Location me...

[needtomovesoon]

Need some help finding a nice area to move to. Feel like we've been looking forever and need some fresh ideas. We need to be commutable to London - into Euston or Kings Cross ideally and a short drive (40 mins max) to Milton Keynes. We're after somewhere with nice parks, a decent town centre and good state schools. Are there any hidden gems out there? Does your area tick these boxes? Thanks people.

Interesting RT.

I'd like to be close to a station and close to a bit of life - cafes, pubs, shops etc. We need space for one car and yes we'd really like a garden. Need at least 3 beds, preferably 4.

We live in Hackney at the moment. And we're really happy here. We live in a really nice part of town near a huge park and lots of cafes and life. There's a real sense of community and we know most of our neighbours. But we have a very, very small house with no garden. And we have two children so would like a bigger place, more space and a decent garden.

Haven't been to harpenden for a few years but it deffo has a town centre and at least 2 huge parks, sports centre (within one of the parks) and some gorgeous houses that are over £1m but also some cheaper

But just don't over stay your parking (pay and display) near sports centre cos you will get ticket, a couple of years ago anyway!!

I moved from hackney to hitchin and of all the places you are considering I think they have the most in common. Herts is a big conservative stronghold, hitchin is one of the places with a more liberal outlook. Lots of independent shops. Really good primary and secondary school. Easy to get to london and Cambridge. You could get a 4 bed semi d with garden in town for £650k. They dont come up often but they are there.

That's useful to know Bellende. Do you like it? Is there lots to do? Where's good to live there?

I still miss hackney but 2 years on I am very happy in hitchin. I live in a small cottage in town. I would recommend being near town, as I get what you said about St Albans. For your budget you look around york rd, the Avenue (v posh), oughtonhead (westmill is the rougher end of town, but its all relative).
Restaurants are decent and there are lots of them (not london standard just decent), beautiful countryside right on.doorstep, people v friendly.

I had my beady eye on this but out of reach for now
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63937220.html

Beautiful! How come it's not super expensive? Is it in a main road?

It appears to be directly opposite a social housing estate - including several blocks of flats.

It is a really quiet st but 5 mins to town and ten to station. That development causes no issues I am aware of I would be in there in a shot. Most of the older housing stock is smaller than you want but gems like these do come up in this price bracket. I reckon you would need to be making nice with the agents to get in to see them though.

This was another that ticked my boxes, just round corner from me, no flats.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64100921.html

That's lovely too. You're selling me on Hitchin. I'm gonna head up there and check it out.

I would also recommend Hitchin. Someone above recommended Hertford and I agree it would fit all the boxes extremely well (I love Hertford) except commute to Milton Keynes as it is more like 1hour 15 mins not the 40 mins OP is after.
Hitchin is much closer to MK and has a relatively fast link into Kings Cross. I also think you get more for your money in Hitchin.

We live in a village between Stevenage and Hitchin - although a very short drive to Stevenage station which has fast trains to Kings Cross, and very close to A1M.

Our local primary state school is excellent, although I'm not sure which secondary state schools are within catchment. Hitchin does have excellent state secondary's, but they are over subscribed and house prices have rocketed because of this.

Decent town centre is lacking - I like Hitchin but it's a pain to park, and Stevenage is just terrible. There are lots of handy retail parks though which I tend to use. We are also close to Letchworth town centre which is also okay.

Northampton, Bedford, Hitchin, St Neots ?

Northampton is a bit far from London I think. What's Bedford like?

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uks-best-and-worst-places-raise-family-revealed-hertfordshire-ayrshire-a7217671.html%3Famp
Northampton to Euston is 58 mins

Letchworth? But maybe to far from MK
local.mumsnet.com/Talk/local_hertfordshire/2587215-Where-to-avoid-Letchworth-Hitchin
Is Aylesbury of any interest ?
Thame?

Kings Langley, Haddenham, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead.

Bit of a range of places (I have lived in each of them) but all fit your requirements.

What Aylesbury like justsweeone? Think I thought it too far from London.

Interested in your thoughts on Berkhamsted, Dilapidated. Seems to me to be a great high street (though very choked with cars) but not much else. Are there some hidden parks? Beautiful bits?

We live in Aylesbury for 7 year but have been back in Norfolk for 12
I liked living there, both children born there, we moved when eldest was 7
Grammar school system
Train only an hour to London but into Marleybone if I remember correctly
I worked in Milton Keynes for a while, easy drive
Nice countryside surrounding Aylesbury
Think it is going to be one of the new garden towns

Lived!!

Berkhamsted is one of the places I loved the most.
The high street has a great selection of shops and places to eat, but it can get annoyingly congested with cars.
I lived in the town centre so walked everywhere, and when needed it was easy access to the A41 to reach the M25.

I loved spending summer evenings wandering by the canals, the old castle ruins and there are a few parks suitable for children too.
I love walking and hiking (have a dog) and Ashridge forest is a short drive away and perfect for picnics or a decent ice cream. If you're outdoorsy you can walk there across the fields from Berkhamsted town, and once you're in Ashridge you can walk all the way along the Ridgeway to Ivinghoe Beacon.

The doctors surgery was always very easy to get an appointment at (ive always struggled elsewhere).
If you like fish and chips there is an excellent chippy (Expect queues) at the train station. Best Ive ever had, and Im not usually a fish and chip type of person.

i would go for st albans or berkhamsted. Most people don't ever want to leave the latter. Lovely cinema there, parks, canal walks etc.... yes, the town is busy with cars but I think that I could live with that....

Hitchen also popular but I don't know that at all so can't comment.