Moving to Leagrave

PinkCupCake

After renting in North London for the last few years we have decided to buy our own place. With prices as they are we need to commute back in to London and having looked at the various train lines that come in from the North, the ThamesLink line suits us both best to get to where we both work.

House prices near to the first few stations are simple too expensive - we have a budget of up to about £260,000 as a maximum.

The first area where we can afford to buy a house for that price is Luton, we don't really want to live in the centre of a town, and again want a house rather than a flat. The next station is Leagrave, having visited it looks quite nice. We have spoken to the estate agents and searched on line and it looks like £260k should get us a reasonably nice semi detached house or a large terraced house.

We want to be able to walk to the station, ideally in less than 10mins.

So to those who know the area what are the best roads close to Leagrave Train station that £260 will buy (ideally) a semi-detached house.

Mallotum_X

We live in the area, pretty much anywhere in the 5/10 min walk to the station is quite nice.

If you search right move using the post code for Leagrave Station and a quarter mile distance that should be fine. Are you looking for a modern house or traditional?

At 260k you should be able to get a nice 3 bed semi, or an extended 1930s terrace. There is the odd detached bungalow available in your budget but usually requiring modernisation.

However I would avoid Marsh Farm - large local authority estate.

ClaireD85

I bought in Leagrave this year, mainly for the train. We are in the Oakley Road area just off Addington Way in a fairly new home. It's a good area, friendly neighbours with mostly families who want the area for the local school. The area between here and the station is all quite nice, a mix of houses from Victorian 2 bed houses upto large modern detached. 260k is a good budget for the area and you should be able to get a nice home.

The roads closest to the station have older large houses, (capron road, Compton avenue). grange avenue has nice houses but the road is busy. the avenue /toddington road and roads in that area are also quite nice.

Strawberry_Daiquiri

Hiya, we moved to Leagrave just over ten years ago and never looked back. It's a nice area and surprisingly quiet, very suburban. Me and my partner both work in Central London and if you do move in the area you'll be joining the droves of commuters using the train station.

It has been very noticeable especially just in the last two years on the change of demographics in the area. So much more now commuting to the big smoke and how many Londoners have moved in here. Three of newest neighbours on our street alone are all ex Londoners. Saying that, resident turnover usually is very infrequent but just so happened that recently several neighbours had to move because of their advancing age....

As Mallotum have said, anything within the five to ten minute walking distance radius are quite nice. Some of the roads to look out for in that radius are The Avenue, Belgrave, Finsbury, Onslow, Torquay Drive, Grange Avenue, Vincent, Toddington, Capron, Compton Avenue, Filmer, Oakley, Linacres, and Willow Way. All those roads are lovely, quiet, and very suburban with sprinklings of period properties. Have to say though that 260K for a semi might be a touch stretching it on those roads but they're still around. Top part of Beechwood Road towards the station is still nice but only up to Roman Road, beyond that going down the hill is on the scruffy side.

Good luck on your house hunting and move fast. The good ones go very quick especially as a lot are listed in agents in Central London and not just locally anymore.

ethank

I lived in Leagrave also. I loved living there for close to ten years, but decided to move to a more rural location almost 2 years ago.

10 minute walk is about 0.5 miles. I lived about a mile away from the station and walked to the station every day. It is about a mile, but walked it every day. Leagrave for me is one of the better parts of Luton. The new houses on the old Electrolux site around Addington Way, Oakley Road, Morgan Close are very popular. I really loved living there. You could also try Barton Hills, Warden Hills, Bushmead, parts of Stopsley, Wigmore, and Round Green.

On the shopping front at Marsh Road, some of the independent shops have either recently closed or moved away. The area between to the South East of the station - from Marsh Road to Leagrave Road seems to have changed in the last few years - moving from an area where lots of people own their homes - to one where properties have been divided into flats for rent - so steer clear of this area.

rosie383

Good advice there from those living around Leagrave.

I know ethank also suggested Barton Hills, Warden Hills, Bushmead and Wigmore. None of these are easy walking distance to either Luton station. The lower end of Stopsley is walkable, but about 25 mins. Round Green is where I am and we love it. Some parts are lovely, some not so nice, but the prices up this way are going higher than Leagrave at the minute. A decent 3 bed semi here will now cost £280k, where this time last year it would have been £200-220k.

You will need to move fast for any decent properties as they are being bought up by London commuters, and investors. You really can't hang around for even a few days in Luton at the minute.

ethank

Thanks Rosie383 - I forgot the OP wanted to be able to walk to the station.

pollyanna24

I agree with the other posters. I used to own a house in Leagrave about 10 years ago.

My house was on the Marsh Farm Estate (well the edges of it) and although I never had any trouble, can see why people would say avoid it.

I have family in Leagrave, the Bushmead area which seems nice. Would move back again now but need my mum to mind my kids and Luton is just a bit far for her to go. And the season ticket is quite a lot. Maybe when I don't need mum for childcare or to work in London, I would definitely think about moving outwards again.

Mallotum_X

ethank wrote: »

On the shopping front at Marsh Road, some of the independent shops have either recently closed or moved away. The area between to the South East of the station - from Marsh Road to Leagrave Road seems to have changed in the last few years - moving from an area where lots of people own their homes - to one where properties have been divided into flats for rent - so steer clear of this area.

Some independents have moved on, and although the chains are there - Co-op, Lidl, Greggs, banks, and a lot of estate agents etc but along with the chains there are still a lot of independents as well - grocers, butchers, optician, sports shop, florists, pet shop, carpets. Several restaurants and more take-aways then you could ever need (chains again - pizza hut/papa johns/McDonalds and the independents - 3 Chinese, 2 Indians, fish and chips etc plus multiple chicken and chip shops.

Overall the local shopping area is actually in pretty good shape, I may be wrong but I don't think there are any empty units on Marsh Road in Leagrave.

movilogo

Sundon park and Limbury areas are good with reasonable house price. These places are worth checking.

Other nicer areas of Luton e.g. Barton/Warden Hills, Bushmead etc. have seen tremendous rise of house price in last few months. So, unfortunately your budget won't get you something nice there.

Lot of Londoners are now moving to Luton (because surrounding towns like Harpenden or Hitchin are unaffordable) which is pushing the house price up

Jake1734

Sorry to drag up an old post.

Currently looking at a 3 bed semi in gilderdale which is just off coverdale towards M1.
Not sure if this is classed as Leagrave or Sundon park area?

Anyone have any knowledge of this road and the area surrounding it, it''s not far from hockwell ring which concerns me but is still a good Mile plus I believe?

Any input much appreciated..