Relocation to Herts -should we do it?

[Hert12]

My husband and I are relocating to Hertfordshire from London. We can't afford St Albans so are looking at Welwyn Garden City or Hertford, any thoughts on these areas appreciated!

Have you considered Hitchin, Letchworth or Royston?

Well you’ve got a John Lewis in Welwyn

And a fab dry ski slope at Gosling stadium

Do you need a station? Are you moving with kids?

We had the same question 15 years ago and came to Hertford, never regretted it. Trains from Hertford (two stations into different London stations) are slower than from WGC but there's more chance of being able to walk to the station in Hertford.
WGC is bigger but has better shops. Hertford is smaller and is undergoing building work in the shopping centre at the moment. Hertford has a better small town vibe though, with a great cafe restaurant scene . You are likely to find people from Hertford shopping in WGC during the day and people from WGC eating out in Hertford in the evening. Literally 15 minutes drive apart.

What kind of things are important to you OP?

My DDs went to school in Brookmans Park and the villages around there are lovely. My top pick is Berkhsmsted but it depends on your commute. It has everything a family could want. Tring is also great.

But Brookmans Park is a very long way from both Berkhamsted and Tring????

Er!!! Yes. But the question was relocating to Herts. I have put forward Berkhamsted as an alternative if the commute works.

My DDs boarded at school. We live over the border in Bucks.

Echoing Sluj, just 1 year later. Really love Hertford also excellent secondary schools and primary but a bit out of touch with them.
Also have Harlow 15 mins in the other direction, which is good for superstores etc. Also cinema, escape rooms etc.
Hertford has a lovely little theatre and you get quite a few comedy acts etc.
Do you have children and how old are they?

Agree about the villages. Brookmans Park is very expensive, though. Neighbouring Welham Green is cheaper, and still on the train line. If you've got children, there's a great youth club - assuming it still operates.

I would say Hertford has a more St Albans vibe than WGC but I think the trains are better from WGC and the shops are better.

Brookmans Park is lovely but expensive. Have you looked at Potters Bar? 15 minutes drive to St Albans for the restaurants, theatre, cinema etc.

Ware is an option if you are looking more east.

WCG is fab - great transport, the every-wonderful John Lewis, some good places to eat out. Very quick to get into London too. Surrounding villages are lovely too, especially Welwyn which is a pretty village and has a small high street with a few shops, pubs and restaurants. Digswell is good for Welwyn North station and also has a few shops, pub and tennis club. Tewin / Burnham Green have nice pubs. Datchworth has lovely big village green and a super restaurant. Knebworth has also got a small high street and lots of amenities but you are heading towards Stevenage then.

We moved out from London 10 years ago and don't miss it at all because it's just so easy to get to for a night out so we get the best of both worlds.

We have a 6 month old daughter so looking for things to do and a nice area to grow up in. You're right WGC is very connected, but preferred the 'old town feel of Hertford, although shops looked a bit rubbish! Has it always been like that? Berkhamsted looked great but sits a bit out of our budget in the nice areas.

I'd second Hitchin. Great small town vibe and most houses walkable to the train station. Lived there for three years before relocating.

Hertford town centre is taking a major hit right now. It used to have lots of shops, a small Waitrose, etc but most of these are being shut down now and they are building some kind of hotel in the centre of town. It is fast becoming the land of gifts shops, nail bars and restaurants. Local landlords put the rent up as well for commercial properties so that has forced a lot of shops to close. It's depressing.

It's a great location for families, there's loads to do in the area. I would think about your commute though, and which train suits you best.

Watford has a big shopping centre, and St Albans has loads. I just tend to go to London for a bigger shopping experience.

I've never been that keen on Hertford as a town really - not much going on at all. Bishops Stortford is lovely and has a busier town.

If Berkhamsted is too expensive, try Tring. Plenty going on and good schools. Berko down the road.

Hertford is lovely, county town, great schools, the river, weekly market, loads of cafes and restaurants, and a lovely old town vibe, as well as two train lines to London. WGC has the shopping complex and old Welwyn is nice, but is a bit 'new town' in comparison.

Exactly why I said people relax and eat in Hertford but go shopping in WGC or Watford or the Brookfield Centre. At least until we see how the new shopping area/hotel and riverside cafes look in Hertford. Work starts next month so not too long now.
Hertford has a bit of a holiday feel about it somehow, with the river, castle, meads and lots of open air music festivals. WGC just doesn't have the same feel.
It's a bit more of a shopping centre place than a town to enjoy.

Having said that, I am happy to drive the 15 minutes it takes to get to John Lewis anytime😀

Have you looked at ware? Right next to Hertford

Tring and Bushey are lovely.

Hitichin and Tring are both lovely.

Tring is lovely but the station is nowhere near where most people live / go to school / go to nursery

Tring is pretty but has no amenities, but it sounds as though the OP is looking for a town not a village. Specifically she has asked for views on WGC and Hertford, so I am not sure why other places are being discussed. However, apparently Land's End and John O Groats are very nice too!