Hertfordshire recommendations

[mamabearpapabear]

DH and I are looking to move to Hertfordshire with DS1 and DS2 is on the way. We're looking for somewhere that is great for families, has good primary & secondary schools and is within an hour commuting distance to central London.

We've only just started looking so are pretty open to suggestions - and also any areas to avoid.

Which bit of central London? Hertfordshire is really big! Also, can you give a rough idea of house wish list and budget, if that’s not too nosey?!

If the City/Liverpool Street - Bishops Stortford would tick all your boxes. Great schools, easy commuting to Tottenham Hale or Liverpool Street, plenty going on for families, good access to the M11/M25.

If Kings Cross area (or suitable to change to the tube there), Hitchin, Letchworth and Baldock would all be options. St Albans and Harpenden always seem very popular but I don’t know much about their schools; the commute from St Albans is really fast but the houses in both those towns are expensive.

If further west (Euston?), I have heard good things about Tring and Berkhamsted but they are also really expensive.

Hopefully this will bump the thread for you and people who know West Herts better may come along!

Hitchin is nice, great schools and 35 minutes to St Pancras.

What is your budget and where in London do you need to commute?

St Albans and Harpenden have excellent schools and a short commute to King's Cross/Blackfriars but as a PP says they are very expensive.

Bishop's Stortford is a bit cheaper but also has excellent schools. It takes a little longer to commute, trains go to Liverpool Street.

How old is DS1? In some areas of Hertfordshire the schools are oversubscribed so make sure you consider school catchments. There is quite a lot of data available online to give an indication of whether you're likely to get a place at your chosen school.