Shefford or Shillington? They're near Hitchin

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We are looking at moving to either Shillington or Shefford.

Both nearby to Hitchin which is nice, and Luton which it needs to be.

Shillington house needs work doing. Although the area seems so Emmerdale, very nice village feel to it

Then there is Shefford. Doesn't really seem like a village but the house doesn't need a load of work and is great

Which area would you go for?

Shefford isn't a village, it's a town and has a big health centre, supermarkets, pubs, restaurants & takeaways, chemist, council offices, and the big district upper school, and and is on main A roads. Shillington is a sprawling village with fewer facilities and has a lot of winding country lanes so takes longer to get anywhere, and there's no secondary education so dc would need to get the bus.

If you need access to both Hitchin and Luton, have you looked at Barton le Clay or Pirton?

Second what PP has said. They are very different in terms of facilities available. What do you want or need from where you will live?

I've just had a look and it appears the first house is definitely a village? Shefford, Clifton? It's advertised as such anyway

I don't want anywhere too loud or with too much going on. DS is disabled and not interested in going to see friends etc but we do swimming. Would like a nice bit of countryside around but also want places like a good B&M to be in easy reach!

Thank you

Shefford has a Town Council - it's definitely a town, albeit a relatively small one. Clifton is a village. Estate agents often try and sell Shefford as a village but it isn't.

Swimming pools nearest to where you are looking are in Biggleswade and Flitwick.

B&M in Hitchin and Bedford.

Might have changed but when I looked at a house in Shillington there was no mains gas. That would put me off.

There is mains gas in Shillington now.

For access to Luton Shillington is slightly closer but apart from that either place would suit your needs. They're both equally accessible to Hitchin and neither has too much going on unless you were right in Shefford town centre, where you might get noise from pubs.

Shefford has more amenities within easy reach and is surrounded by beautiful countryside.

There are plans afoot to build a new town between Shillington/Silsoe/Barton/Gravenhurst which are about to be vigorously opposed by local residents. If it goes ahead the loss of countryside and nightmare traffic might affect your choice.

Clifton is a village right next to Shefford. So be sure if it is in Clifton or in Shefford. Shillington is more spaced out a village than Clifton but both are nice villages.

The primary school in shillington has a pool

Both are nice places. Both are expanding massively. Shillington is abit dead for young teens.

Thanks all so much for your help!

I have double checked and the house is definitely in Clifton, Shefford. Appears to actually be on the edge of Clifton, a little further from Shefford itself

Really liking the look of Shillington but I think Clifton is stealing the show.

I'm having another look Thursday. I will hopefully have something suitable soon 🤞🏽

I would drive around all of the villages, they are all quite different, although new developments google up everywhere.

Also a pool and B&M in Letchworth.

Not sure if you need mainstream schools OP but if you do please be aware that the area currently has the 3 tier system but is transitioning to 2 tier. Shillington and Shefford schools won't be primaries until 2023 so don't currently have year 5 or 6. Clifton is changing this year. There is a middle school in Shefford which goes from year 5 to 8 and an upper between Shefford and Clifton that goes from year 9 upwards. There are plans to merge them to an all-through school from 2023 but they haven't published any more details yet. A middle school in Henlow is changing to secondary this year.

That may be way more information than you need so sorry if not relevant