North London/Potters Bar area

pardal51

Hi all,


In need of some advice from those who know the area, etc…
Basically we are thinking of moving to somewhere in North London/Greater London/Outside M25 due to both of us now working in North London – Zone 2.



We are at the moment based in West London – but the commuting door to door is 1hr25min (I know it is not too bad, but we want to try to shorten it).


We don’t know much about North London and surroundings, but thought about Potters Bar as it seems to have a quick link into London (Highbury/Islington rail station).



What are the areas to consider and to avoid in Potters Bar?


We don’t have kids, so not worried about schools. Nightlife is not a big deal either for us.


Comments are much appreciated.
Thanks,

a_user_x

Hi,

We were in a similar position a couple of years ago.

We both work in Moorgate and wanted an easy commute but couldn't afford to buy anything decent in Barnet where we're from originally. We spent months looking around Potters Bar but just couldn't find what we were after - most areas seemed to be too close to more edgy areas for our liking - eg EN6 2BB.

After scouring Hatfield (too edgy) and Stevenage (too far!), we bought in Welwyn Garden City as it was a lot more affordable and more sleepy/less edgy - eg AL7 2HS. We live right on the edge of town and can still go from door to desk in Moorgate in 50 minutes!

Definitely worth a look depending on your wants/needs/budget.

Good Luck and feel free to PM me if you need to know more. We found that putting a postcode into upmystreet.co.uk and police.uk usually gives you a good idea of what a road is like...

Yorkie1

I grew up in EN10 - Broxbourne. It's about 20-25 minutes into town on the Liverpool Street train line or you can change to the tube at Tottenham Hale. Broxbourne woods aren't far away and there's the walks along the New River / River Lea.

hazey31

pardal51 wrote: »

We don’t have kids, so not worried about schools. Nightlife is not a big deal either for us.

There's no nightlife to speak of so you'll be absolutely fine on that front. However the school issue does affect you- with one of the best secondary schools in the country (Dame Alice Owens) on the outskirts of town, it can be expesive.

linda_brew

dont overlook the travel costs as you move out. it can be a major point of resentment.

pardal51

Yorkie1 wrote: »

I grew up in EN10 - Broxbourne. It's about 20-25 minutes into town on the Liverpool Street train line or you can change to the tube at Tottenham Hale. Broxbourne woods aren't far away and there's the walks along the New River / River Lea.

Will try to avoid Tube if possible.

linda_brew wrote:

dont overlook the travel costs as you move out. it can be a major point of resentment.

Sure...excel spreadsheet is already there in hand

a_user_x wrote:

Good Luck and feel free to PM me if you need to know more.

PM sent, thanks

SuzieSue

Look at New Barnet and Oakleigh Park- it is on the same train line as Potters Bar but not as expensive as Barnet as it isn't on the tube.

GDB2222

a_user_x wrote: »

Hi,

We were in a similar position a couple of years ago.

We both work in Moorgate and wanted an easy commute but couldn't afford to buy anything decent in Barnet where we're from originally. We spent months looking around Potters Bar but just couldn't find what we were after - most areas seemed to be too close to more edgy areas for our liking - eg EN6 2BB.

After scouring Hatfield (too edgy) and Stevenage (too far!), we bought in Welwyn Garden City as it was a lot more affordable and more sleepy/less edgy - eg AL7 2HS. We live right on the edge of town and can still go from door to desk in Moorgate in 50 minutes!

Definitely worth a look depending on your wants/needs/budget.

Good Luck and feel free to PM me if you need to know more. We found that putting a postcode into upmystreet.co.uk and police.uk usually gives you a good idea of what a road is like...

I've always had a soft spot for WGC. I just love the whole Garden City movement, and it's such a shame that we cannot manage anything similar now.

Can I ask how you get from your house to welwyn station? Car, I assume, and where do you park?

Hillbilly1

PB is a bit soulless.. Oakleigh Park better, or try nearer on the over ground from highbury out, Aleaxndra Park and beyond?