Good value places to live for London commuter.

Okydoky25

Stevenage/Hitchen is a bit further out but 30mins direct to KingsX. You would get far more for your money there.

Spangled

Okydoky25 wrote: »

Stevenage/Hitchen is a bit further out but 30mins direct to KingsX. You would get far more for your money there.

Yup, Hitchin is nice. We lived there for two years 2009-11 before relocating to the north east.

Nice houses for your budget and good state schools. The town itself has a good range of useful shops, banks etc plus some nice restaurants and a market on Tue and Sat (I think). Around 30k population.

There are a number of fast trains to/from Kings Cross that take just 22 minutes. You can usually get a seat at Hitchin with a bit of pushing and shoving.

You'll get more for your money house-wise in Stevenage but IMO it's not nearly as nice at Hitchin.

dano17439

Harlow? 20 mins to Tottenham Hale Victoria Line and 35 mins to London Liverpool Street

Tykva

We are almost in the same situation. I just did my research last week. And we decided to stay in Watford. There are plenty of nice places further from Watford, but they are all out of Oyster zone. I found some properties around Harrow&Wealdstone station at a price equal to Watford's but my impression of reviews is that Watford (especially WD17 - in between Watford underground and Watford Junction, good schools nearby) is better than H&W.

AliceBanned

I lived in Hitchin for 7 years and now in Apsley Lock (Hemel Hempstead). The commute couldn't be more different.

Even though (officially) the commute from Hitchin is around 30 mins for the fast trains, they are unreliable (at least 2 days out of 5 there were delays), dirty, and overcrowded. I never got a seat in the morning, and often didn't in the evening.

By contrast the commute from Apsley, although nearer to London, is far better. I always get a seat, both in the morning and evening. The trains are clean, and on time, unless some tragedy has befallen the entire line. Due to the far better service (London Midland gets government subsidies, whereas First Cap Connect has to shell out to the government as is a busier line - insane of course), people are pleasant, relaxed and civilised. It makes life far easier. Having said that I also live 6 mins' walk from the station whereas before I had to drive/park/walk just to get to the station.

I wouldn't recommend North Herts, unless you prefer semi-rural, in which case in the Bedfordshire countryside you will get amazing value for money, although the commute will be a bit longer.

Hitchin station is extremely busy and stressful, and the car park is often too full. The roads nearby are amok with stress between commuters trying to park, and home owners not wanting commuters there, even though the car park is full. Hitchin doesn't seem to have planned the infrastructure around it's increased population.

I would favour Watford over Hitchin personally but it depends what kind of lifestyle you want, and I am biased as I moved out of there due to being tired of the commute!