Moving to Hoddesdon

[yummyscummymummy01]

We’re currently in North London but have been looking to move out of London. We’ve been exploring various places like Hertford and Ware but have found we can’t really find something big enough on our budget. Hoddesdon seems a bit more affordable and seems nice from what I’ve seen. Any thoughts? What’s the town like? What are the schools like?

Just a bump in the hope someone sees it!

One more hopeful bump before I give up and conclude no mumsnetters live there!

I know Hoddesdon quite well. In all honesty I felt it had got quite rough the last time I was there. Having said that there is an active community and a few events going on and Barclay Park is lovely. Hertford and Ware are better with more going on but as you say more expensive. Get into the catchments for Broxbourne and Robert Barclay schools for academics, avoid John Warner. Expensive commute into London if you need that.

An old friend of mine lives in Hoddesdon and she really likes it. It has a community feel and all the facilities you might want - good housing, shops, restaurants, schools, and lots of other nice towns around like Ware, plus commutable to London. The perfect suburb, really, and very safe. There’s tons of things to do with kids, either in town or a short drive away.

I have family nearby and I personally think it’s a bit chavvy! They say it’s become very Reform-y. Not much on the high street, a few shops and restaurants. Some big supermarkets around and you’re close to Broxbourne to commute to Liverpool St. Hertford is the nicest out of the three but it’s a huge pain in the ass for commuting

Echo PP - very Reformy round there.

It’s a bit rough in parts but fine. Lots of nice restaurants on the high street. Have you looked at Ware, Stanstead Abbot’s, Hertford? Bit fierce up the same train line (bit more expensive) but prettier and better schools etc. we moved out of Tottenham to Ware and loved it!

We’ve looked at Ware and Hertford but they’ve both proved to be a bit too expensive. The talk of Reform is putting me off a bit. I’m going to see a house there at the weekend and will have a good look around. Thanks so much for the advice!

It’s not the best or the worst. Nice high street, basic shops like Iceland New Look and Aldi, large Morrisons.

I don’t know about the schools but I live in the next town

Hi OP, I would also look closer to Ware if you can. Maybe Bishop's Stortford and other bits of East herts.

I'm not sure anywhere along the A10 would do it for me until I got to Ware which is far more attractive. Hertford Heath is quite nice. We looked at Harlow but I'm glad we discounted that too. Bishops Stortford is OK ( there's a Waitrose!)

I often drive through there and it has the most England flags I’ve ever seen!! The shopping bit is a concrete jungle. It all feels really depressing. I know a family that lives there and they say the schools aren’t great either. Where in north London are you?

I’m in Enfield now, so Hertfordshire is not big leap. I really do like Ware and Hertford they’re just a bit too expensive. Bishop Stortford is a good shout but quite expensive for commuting.

Bishops stortford is lovely I think. More for your money still than ware or hertford. Excellent schools. Maybe look at surrounding villages too-stansted mountfitchet has a train station. Sawbridgeworth? Swerve Harlow (except old
Harlow which is nice). Maybe also look at Stevenage. Lots of it is horrid, but Old Stevenage, Knebworth, Great Ashby, Bragbury end are all nice and the trains to London are cracking-plus you get more house for your casho. good retail parks, near nice countryside and Stately homes, hitchin or hertford if you want to go out somewhere nice both easy distance, avoid the town centre and you’re golden.

I always think of Enfield as more Herts than London (even though I know it’s technically London, but it’s very suburban). In which case, I would say Hoddesdon is similar to Enfield, just a bit more drab. They both have that suburban feel, but the town centre is nicer in Enfield (similar concrete vibe, but the park in Enfield is nicer and so is the housing stock). Ware and Hertford would be more of a change, prettier towns, I’m not sure about the schools though. Commute is better as there is no station in Hoddesdon. Broxbourne would be much better than Hoddesdon as it’s quick to Tottenham Hale or Liverpool St and has a better school, but I’m not sure of your budget.

Rye House train station is in Hoddesdon.

The schools in Hertford and Ware are really good (primary and secondary).

Hi there,
Just checking if you have finally moved and how you like it there. How is life for a family, and do you think it's really a reformy area as mentioned? We are in our mid-30s and thinking about moving there too. We're just unsure if it's the right place for us and would love to hear others' opinions/experiencesien

The OP only asked about the place 6 weeks ago

Also maybe look at Sawbridgeworth.

I lived in Broxbourne for a few years, Hoddesdon was walking distance, i didn't find it chavvy, it was quite nice!

There's rough bits, same as any town, but I'd happily move there.

Broxbourne itself is probably out if Ware and Hertford are, someone else mentioned Sawbridgeworth, and Stansted abbots? I have friends in both of those towns and they are both fine.
How is the search going?

We’ve had to park it for now for a number of reasons. My biggest concern are the secondary schools which don’t sound that great. We love Chauncey but not sure we’d get in living in Hoddesdon.