Where would you choose to live out of these places?

[groovygreenwichgirl]

We need to move to buy a bigger place (just had baby and current flat and area is unsuitable).

We both work in London. DH works at Westminster and I am potentially going to be able to give up current job and work from home. We love London but would like to live somewhere family friendly with a good community feel. We also want to not move again for a while after in order to make this home for our ds and potential other dc.

DH doesn't want a commute longer than an hour door to door. We have also recently found out he could transfer to the same job (with same pay minus London weighting) in Sheffield.

Our budget is 475,000 and we are looking at 3 bed houses.

So our shortlist at the moment is:
Epping/Loughton/Buckhurst Hill
St Albans
Watford
Sheffield

I have never been to Sheffield. I know it would be cheaper but Is it a nice place to live?

Lived in Sheffield for a couple of years, having lived in London for over a decade, and it's true that we've been able to buy a house here, which we could never have afforded in London. And DH can walk to work.

OTOH, I desperately miss the variety of arts and culture in London (there's a great children's museum here but when you've been there once a week during the summer your appreciation wears off; likewise for the same stuff in all the galleries). If you're outdoorsy, Sheffield is great, but if you're not, the assumption that the ugliness of the city centre and east side of the city towards Meadowhall is made up for by the Peak District gets wearing.

Sheffield City Council is also stuck with a PFI contract for road maintenance with Amey, who are doing so by tearing down 100 year old trees in those leafy south west parts of town. Sheffield sells itself as the greenest city in the UK, but the centre definitely doesn't feel like that compared to London.

You went to my old house then Possum?

Another one for Sheffield I live nearby, good hospitals, good schools, friendly people, awesome countryside, good rail connections to everywhere, and your children will grow up with a cute yorkshire accent.
Have lived near St Albans too, which is pleasant, but expensive, and has the feel of a commuter area.
All the best on your decision

"good hospitals"

That is so very very true. Both DD and OH have benefited from life saving operations from the excellent medical services available. Sheffield children's hospital is just brilliant, and the care OH had at the Northern General was second to none.

Oliversmumsarmy why would London be safer than Sheffield? A quick google search shows that Sheffield has less than a fifth of the violent crime than there is in Manchester. And that London is worse than Manchester.

Sheffield is very safe, I lived there until I was 20, for a few years in my late 20's and have visited regularly since then and I've never even been in a slightly worrying situation.

're the climbing

Bah, posted too soon, re the climbing, it's the reason I'm from Sheffield as my dad is a climber, still going strong in his 70s!

I recently met up with some Southern friends in Sheff and they were quite amazed at how lovely it actually is. People have strange misconceptions about the North.

sshhhh don't tell everyone Hairy