Where to live? - Watford/St Albans/Hemel Hempstead
Discussion
Hi
I have a new job near Hertford.
For various reasons I won't bore you with - I have narrowed possible living places to Watford, St Albans or Hemel Hempstead
I will be renting - single male - probably in a house share first and then maybe rent a flat on my own. Ideally want to be near facilities (i.e cinema, sports, music)
Ideally I want to live somewhere which could be described as the suburbs (i.e. not in the centre of town and is reasonably quiet with parking). I do not need to live in a multi million pound house with massive garden!
Watford looks ideal as has the biggest population and therefore I assume facilities. It also has good links to London. I suspect thought it is the most expensive for those reasons for renting.
St Albans would be next - really by virtue of the fact it is closer to Hertford for travel. Leaving Hemel Hempstead third.
Can anyone give me advice specifically of what areas might be good to hone in on when I am looking for a place to live?
Need to be reasonably close to the shops and walking distance to a train station that goes to London would also be helpful.
I have a new job near Hertford.
For various reasons I won't bore you with - I have narrowed possible living places to Watford, St Albans or Hemel Hempstead
I will be renting - single male - probably in a house share first and then maybe rent a flat on my own. Ideally want to be near facilities (i.e cinema, sports, music)
Ideally I want to live somewhere which could be described as the suburbs (i.e. not in the centre of town and is reasonably quiet with parking). I do not need to live in a multi million pound house with massive garden!
Watford looks ideal as has the biggest population and therefore I assume facilities. It also has good links to London. I suspect thought it is the most expensive for those reasons for renting.
St Albans would be next - really by virtue of the fact it is closer to Hertford for travel. Leaving Hemel Hempstead third.
Can anyone give me advice specifically of what areas might be good to hone in on when I am looking for a place to live?
Need to be reasonably close to the shops and walking distance to a train station that goes to London would also be helpful.
Hertford itself is probably going to be a bit too quiet (and even more expensive I would assume)
Will those 3 places vary much in rental? or are they much the same?
And is it a quick drive between them or can traffic get bad in evenings? e.g could live in St Albans but drive to Watford for entertainment
Will those 3 places vary much in rental? or are they much the same?
And is it a quick drive between them or can traffic get bad in evenings? e.g could live in St Albans but drive to Watford for entertainment
) for rental.Yeah, in terms of cost I’ll be amazed if St. Albans isn’t comfortably the most expensive. Harpenden is nicer if you have a family, but there’s much less to do there than St. Albans - I grew up in Harpenden, and we’d go to St. Albans for a night out.
OP, you should really look on RightMove or similar for rental prices - you’re making assumptions that I don’t think line up with reality.
OP, you should really look on RightMove or similar for rental prices - you’re making assumptions that I don’t think line up with reality.
OP, not sure where exactly your new job is but it’s a heck of a car journey from Watford to Hertford and at peak times the traffic will be horrendous. If you’re going to do that every day you might get worn down, as will the car. And there’s not a viable train or bus option.
St Albans is great for a night out and has some very nice areas to live in but its anti-car in the central area and property in decent places is very expensive, plus it’s also an horrendous commute to Hertford
I’d look for somewhere nearer Hertford, such as Hertford itself or Ware which is a lot nicer than Watford or Hemel and has shops, cafes, restaurants and a train station with a direct connection to central London, but perhaps your circumstances don’t allow for that?
St Albans is great for a night out and has some very nice areas to live in but its anti-car in the central area and property in decent places is very expensive, plus it’s also an horrendous commute to Hertford
I’d look for somewhere nearer Hertford, such as Hertford itself or Ware which is a lot nicer than Watford or Hemel and has shops, cafes, restaurants and a train station with a direct connection to central London, but perhaps your circumstances don’t allow for that?
I currently live in a city of 300,000 - not sure I want to live somewhere with less than 30,000 to be honest - it'll just be too dead (and in my experience those quiet places tend to be more expensive if anything)
Journey to Hertford will prob be 1 or 2 times a week.
I'll need to do some research on property costs etc but want to try and hone it down a little first.
Is HH cheaper than St Albans?
Journey to Hertford will prob be 1 or 2 times a week.
I'll need to do some research on property costs etc but want to try and hone it down a little first.
Is HH cheaper than St Albans?
Mojooo said:
Is HH cheaper than St Albans?
You might be the first person ever who has Both Hemel and st Albans on the same list as a potential move! Where are you moving from?
Hemel will be significantly cheaper but that is probably the only thing it has going for it over somewhere else…
St Albans is one of the most expensive places to live in Herts
If you're moving from outside the SE I'd honestly suggest getting somewhere short term near or in Hertford, as it's hard to actually describe how s
te the commuting can be.
Over the years I've commuted around the whole are, even doing East London to Welwyn and Luton on a daily basis, and passing thru Hertford on the way, but no one else can tell you how you personally will react to the commuting.
I didn't mind it even from EL because I was going against most of the traffic, but I'm not you.
te the commuting can be.Over the years I've commuted around the whole are, even doing East London to Welwyn and Luton on a daily basis, and passing thru Hertford on the way, but no one else can tell you how you personally will react to the commuting.
I didn't mind it even from EL because I was going against most of the traffic, but I'm not you.
I’m personally not a fan of Watford. It’s ok for the odd night out but is awful to navigate around and come rush hour is absolutely dire.
St Albans is a good night out, some nice areas to live.
It doesn’t feel like a city, and the centre doesn’t even feel like a large town in my opinion.
Hemel Hempstead has improved loads recently but that means it’s not a huge amount cheaper to live that st Albans but it’s even further out from Hertford.
Benefits of Hemel Hempstead mean that night outs in St Albans/Watford/London or even Berkhamsted are very easy by train or taxi
St Albans is a good night out, some nice areas to live.
It doesn’t feel like a city, and the centre doesn’t even feel like a large town in my opinion.
Hemel Hempstead has improved loads recently but that means it’s not a huge amount cheaper to live that st Albans but it’s even further out from Hertford.
Benefits of Hemel Hempstead mean that night outs in St Albans/Watford/London or even Berkhamsted are very easy by train or taxi
I currently live in Southampton and commute to Winchester but its not a major problem these days as I can start late and there are multiple ways to drive in. I normally allow 35-40 minutes on an average run.
Traffic can be bad in Southampton, the M3 and Winchester - but not sure how it compares to Herts.
Current commute is 15miles
Obviously with WAH etc I am OK to drive a little bit further as it is not every day.
Traffic can be bad in Southampton, the M3 and Winchester - but not sure how it compares to Herts.
Current commute is 15miles
Obviously with WAH etc I am OK to drive a little bit further as it is not every day.
It depends on your budget but if you can afford St Albans I would avoid HH & Watford like the plague, they are both (and I speak as a HH resident) not in the same league.
The other problem you will have is getting across 3 major north south arterial routes (M1, A1 & A10) as well as out of each town. The A414 is a lovely road at 2 in the morning, not so much at 6pm and you can expect "rush hour" to start at 6 am for the London bound traffic. I would look at towns & villages between the A1 & M11.
The other problem you will have is getting across 3 major north south arterial routes (M1, A1 & A10) as well as out of each town. The A414 is a lovely road at 2 in the morning, not so much at 6pm and you can expect "rush hour" to start at 6 am for the London bound traffic. I would look at towns & villages between the A1 & M11.
Collectingbrass said:
It depends on your budget but if you can afford St Albans I would avoid HH & Watford like the plague, they are both (and I speak as a HH resident) not in the same league.
The other problem you will have is getting across 3 major north south arterial routes (M1, A1 & A10) as well as out of each town. The A414 is a lovely road at 2 in the morning, not so much at 6pm and you can expect "rush hour" to start at 6 am for the London bound traffic. I would look at towns & villages between the A1 & M11.
What is it about St Albans that is better?The other problem you will have is getting across 3 major north south arterial routes (M1, A1 & A10) as well as out of each town. The A414 is a lovely road at 2 in the morning, not so much at 6pm and you can expect "rush hour" to start at 6 am for the London bound traffic. I would look at towns & villages between the A1 & M11.
Quieter? Less crime? Less busy? Less traffic?
Mojooo said:
Collectingbrass said:
It depends on your budget but if you can afford St Albans I would avoid HH & Watford like the plague, they are both (and I speak as a HH resident) not in the same league.
The other problem you will have is getting across 3 major north south arterial routes (M1, A1 & A10) as well as out of each town. The A414 is a lovely road at 2 in the morning, not so much at 6pm and you can expect "rush hour" to start at 6 am for the London bound traffic. I would look at towns & villages between the A1 & M11.
What is it about St Albans that is better?The other problem you will have is getting across 3 major north south arterial routes (M1, A1 & A10) as well as out of each town. The A414 is a lovely road at 2 in the morning, not so much at 6pm and you can expect "rush hour" to start at 6 am for the London bound traffic. I would look at towns & villages between the A1 & M11.
Quieter? Less crime? Less busy? Less traffic?
Like most places there are favoured areas and areas to avoid in any large town.
Certain parts of HH are awful, but areas like The Old Town, Boxmoor, Leverstock Green have a good feel about them.
St Albans has similar, but is just so congested that I’d avoid it down to that really
Edited by Nemophilist on Thursday 27th October 13:02
Grew up in St Albans, commuted to Hertford etc. spent many many hours on the A414....
These are massive areas you are talking about, all three spread out miles from the centre. Let's be realistic, outside of London or Liverpool you aren't going to be getting much nightlife in any of those city centres other than on a Friday or Saturday.
Because I'm lazy I would be cutting down my travelling time and looking at Welwyn, which is also much easier and quicker to get onto the A1 for London, has a fast train etc.
(St. Albans mainline train station, like Watford, is not in a great area.)
These are massive areas you are talking about, all three spread out miles from the centre. Let's be realistic, outside of London or Liverpool you aren't going to be getting much nightlife in any of those city centres other than on a Friday or Saturday.
Because I'm lazy I would be cutting down my travelling time and looking at Welwyn, which is also much easier and quicker to get onto the A1 for London, has a fast train etc.
(St. Albans mainline train station, like Watford, is not in a great area.)
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