St Albans advice from locals needed

[Foresthealing]

Hi all

me and my DH are looking at St Albans and I’d love some honest insight from those who live there or know it well.

We’re a couple in our mid to late 30s, hoping to start a family soon, and looking for a 4-bed house. DH works in Milton Keynes 4–5 days a week and I commute into London twice a week, so St Albans feels like it could be a good compromise for both of us.

We’re active people, love music and good food, and are very used to London life, gigs, restaurants, and a bit of a buzz but we also really value access to the countryside. We have a dog and a cat, so green space and good walks are important to us. Ideally, we’re looking for a home with character in an area that feels safe, friendly, and a little cosmopolitan rather than purely suburban.

What’s St Albans like? Are there particular areas you’d recommend (or avoid) for couples planning children especially with a good community feel, parks, schools, and transport links?
Anywhere especially good for cafés, restaurants, music, and still walkable?

Any thoughts, experiences, or area recommendations would be hugely appreciated thank you 😊

St. Albans is lovely. Decent commute to MK and London. Lovely restaurants, pubs, schools etc. Has it's own music venue, The Horn and there's the Colosseum in Watford.

Lovely surrounding areas, Berkhamsted, Aldbury, Flamsted etc.
Also, one of the lowest crime rates in the country.
If you can afford it, do it! You won't regret it!

Depends on your budget. If you can't afford a decent house in st Alban's have a look at Ampthill. Lovely parks, good schools, closer to MK and you will get a seat on the train into London from flitwick

What's your budget? St Albans is seriously expensive, especially if you want to be able to walk to the station.

If you're planning dc you will need to think about school catchments and also access to healthcare (no acute hospitals nearby)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161784875#/?channel=RES_BUY

This is the price of a London flat and a few hundred metres from some really good schools. Would be well over a million in St Alban's

St Albans ticks all those boxes! Most areas in St Albans is great so it will come down to your budget. Then come for a walk around. When looking on Rightmove be aware that chiswell green and bricket wood often come up but they are a long drive from the centre and station. Look on the map view

This is a nice location and fairly normal property in terms of style and price

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170820389?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Smart road, walking distance to town and station. Ok for primary schools. Not that close to the very popular mixed secondaries but should be ok for the good single sex schools (if thinking ahead!)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170761337?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

It's a lovely place to live. However, a lot of the housing stock in St Albans does feel quite suburban, even if the people living there are more cosmopolitan. Plenty of 1960-70s estates of ugly houses whereas properties close to the centre are ££££

ExH is from there and I've always had a soft spot for it. Def do the morning commute from there at the time you would be. We never moved back because that commute was a bit soul sucking.

The two houses you posted are on my list actually :)

we have a weekend break there soon so we will get a good feel for it.

😱😱 over a million for something that looks like a council house!

It’s expensive for sure

st Albans
shit traffic

decent parks
good schools
massively expensive
good links for travel via road
good train links
nice restaurants
nicepubs
rubbish shops
not overly friendly

I agree with
other Poster. Ampthill is amazing.

I live nearby but not actually in St Albans. Its quite spread out, and so I think some parts can feel more suburbia than others and like pp have said chiswell green, bricket wood and sometimes London Colney are listed as St Albans but none are convenient for the city centre or train station.

Obviously if you're looking there, youll know what to expect for house prices. I think the train is around £27/day, my season ticket - which im about to renew, is over 5k! When it works well, the train line is super quick and great for getting into London but if there are problems its a pain getting home (compared to if you are coming from a tfl area with multiple transport links)

I think the popular (secondary) schools have pretty tight catchment areas

Id say there were decent restaurants in St Albans but shopping is not great. There are loads of footpaths, and countryside, and green space and 3 parkruns if that is your thing!

I think the shopping is pretty good for a town/small city. It has some independents and Waterstones, M&S etc If you want Zara or John Lewis Welwyn and Watford aren’t too far. It’s a busy town centre for what it has

Don’t live there but have friends who do and visited a lot. Get something outside St Albans. I love the shopping area, very spread out, lots of shops and pubs restaurants. Train travel to London good.

Hi all, thank you for your comments me and DH are going to spend a few days there days next so I’ll let you know my verdict.

we have a decent budget for houses and have seen many in our range close to central and since I’m not in the office everyday getting into London isn’t a huge deal for me so I’m more excited to see what it has to offer.

Good parks, cafes and few shops with a buzz is what we are looking for. It’s close enough for him to drive to worl
as he already drives through that way so traffic to where he goes isn’t a problem.

lots of pros and cons on the thread so lots to consider.

thank you all

We love living in St Albans. Downsides are few, but traffic is one of them. So many fantastic restaurants and a great cinema that ruins you for multiplexes forever.

Some areas aren’t nice - Cottonmill, New Greens, London Colney spring to mind.

Great state schools on the whole. Sandringham is extremely popular and STAGs and Loreto. St Columba’s, St Albans High School For Girls, and St Albans School are all excellent independents