To buy in Beaconsfield or Berkhamsted

[undecided415]

Hi
We are really struggling with deciding where to buy our family home (young DC pre primary school age). Does anyone have experience of Beaconsfield and / or Berkhamsted and where would you buy if you had the choice?
Both commutes are identical and both ridiculously expensive to buy so we want to get it right.

Berkhamsted closer to family but we worry about the schools (both primary and secondary as heard really mixed things). I find it “buzzier” than Beaconsfield which is great. Love the canal.

Beaconsfield. Very nice. Very good primary schools and grammar catchment. Heard mixed things about the local secondary so taking a risk on grammar. We find it a bit more ‘boring’ than Berkhamsted (which suits my husband but not me!) and there seems to be fewer young families around when we have visited parks / the high street etc.

Thanks so much!

Berkhamsted is a great place to live, such a vibrant high street, Ashlyns is a good school and so is Tring in terms of secondary, not sure about primary.

I know both well, and in your situation I would probably opt for Berkhamsted, it’s definitely a bit buzzier, which sounds like it might appeal to you. Obviously it depends on where you’re commuting to, but have you considered Marlow as well? It has a lovely, buzzy high street, is right on the river, and lots of young families.

Berkhamsted every time!

Thank you! That’s really helpful. We did consider Marlow but we both commute into central London and the journey is just that bit too long with the extra change.

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate the responses

I know both really well too. You won’t know if dc are grammar type dc yet so Bucks is a bit of a lottery if they are not. Beccy Sec is a yoyo school and many parents go private. Berko is not grammar but I’m not sure if any dc squeeze into Chesham Grammar? Otherwise secondary is good. Berko has private school too.

I think Berko is a bit more lively but it also has a greater array of housing so a tiny bit more diverse? Beaconsfield doesn’t have Victorian houses in any number, as far as I know. A few smaller houses around the High school but anything around old Beaconsfield is expensive. On balance I would choose Berko.

Only been to Berko once to visit the high street with daughter and we both liked what we saw. Go to Beaconsfield about twice a month for shopping, Think,Beaconsfield is very overrated! Marlow is much more lively but as you said the commute isn’t great.

Berkhamstead for sure!

Beaconsfield has a lot of very expensive roads. More than Berko does. They are not entirely comparable. The housing mix is different.

I don't know Beaconsfield but I'm local to Berko, know it really well and I would 100% live there if I could afford it!

As the poster above mentioned, Berkhamsted is not grammar but has been within catchment of Chesham grammar for some time with minibuses making for an easy commute but of course that may change over time as the catchment area changes. Ashlyns is a good secondary and there are several decent primary schools. Loads of young families and great facilities in terms of sports clubs etc.

Thanks everyone - I was expecting more of a 50/50 split so this has been really useful for making our decision

@moodymary No, Berkhamsted is not in catchment for Chesham. See attached. That doesn’t mean Berkhamsted dc don’t go but Ashlyn’s would be very unhappy about dc having an automatic right to get into the grammar.

Sorry @TizerorFizz you are completely right and I used the wrong words! I just meant to comment that some children living in Berkhamsted go to Chesham grammar. I shouldn’t have confused things by talking about catchment

@moodymary Some will on distance I suspect!

Berkhamsted has much more character than Beaconsfield....unless you want a 5 bedroom 'executive' house then there's no comparison, Berkhamsted is better in every way

Berkhamsted! Beaconsfield feels a bit weird. And honestly, take it from someone who has a child sitting 11+ in 2 months time - please avoid Buckinghamshire Grammar system!
But I think I'd choose Tring over Berko. Berko seems so busy and lacking in character?

Also, we lived in Marlow, loved it but commute to London was shockingly bad! We're in Wendover now and LOVE it (apart from 11+!)

I've always heard good things about Ashlyns and I would purposely avoid gambling on the Bucks system. Apparently much harder to get in year on year and thought to be much worse now due to the tax changes for independents.

I completely agree with this ^^.

I am in Beaconsfield frequently and I find it very dull.

I agree about secondary schools and not gambling on the grammar system. I do worry about the primary schools in Berkhamsted - the Beaconsfield results are a lot better. Otherwise I think Berkhamsted is looking like the obvious choice

I think Tring is just that little bit further out of London and wasn’t sure if it had the buzz I was hoping for! I’ve not been there though

OP, why does it have to be one of those two? Are you bound to train stations? There are so many towns/villages to choose from in the area!

I think Tring fits your requirements very well

Yeah it’s the train stations. Ideally want to be close to the high street and the train station - it will already be a train plus tube to the office so don’t want to add much more time travelling to the station / risk getting stuck in traffic etc. I’ll give Tring a visit - thank you!