Hemel Hempstead?

millie_moo_3

I'm a northerner who's just been offered a job in Hemel, and so I need to find somewhere to rent relatively quick.

However, my fianc!e is going to be staying in Manchester for the foreseeable, so I'm going to have to come back up north most weekends - and at the moment it looks like getting the train will be easier/faster than driving.

Therefore I'll probably need to find somewhere close to the station.

My only worry is that the bit I've seen of Hemel so far, it... Left a little to be desired, if you know what I mean. Apologies to any Hemel people if that sounds snobby.

Is the town OK? I've seen the polls about the ugliest city etc, but is it really that bad?

theEnd

Is this a joke?
You're from Manchester! Manchester!!

Mallotum_X

theEnd wrote: »

Is this a joke?
You're from Manchester! Manchester!!

Of course the whole of Manchester is just like Coronation Street.


Anyway, I live near Hemel, comparing it to the Northwest its a bit like Warrington, mostly new town, lots of estates. Some estates are fine, others not so good.

Like other new towns the centre is a mix of crappy looking 60's aand newer modern stuff, area round the bus station is grotty, other bits are ok.

No one is ever going to get excited or boast about living in Hemel but its basically ok, if a little ugly in places.

Radiantsoul

It is not the best of places.
If you are only renting it is not so bad. There are some nice areas close by.

theEnd

Jesting slightly, but not a great fan of Manchester.

Hemel's ok. I used to think it was really posh as my mum had some very rich friends there when I was a kid. Leafy mansions. I realise now, that probably wasn't real Hemel.

Fluff15

Hemel is okay, it could be so much better but unfortunately the people let it down. It has good enough facilities - sports centre, lots of gyms, town centre has the major shops in (although a lot of pound shops too). Some nice restaurants in the old town area though, and a few decent pubs. Nightlife other than pubs leaves a lot to be desired, unless you like cheap alcohol, bad music and some old pervert with half a mouth full of teeth trying to chat you up. Trains go direct into London which is a plus, also just up the road from Luton Airport.

Gadebridge, Warners End, Chaulden, Boxmoor - all good access to the station and quite good areas to live in.

Woodhall farm, very estatey, but generally good and cheap housing. No major trouble, just out of the way from the station/town centre.

Avoid Grovehill and Highfield areas if you want to keep all your possessions. Never lived in Leverstock Green or Bennetts End, would avoid both really as I know they're a little hit and miss.

If you drive, you could also consider Berkhamstead (nicer, but more expensive), Redbourn (village-y) or St Albans (I love St Albans, but more expensive also). Berkhamstead is on the same train line as Hemel, so it may be a good option.

ethank

Where abouts are you going to be working? Most of the offices are centred around Maylands or Apsley.

For Maylands - Leverstock Green would be my fave, this side of town is very close to St Albans also. For Apsley - Apsley or Kings Langley is quite nice.

For Manchester Piccadilly - most trains stop at either Milton Keynes or London Euston. (There are an odd few that stop at Watford - it's a real limited service) - so you should factor in 30 min local train journey to get a fast train back to Mancs.

The pricing on housing in Hemel is really expensive - it's Hertfordshire = expensive! A 3 bedroom house in Milton Keynes is £100k less and I would rather live there!