Help moving to Rickmansworth

[Explodinghead]

Hi we have had an offer accepted on a property in Loudwater, Rickmansworth. However reality is being to dawn on us that this patch has no pavements, street lighting and bus routes. I’m very worried about how my two teenagers will get about safely. We recognise that we will prob need to ferry them about by car a lot more but I’m worried about the dependency this creates every day. We both work full time and are travelling into the city 2/3 days a week. Does anyone have any experience of this area? Anyone travelling on a similar path and offer advice? It’s a new area to us, is there a community? Is it safe? Thanks for your help!

Bump anyone?

Do you mean Loudwater in Bucks, between High Wycombe and Beaconsfield? I don’t know of a Loudwater in or near Rickmansworth.

Where are you moving from? (by comparison)

def Loudwater in Rickmansworth!

Where are they moving from? Are they used to just being able to jump on the tube?

I don’t live in the area but grew up rurally. You have to ferry them/ share lifts with friends until they learn to drive. Will a school bus pick them up? Or will you drop them? It’s a major lifestyle change.

Depending on the exact location, cycling might be an option

I lived in the area and yeah it’s not great for social lives for teenagers. Unless they’re happy walking to and from Ricky station.

when is the soonest they can learn to drive? That’s key there

It's an affluent area with large houses set back in big plots so yes no bus routes or pavements. Your sons will have to learn to drive soon if they're older teens.

Thanks all for the advice, looks like it will be us doing a lot of driving before they learn to do a lot of driving

I know it well. Lovely houses but you have to drive everywhere. The roads are bendy and some single track. You can't walk home in the dark. There are no buses. Nearest tube Rickmansworth or Chorleywood maybe, can be a 10 min drive by the time you weave your way out of the estate.

We have friends who moved from there once their DC became teens so they weren't quite so cut off, on the other hand we also have friends who moved there recently with young teens because they wanted a big house and garden. Wouldn't be for me but it is a nice area if you're prepared to drive everywhere.

How will they get to and from school? When you are in the office? How will you get home from town??

It’s all very well saying they will need to learn to drive, but that means expense on cars, insurance for young drivers…

IME there is much better quality of life when teens can get around independently on public transport.

Depends which side of the estate you're on. If nearest to Rickmansworth station, it's not too far to walk and pretty safe along the main road and then into the loudwater estate (which is gorgeous and pretty safe)

Alternatively, they can just jump in a cab from the station, or get an Uber

Surely if you can afford a house on the Loudwater estate, you can afford to pay for taxis on the occasions you can't give DCs a lift?

I lived in Ricky as a teen. In my early teens I lived a good walk from the station and town centre. Sometimes I walked to the station or bus stop (about 20mins IIRC), sometimes I cycled and sometimes I was given a lift. It was fine and I didn't mind the inconvenience as my priority was seeing friends. As an older teen, I lived in the town centre and could catch a bus or tube easily, and it was a great area to be for going into London or Watford to go shopping, clubbing, for work and (later) Uni etc.

Thanks all, good to get positive experiences from folks who lived/grew up in the area