side of Panshanger.

The nice pubs are all in the villages around WGC, it's a while since I lived near there but my parents still do - so I can ask them where they recommend. The park on little rivers is really good and also Stanborough park.

Used to live in Panshanger. Lovely bit of wgc. I would say cycling to the station would be your best bet as plenty of foot and cycle paths. As said up post, lots of lovely country pubs in the villages around wgc (Tewin Burnham Green, old Welwyn, etc) and if you like cyclinglots of cycle paths and country routes around. Trainline into London is pretty quick. Quite a few baby groups, toddler music classes etc around and lots of young families. Decent John Lewis and supermarkets, shopping centre ok, good coffee shops, quite a lot going on at Campus West. Also close to St Albans for shopping, etc

I live in WGC and commute into London and it is a lovely place to live with children. There are a number of private nurseries and we use rowan tree near the town which we have always been happy with. There is a new nursery in the centre of town, YMCA, sycamore near hospital and a busy bees near shire park. There are quite a few children's centres and churches which have various toddler groups. There is a soft play at gosling and a new one opening in the autumn in campus west next to library. There isn't much nightlife but lots of lovely country pubs on the outskirts of town or in local villages. You can also be in kings cross in 25mins if you crave london life!

I think there are buses every 15mins or so into the town centre. (I live the other side of the town near pear tree)

To be honest though, there are plenty of shortcuts that you will learn cycling or walking into the town centre.

It's a lovely place to live, and I miss panshanger a lot (lived there for a few years when I just had 1 child). The community centre has play groups/toddler groups there. Moneyhole park has a lovely small park as well as the larger equipment.

There are plenty of pubs, however I don't think there are any left in panshanger, as tesco is now where the oak tavern used to be. I don't tend to take mine into pubs as they fleece me now they are older. ;) I do pop into the chieftain midweek with the toddlers for lunch with friends.

The schools are nursery are generally good/outstanding.

And I do find there is a real sense of community here.

Cycling here is pretty good - has your DH looked at travelling from Welwyn North in Digswell rather than WGC? Lots to do on weekends, the cinema and Roller City at Campus West are both great for kids (and they're building a new soft play) plus lots of community stuff. You'll be fine, it's a nice place to live :)