Where to live? NW of London

[MC293]

Hi all,

looking to live in the nicest area possible, within 30 mins from bushey where our parents live.

were a married couple looking to start a family. We’d like an affluent town but not sure where to live.

budget will be about £1.1m

we’d like somewhere with a reasonably buzzy centre with options of restaurants and bars/pubs. Really good schooling is top of the priority list and nice greenery around.

we had been thinking about cassiobury but would really appreciate any advice on cassiobury or other areas

thanks!

St Albans surely?

It's got to be St Albans!

Where abouts in St Albans? What are the state schools worth buying close to?

For primary, anywhere really - they're all good. If you're thinking longer term and secondary, then North or west of the city centre around Sandringham and Beaumont. But you are further from the station there. It really depends what your priorities are right now. If you are looking for entertainment and easy access to the station, then I would live closer to the town centre or station. You could always move nearer to the popular secondaries closer to the time. Or not. A bad secondary here is not like a bad secondary somewhere else - it's relative.

Why not to live in Bushey ?

Thanks, is Bushey nice? What are the best primaries and secondaries?

what are the people like that live there

Rickmansworth and Pinner are worth a look.

Your parents live there, don’t you visit?

What do you think, it will be you that lives there (or elsewhere)

yeah my parents live there, but they’ve recently moved there. So the current take on the area is that is more for the older generation. We don’t know any young family in the area

Harpenden?

Pinner is nice (if you want to live that far out). And it's on the tube

Bushey has loads of young families. All state primaries are excellent and you’re in catchment for all the good semi selective secondaries. Nothing not to like

Have you considered Berkhamsted? Or maybe Tring/ Leighton Buzzard (although Tring/ LB are not really that buzzy, more canals and pubs with the odd wine bar, but nice places).

Berkhamsted has a nice high street and lots of good restaurants etc, plus good independent shops. Excellent schools. All are on the direct train line to Bushey and an easy drive. For your money you’d probably get something similar to parts of London (a nice terrace or newer detached).

I have friends who live in Cassiobury who like it and when I’ve visited I like the park it was lovely. There are some lovely streets of houses and what seems like a good local community. However I’ve not seen lots of nice places to go out, there’s no high street and it is still Watford, so I find it a bit tatty around the edges. Good transport links, but in terms of schools isn’t it still grammar/ single sex around there (absolutely not my first choice and don’t underestimate how difficult it can be to get ALL children into one!). Tring and Leighton Buzzard have good schools without being selective.

Unless travel into London is a priority (Cassiobury is on the tube) I think I’d prefer living in one of the areas I’ve mentioned or, yes, St Albans, than Watford. But that’s my personal opinion.

But also agree, you need to start visiting these places and doing some viewings, seeing what you can get for your money, hanging out in the coffee shops/ restaurants and seeing what you think of the vibe. For example I think Berkhamsted ticks your boxes but I have heard slightly iffy things about some of the people who have moved there recently (basically smug ex Londoners)- LB/ Cassiobury would probably be a bit less smug than Berko/ St A.