If I like St Albans...where else?

[OhTinky]

Currently living in the South East and considering a move somewhere else, but where?!

Working in London (west/central) so easy access to a London trainline is essential and schooling, particularly secondary schooling is a priority. Would want to live within a mile or so of the station too for ease of commute.

If I like St Albans, but probably can’t quite afford it, where else? Ideally 3 bed house budget circa £500,000. I can’t think of anywhere else which is a small town in its own right with a good high street, good trains, good schools etc etc - but clearly it comes at a premium!

Berkhamsted? Prices do seem to be sky rocketing a bit though.

Or Tring. You could definitely get a 3 bed for your budget.

Ampthill in beds is lovely. Same line, good schools, much cheaper

Colchester always reminded me of Snorbens tbh, just a bit tattier and less ...up-market. Similar history.

Bicester
Wycombe
Maidenhead
Thame
Amersham
Beaconsfield

(not sure on house prices but all on London mainline)

I'm in Borehamwood, not far from St Albans, and we're on the Thameslink line into London and our town centre is getting better and better and schools are not bad (but a bit oversubscribed).

Bishops Stortford. Direct into Liverpool Street in between 40-50 mins depending on time of day?

Thanks all - looks like I have a heavy evening of googling and rightmoving ahead!

Leighton Buzzard has fast trains to Euston. It's in Beds which has a 3 tier school system.

Newbury if you work in West London is fine as a commute and lovely villages along the trainline between Newbury and Theale.

Hitchin is your answer. Two secondary schools one mixed one ss, both excellent. 25 mins to KX and coming soon St Pancreas & London Bridge (and through to Gatwick)

Bedfordshire is within a 1 hour commute. But the schools are in the process of changing to 2 tier so if you have school age DCs they will get caught up in that like mine currently are. There ARE good schools but you have to be careful finding them.
Also avoid Bedford - it’s horrible! I lived there until about 3 or 4 years ago and very glad we left!
Leighton Buzzard is nice, so are places like Ampthill and Hitchin.

Watford? Not as 'nice' as St Albans but 20 minute train to Euston, direct trains to West London and the tube. Good schools and the town centre has a lot of shops. I moved away a few years ago but I think they are opening a cinema in the town centre.

Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Watford?

I came in to say hitchin too.

Lovely town. Doctor Forster was filmed there.

Also loads of bigger towns within ten mins to get all the Diy house stuff.

Close to St Albans too

East Reading, 30mins into Paddington

was going to suggest Reading... or Slough.

Slough?? I can't think of many towns less like St Albans than Slough!

Maidenhead is also not a bit like St Albans! But it is better than Slough ...

Was also going to suggest Hitchin.

Is Hitchen much cheaper? Guildford?

Slough??? Lol.

Maidenhead will be on the Elizabeth line eventually. Great villages around Maidenhead but expensive. Marlow would tick your boxes except for house costs. If you are ok commuting into Marylebone, you would have to go further out than Beaconsfield re housing costs. Wycombe isn’t much like St Albans either. Princes Risborough is great but schools are iffy at the moment. Village schools are better. Theme would be a better bet. I like Thame.

Berkhamsted would also be perfect but it’s pricy. The great towns always have a hefty price tag if they are an easier commute to London and are great in every other way. Wendover could suit. Slough is a no no, but Stoke Poges might be ok.

Rickmansworth and croxley green are both nice areas

Harpenden, Welwyn Garden City, Hitchin ( lovely town) Knebworth, Hertford