Potentially leaving London for Hitchin... would love to ask those local for some advice!

[LemonLovely]

I love living in London, though admit that while there are loads of positives for kids (and, selfishly, for me as I adore the city warts and all!), there are a lot of negatives too: the quality of air, overall quality of life as everyone works such long hours, local stabbings/murders as the norm, local crackheads as the norm etc...

My husband has a killer commute - 1.5 hours each way - into Hertfordshire, and we're thinking it might be time to consider moving out, and getting a better quality of life in a lot of areas as a result. He doesn't see enough of London to have an affiliation to it anymore, and would move tomorrow if we could. Knowing this it's time for me to suck it up and accept the time is nigh and moving is the right thing to consider sob. His new commute would only be a 15/20 minute drive each way, so a big difference, and he'd see so much more of the kids/me.

Our twins start school in reception this September, so if we leave in the next year/two we'd be looking to join a school retrospectively, but, challengingly, with two in the same class (or year, if two-form).

Our house budget will be about £800/850k. My question is, which areas, with that kind of budget, would be good for us to consider? They need to have close proximity to good schools (by all accounts the schools are generally good, and some better, versus schools around us which are generally good or not!). Thinking ahead, if we wanted our twins to go to the single-sex secondary schools, they're boy/girl twins, so we'd need to be in an area that worked for both the boys' and girls' school. I know hard to think that far ahead, but sensible not to discount it either as the house we'd move to would - we hope - be our final purchase.

I freelance, and do go into London so proximity to the train station is key too, ideally walkable.

We're planning on using the next few months to research, pay a few visits etc, and check out the feel of different areas, but would love some initial pointers from people who know the area!

Oh, and just to mention, I don't think villages outside would be an option. Grew up in a village in another country, so have had that (often claustrophobic!) experience and having done London for so long, don't think I can compromise that much!

Have a look at Harpenden and St Albans.

Thanks, Downeyhouse - is that because of budget, or because you generally think they're better?

Hello

I recommended them as the schools are truly excellent

Hitchin is a lovely place to live too, and has good boys and girls schools.

Hitchin is fab. I can't afford to live there anymore because of everyone coming up from London and pushing house prices through the roof though (not that I'm bitter )

I think I'd be looking at somewhere like St Albans or even Cambridge with that budget though. Much more going on and still easily commutable for your husband.

We're tempted too and it would definitely be St Albans

Where does DH have to commute to?

I admit I hardly know Hertfordshire, but some friends moved to near Berkhampstead, from London, pre-DC (they now have two). We've been up there a couple of times and it seems a lovely town, with easy access to London by train.

I lived in Hitchin around 10 years ago, my family are all in the area.
It's a nice market town.
It's a great commuter spot, walkable from station to town, good schools both public and private.
@Downeyhouse is right though, I'm not up on housing prices but I would also be considering St. Albans, it's got great all the above plus better proximity to London. Slightly more upmarket and some fab restaurants.

Oops, sorry, spelling mistake. It should be Berkhamsted!

Hi OP,
I recently made the move from London to Hitchin and love it. I have a 1 year old and it’s been a fantastic place to be on maternity leave and I think it’s a wonderful area to bring up children. It’s a very thriving town to live, lovely cafes/restaurants/independent shops/green spaces etc.

We had a similar wish list to you but a slightly lower budget. Some pointers would be

• The SG4 9 postcode is known as the prestigious post code for the schools, as it covers both Hitchin Boys and Hitchin Girls secondary. It’s also the catchment for 2 outstanding primaries, William Ransom and St Andrews (the latter is a faith school but I believe takes quite a few non church admissions). It’s also the residential area closest to the station and so popular with commuters, as well as being very walkable to town. However housing stock is very limited. A lot of the houses near the station are smallish terraces, and the roads like Chiltern/The Avenue/Benslow Rise are beautiful (In my opinion) but houses will go for over 1 million. I don’t think it will be the easiest to find something in between in your budget but that’s not to say it’s impossible!

• The west side (at least I think it’s the West!) has very nice areas too (eg Bearton road) however you are then about 30 mins walk from the station, though easily walkable to town. I think that side falls (ie some SG5 postcodes) into Hitchin boys catchment but not necessarily Hitchin girls. There is an outstanding primary called Samuel Lucas in that area.

I remember finding a thread several years ago and someone likened finding a good house in Hitchin to getting the window seat in the best restaurant, and I can identify with that!

I’m really happy to look at any Rightmove links for you or answer any more questions you have if you want to PM me.

Best of luck with your decision making!

Hello,
I realise this is an old post but I’m considering this move too. Did you go ahead with it in the end?