Decissions decissions - Living in St. Albans, Bromley or Harrow

[fullonrocknroll]

Hi All,

My partner and I have been living in hammersmith for over 20 years and love it. However, our 2 bedroom flat has become a little bit small and with the birth of our youngest daughter, we are looking to move (as we can't afford a house in hammersmith unfortunately).

We are looking for a place with outstanding secondaries, good connexion links to London and culturally diverse with nice independent restaurants, cafe's and sport activities to buy our forever 3/4 bedroom home for not more than £800k if possible.

We are now looking at St. Albans (primarily for schools), Bromley (good connexion to London) and Harrow (culturally diverse).

I was wondering if anyone could give an opinion/views

Can't comment on the other two, but I genuinely love living in St Albans. It's quite a bustling place for its size, it's very pretty, and it has a really lovely sense of community - just full of kind people who want to look out for each other. You're moments away from glorious countryside too.

Honestly, it's rare that a day goes by and I don't think "I'm so lucky to live here."

Can’t comment on other places, but my first thought was that 800k would probably not buy what you are looking for in St Albans..

If you are considering Bromley have a look at Beckenham, it ticks all your boxes!
Just an example what you could get for less than 800k, near good schools.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127279859

Don’t know Beckenham at all but I’d love to know the family that lives at that house - all those guitars! Obviously a professional musician.

My best friend, mid 50s, lived in South Harrow all her life, has sold her house there and is looking to move out (currently staying temporarily with her boyfriend/partner but not been with him very long and wants to have her own place.) She hates it there now, says it's full of HMOs and increasingly grimy. She either wants to move to Watford (her son, his partner and their new baby live there and she has been asked to provide childcare as she's now retired) or somewhere on the east coast.

Harrow on the Hill is probably nicer though.

I don't know the other places but Bromley and beckenham are lovely places to live. Very well connected and full of families

wow
Thank you all so much for your answers. Really appreciate the comments.
We have been looking for a place for far too long now.

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal We actually got that feelling when we went to St. Albans, and we loved it. However, as per what @Riverlee was saying (and i think she is right), 800k might not be enough to be within the catchment areas of the schools we want for the girls.
@Puffthemagicdragongoestobed thanks for the tip on beckhenam and sharing that lovely property, this type of property is exactly what we are looking for (maybe without the guitars )

@Spidey66 thanks for your feedback. Hope you're friend finds a place in Watford or east coast. We visited Pinner when we went to Harrow (I believe in around south harrow, please correct me if I am wrong), it was nice, but we felt it might be far too quiet, not sure. We have to visit Harrow on the hill. A friend also recommended that area. Thanks :-)

@Twizbe thanks for the comment, looks like you and @Puffthemagicdragongoestobed agreed on the same area within Bromley. We are planning to visit beckenham soon, thanks

Where do you drive to /train on weekends or to visit family?
That might impact decision

The catchment for St Albans girls school has changed and you’d get in around the St Stephens and Chiswell Green areas which are cheaper than say Marshalswick which would definitely be out of budget in school catchment areas. Good primaries absolutely everywhere in St A so just base your decision on secondaries.

We love living in St A so much and the children have such fun and varied lives here.

What school/s are you interested in OP?

If you have girls, look in the Bullers Wood catchment in Bromley, or in the Langley Girls catchment in Beckenham. Both excellent non-selective secondaries.

it depends on which schools you are looking at in St Albans. A few are in their OFSTED window having been outstanding for years and not inspected. I know of a couple that probably won’t get it again, so be really careful.

@DailyEnergyCrisis thanks for your comment :-)
We were actually advice to look a place to live based on secondary, which felt a little bit crazy, taking into consideration our little girls are 3 and 1 years old.

We were looking at Sandrigham and Beaumont schools in St Albans.

Glad to hear your kids are loving it. Do you like doing sport/art... activities?

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal what do you mean by OP?

@MamaSharkington thanks
We were looking at Harris academy and Langley.
Are you familiar with Harris academy?

OP just stands for Original Poster - that's you.

If you're interested in Sandringham you could look at Jersey Farm, which is more affordable than central St Albans and Marshallswick, and would give you a good chance of getting the excellent Wheatfields primary school too.

However, I wouldn't, when your DC are thus young, base a move purely on a secondary school - you've no way of knowing what they'll be like by the time you actually need them.

I have a friend in St Albans who loves it. I wish I could live there but jon & family in South London so not practical.

@QueefofSheena Thanks! Offsted isn't the only criteria we look on schools.

I actually read some of the reports and they really aren't very helpful. (but that's my opinion)

And also, as you said, the reports on some are more than 3 to 4 year old.
Which couple would you say they won't get it (out of interest)?

We are doing secondary school open evenings atm as DD is in Y6, and I was very impressed with STAGs - definitely worth you considering as you have two girls. Their academic record is fantastic, but they also seem to be strong pastorally.

Beckenham, West Wickham, Hayes would all be worth considering. All have excellent schools. Beckenham has the most going on, the second two are slightly further out and have smaller high streets but closer to the countryside.

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal yep, you read my mind on this one.
I have been adviced by few people to based my search on secondaries, but i am afraid to move somewhere that maybe my girls won't be interested in the long run, as they are too little at the moment.

@Eek3under3 Thanks!
Do you live in the area?
Based on the comments here. looks like Beckenham is the are to look for within Bromley.

@fullonrocknroll I do :). Happy to answer any questions.

Brilliant! Thank you so much beforehand :-)

What do you like the most about Beckenham? Do you have kids? what type of activities does it offer?

How about nurseries/schools/secondaries. Which ones would you recommend or think that are the best ones in the area?

Would you say is a safe area?

Is it diverse culturally? (We are Spanish/English family)

Put another town in your list that may fit - Guildford/Godalming. We lived in St Albans for couple years, but prefer this side of London.