Where to live? - Watford/St Albans/Hemel Hempstead
Discussion
I live in Welwyn. I wouldn't fancy commuting from HH or Watford to Hertford even a couple of times a week. St Albans would be bad enough as you'd be getting friendly with the A414 or going through WGC and both can be a pain.
If I was single I'd probably be looking at Hertford or possibly North/East London and getting the train.
Out of the 3 you've listed, St Albans every time but it won't be cheap.
I guess you have reasons for wanting to be west of Hertford?
If I was single I'd probably be looking at Hertford or possibly North/East London and getting the train.
Out of the 3 you've listed, St Albans every time but it won't be cheap.
I guess you have reasons for wanting to be west of Hertford?
Edited by UpTheIron on Thursday 27th October 13:20
Largechris said:
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.)
Having re read the OP, to be fair near the mainline train station in St Albans (not the Abbey station) is on the right side for getting onto the A414 for Hertford, and it is a bit quieter with some music in a couple of the pubs nearby. Think Fleetville sort of 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.)
Personally I wouldn't dismiss Hertford, it does have some good nightlife and I played my first gig there at the Marquee so there's a bit of history as well.
Nemophilist said:
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
Watford is a railway town with a huge shopping centre that is losing its anchor shops such as John Lewis.
I have chosen Watford side of Hertford because I want to be able to get access down to the M3 for trips 'home'.
I don't really want to move any further north unless I have to.
I don't want to live in North London as it will prob be too expensive and too congested.
I chose Watford, St Albans and Hemel because I want to live somewhere that is reasonably heavily populated rather than a very small town.
I'll have a look at Welwyn and Hertford in more detail.
I spose i need to weigh up would I prefer to travel for work or travel for social events
I don't really want to move any further north unless I have to.
I don't want to live in North London as it will prob be too expensive and too congested.
I chose Watford, St Albans and Hemel because I want to live somewhere that is reasonably heavily populated rather than a very small town.
I'll have a look at Welwyn and Hertford in more detail.
I spose i need to weigh up would I prefer to travel for work or travel for social events
Lived in Watford for 10 years and am still just down the road.
Nascot wood is the only part of Watford I’d happily live in - 10 mins walk from the centre of town. Millions has been spent on the town centre in the past 5 years - trying to move away from nightclubs and bars and more to pavement dining and nice bars.
Maybe consider Bushey as a close alternative?
St Albans is nice but you’ll pay a premium.
HH has some nice bits but the town centre is very hit and miss.
Nascot wood is the only part of Watford I’d happily live in - 10 mins walk from the centre of town. Millions has been spent on the town centre in the past 5 years - trying to move away from nightclubs and bars and more to pavement dining and nice bars.
Maybe consider Bushey as a close alternative?
St Albans is nice but you’ll pay a premium.
HH has some nice bits but the town centre is very hit and miss.
Another Welwyn Garden City resident here, it’s pretty good if you ask me link wise. That journey across from St.Albans to Hertford could be a pain on the A414, don’t know where your working in Hertford but the A414 through it is generally at a standstill mornings and evenings. Welwyn has good train services and your quickly down onto the A1 for the M25.
I did some price comparisons on renting a double room in a house share
Watford and St Albans sort of range between 700 - 900 for anything good. Not a huge different in them.
Hertford isn't much cheaper.
Welwyn and Hatfield are approx. 100 to 200 a month cheaper though.
To rent a flat on your own generally looking at 1000-1200 at all of them.
Watford and St Albans sort of range between 700 - 900 for anything good. Not a huge different in them.
Hertford isn't much cheaper.
Welwyn and Hatfield are approx. 100 to 200 a month cheaper though.
To rent a flat on your own generally looking at 1000-1200 at all of them.
When you’ve decided where to billet make sure you buy asap.
My pal lived in St Albans for about 14 years. When they eventually sold up they discovered they’d made £78 a day profit every day for 14 years. I don’t know if those golden days have passed, but that is pretty amazing
My pal lived in St Albans for about 14 years. When they eventually sold up they discovered they’d made £78 a day profit every day for 14 years. I don’t know if those golden days have passed, but that is pretty amazing
Edited by 2 sMoKiN bArReLs on Sunday 30th October 20:50
Personally, I wouldn't touch Watford, too busy, too close to London and too expensive for what it is.
Somewhere I don't believe has been mentioned is Baldock. Pleasant enough town, quite community orientated. Lots of pubs and a few good restaurants. Excellent travel links, it's next to the A1M, has a train station and is a 15 minute drive from the A10 which will take you straight down to Hertford.
Somewhere I don't believe has been mentioned is Baldock. Pleasant enough town, quite community orientated. Lots of pubs and a few good restaurants. Excellent travel links, it's next to the A1M, has a train station and is a 15 minute drive from the A10 which will take you straight down to Hertford.
Collectingbrass said:
For Hemel, it's two things. Firstly it's a "new town" so there is a lot of poor quality 50s and 60s era housing and a town centre with much less character than St Albans. Secondly, it hasn't really recovered the loss of industry and businesses caused by the Buncefield explosion in 2004.
'emel was a ricipient of hordes of Herbert's from Notting Hill during the slum clearances. Many of their decendants now inhabit the town.
thole. So don’t do that. Mojooo said:
I have provisionally settled on WGC even though a mate of mine who lives there says he hated it as too quiet
Other option I am looking at is Enfield - was put off due it London element but could be persuaded.
WGC is pleasant in areas. It's changing at the moment, most of the Howard Centre is empty, I expect that will soon be sold off and turned into apartments. There isn't much in terms of evening entertainment, but it's got great travel links.Other option I am looking at is Enfield - was put off due it London element but could be persuaded.
Don1 said:
Being outside of WGC - I'd agree. Hitchin is a better choice.
(There are a lot of people in this area 'waiting to die'.)
Hitchin or WGC(There are a lot of people in this area 'waiting to die'.)
I am under 40 and single - so I want to be where other youngish people are - hence my preference for somewhere slightly more built up like Watford, St Albans or Enfield.
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