Harefield , uxbridge... Information on area.

[curiousmummy01]

Hello,
Can anyone please give any info on Harefield as an area?
We are a young family.
Is it safe?
While looking for houses, I came across Harefield and noticed that the prices here seem slightly cheaper compared to the surrounding areas. Can someone give insight into why that is and if it is a good area for a young family to live in.
any information will be appreciated.
thank you

I don't know Harefield massively, but the village itself always seems nice when I've driven through it.

It is likely cheaper than Uxbridge (if that's your main comparison) because of the lack of transport links. If you drive, it's unlikely to be a problem, but it does keep away people that are looking for an easy commute in to London. As it's a small place I suspect buses aren't particularly frequent either.

Uxbridge is on the underground network so will attract a higher price as a result.

thank you @funnyHappyGirl.
I thought of the same reason too. Thankyou for your input.

If someone from Harefield or surrounding areas could share some light, that will be great.

I live in Uxbridge. Harefield is pleasant enough but public transport is an issue. Dont know about Primary, but Harefield High School does not have a good reputation. There is a long straight road that brings you from Uxbridge into Harefield that is always full of huge lorries thundering down it on the way to the cement works, the dump and the huge site for bloody HS2 that is destroying the area.

Harefield is nice enough. Large village green, nice woods for walks. Nice village cricket club for all ages, and a couple of fairly nice pubs. There is a bus to Northwood for the tube (takes about 15-20 minutes) and tends to run punctually, bus in the other direction to Denham overground, about the same in regards to times and punctuality.

Harefield Academy secondary school doesn't have a great reputation, but Rickmansworth High is pretty good. Not sure about the primary schools.

Former Harefield resident checking in.

It has a nice village feel and has a community that engages with local events and causes in a big way. The high street has a good range of shops and services (dentist, optician, hairdressers etc). The village Co op and costcutter are good for food top ups and are open till late, but you have to travel to Rickmansworth for the big tesco and even further afield for other supermarkets.

The Secondary school in particular is not very good and performed poorly in the latest school inspections (needs improvement), but the infant school did better.

I would say it was generally safe, but there are pockets of concern. One of the local roads is nicknamed unfavourably for drugs and people in the village often point the finger there for local crime. I always felt safe in our flat, but we did once witness a very violent crime outside our doorstep and had to call the police because of it.

Overall I liked it and our flat increased in price by around 130k in just 4 years there, so it was a good investment. I would move back if we found a nice house in one of the safer & quieter streets. My husband hated it and couldn't wait to move, but he can be rather unreasonable and snobby about location.

If you're on facebook, I recommend joining the 'harefied in your heart' group to get a feel for whats going on at the moment.

thank you so much for all your inputs.
@bingbandbingbangbong we are looking to buy on Northwood road in Harefield . would you say thats a safe part of Harefield?

I think that's the road the Academy is on. If so, it's ok'ish, away from the shops and pubs, on the Northwood bus route. Not sure about what it's like to live there, but I don't think there's anywhere particularly unsafe in Harefield.

Hi,
thanks for the info Laffinalltheway.
Can I please ask why did you say it is ok'ish.. is it not considered a good place to live in?

Haven't lived there myself, but about 2 miles away. Driving through you come to the Academy and a group of houses on the right, the same side as the Academy, to be honest they don't look that appealing. You get to the top of the road and that's where the main village is. The shops look nice, many independent ones, bakers, butchers, angling shop etc. Just can't be sure, someone who's actually lived there would be better to judge.