Where should I live in Hertfordshire?

[foodislife1]

Hello wise people. Husband and I are planning on moving to Hertfordshire with a little baby.
Looking for period properties with decent links to London and decent schools nearby....I know...it's a big ask!

Any recommendations?
We are thinking Boxmoor/Bushey/Watford?

Unfortunately we are priced out of our faves - Berkhamsted/St Albans / Radlett.
Budget of £750ish

Hitchin, Hertford, ware, old Welwyn & Welwyn garden city.

"Have a look in Tring or Chesham

I think from Garston and Abbots Langley is probably about as quick to get to st albans as to watford town centre.

Agree re Kings Langley and Abbots Langley. Boxmoor is nice but wouldn’t be on my list if good primary and secondary schools are a priority.

Tring also nice but not great for commuting. I don’t think the station is near the main town?

I would have said Hitchin, Hertford or Welwyn. There are nice villages around Welwyn in particular which are easy drive to stations. Alternatively look over in Buckinghamshire at Amersham and surrounding villages. Where is work?

I think you might still get something in St Albans for that budget, within walking distance to the station, but I think there are some areas that are tricky for schools (I'm afraid I dont know which ones though!) The train line is fast but expensive.

Wonderful - thank you all for your advice.

Will have another look at St Albans and have earmarked Bushey/Watford too

Hi, we really liked the look of Chorleywood but our only knowledge of the area is through research. How bad is the traffic? Is it particularly around certain times of the day or generally congested? Any recommendations without going further away from London, we have elderly parents in Ealing we want to be within 30/35 min drive to, looking for 4-5 bed semi or detached with a 1.2M budget with a little flexibility. Thanks so much x

OP, I live in St Albans, and I can assure you that your budget is fine, if you only have the one DC right now. For example: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114653996

Wrong link! That is obviously not suitable. This one www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114117464

If schools are important, I'd look at them and the area's that are close.

I grew up in North Watford but completely priced out of living there now.

Thank you! So the tricky thing with the lovely St Alban's is that with our budget we're also looking for a property min 1800sq ft, close to good schools, and preferably within London fair zones (as we'd have to travel into the city twice a week and almost £70 per day on travel alone seems excessive to us) hence the reason Chorleywood/Croxley Green/Rickmansworth consideration. Any thoughts?

@Muchmorethan which areas did you mean? Thanks

Abbots Langley or Kings Langley would be worth a look, secondary education has selective entry for some schools though. Boxmoor is also good, there is nothing wrong with Hemel, Watford is dire for traffic and again has some selection for secondary schools. Rickmansworth, Croxley Green do too but may have the vibe you are looking for. Your budget may get a 3 bed in St Albans, which does have the cafe culture, primary schools are good but you may not get the character house or as near to the station. Berkhamsted and Tring are very nice but slightly longer commute. Hertford could be another option

[quote Iks123]@Muchmorethan which areas did you mean? Thanks[/quote]
Any area! My budget is a lot lower so l moved to Northampton.

I grew up in North Watford. My grandparents lived in West Watford - near the hospital and my other grandparents lived in Loudwater.

West Watford is extremely congested and parking is horrendous. There are garages that can be hired though.

Loudwater is the complete opposite and is a pricey area. However depending which part you choose, can only be accessed by car and no bus route. My mum found that hard when living there as a teenager.

@foodislife1 where did you choose eventually and why? What would you do differently knowing all you do now?
@Iks123 £70 travel for a day is cliff edge stiff and will only get worse!

We're also looking in SW Herts and South Bucks mostly cos of proximity to London and availability of grammar or semi selective schools. WBGS, WGGS and Parmiter's are well regarded but trying to be in the catchment for all three means being in Watford. Kings Langley and Abbots Langely seem fine for Parmiters. Happy for more local info. Thanks.

@Delectable
We still haven't moved! We are still looking at Bushey primarily but also considering Berkamstead

Have a look at Ware. Very lovely town, great schools, lots of history.

Have you looked a Harpenden?
Train station, Near to the M1/A5
Watford, St Albans, Berko, Hemel, Dunstable, Luton all within a 10 mile radius.

Has a Sainsbury's, M&S, Waitrose, and other smallish boutique type shops, good schools I believe.

Have you looked at London Colney it's just outside St Albans what do you want for £750?

[quote Delectable]@foodislife1 where did you choose eventually and why? What would you do differently knowing all you do now?
@Iks123 £70 travel for a day is cliff edge stiff and will only get worse!

We're also looking in SW Herts and South Bucks mostly cos of proximity to London and availability of grammar or semi selective schools. WBGS, WGGS and Parmiter's are well regarded but trying to be in the catchment for all three means being in Watford. Kings Langley and Abbots Langely seem fine for Parmiters. Happy for more local info. Thanks.[/quote]
I'm afraid that Kings Langley/Abbots Langley won't automatically get you into Parmiters on catchment criteria. You'd have to be living virtually next door (and certainly within 1/2 mile) to be within catchment.

In fact, Abbots has a few 'black spots' that don't fall within any school catchment area. Ever year there are children who don't get into Parmiters, KL, Futures Academy etc because they fall outside the catchment area. Children get allocated schools the other side of Hemel or Watford.

To have the best chance of getting a grammar place or Parmiters or St Clement Danes (Chorleywood) you'd need to go down the SW Consortium test each October route. Academic or music.

How about North Hertfordshire i.e. Letchworth Garden City or Baldock? Granted Hitchin is more cosmopolitan and lively but it hasn't got the choice of affordable housing stock. Plenty of family size houses with gardens in LGC and Baldock plus good schools, transport and countryside nearby (if that's your thing)

This won't be a popular answer...but how about hatfield?
Hatfield is very affordable.
Depending on kids ages it's also got good schools.
I live in Old hatfield and the primaries are great, and hatfield garden village is also a nice area.
Secondaries are a bit hit and miss, but if you have girl dcs, bishops hatfield is a fantastic school.

Hitchin is doable. Bushey is very nice (DF used to live there), Bishops Stortford is where a friend moved a few years ago and loves it.

Tring is where a friend is from and funnily enough another friend moved there (her DH is from near there) and it's nice and excellent trains to London.

I don't know Watford so can't comment.