Commuter Towns for London - Bedfordshire

pbhb

oniongirl said:

Lokolo_2 said:

Not sure about Stevenage, maybe on the outskirts is nicer but the areas around the station seem rough and lots of undesirables hang on the footbridge by the station...

I walk from the station at 1am, !!!!!!, with no fear. Also sober, when I would be more likely to be scared of 14 year old boys. The worst bit about the underpasses is they sometimes flood. As with all places, I find you can't condemn a whole estate. I was warned off Bedwell, the closest estate to the town, but the road we're in is lovely. Picket fences and hanging baskets. 

But you're right, the outskirts are nicer. Poplars is a nice estate of 90s built detached houses, Chells Manor is the same. But houses start at £450k for both. The ex-council 3-bed terraces go for £230k upwards, with a nicer one costing at least £280k. 

You are brave! I lived in Hatfield for five years (wouldn’t recommend) and never felt safe in Stevenage, not even during the day! Hatfield was not much better 

Lokolo_2

pbhb said:

Have you thought about St Neots? It’s Cambridgeshire but only just. It’s a great market town with train devices direct to london and Peterborough. I’m not a fan of Bedford. I would never feel safe there at night! Hitchin is great but very expensive, Stevenage has a lot of crime!

I guess the only downside of St Neots is that it is getting further and further out of London, £5368 for an annual St Neots to Kings Cross season ticket (and that doesn't even include tube which is £6796!) Seems like a nice town though, a lot of new builds around so plenty of choice for housing https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77103720#/ like this new build 4 Bedrooms for £290k and walkable to the station.

Lokolo_2

oniongirl said:

Lokolo_2 said:

Not sure about Stevenage, maybe on the outskirts is nicer but the areas around the station seem rough and lots of undesirables hang on the footbridge by the station...

I walk from the station at 1am, !!!!!!, with no fear. Also sober, when I would be more likely to be scared of 14 year old boys. The worst bit about the underpasses is they sometimes flood. As with all places, I find you can't condemn a whole estate. I was warned off Bedwell, the closest estate to the town, but the road we're in is lovely. Picket fences and hanging baskets. 

But you're right, the outskirts are nicer. Poplars is a nice estate of 90s built detached houses, Chells Manor is the same. But houses start at £450k for both. The ex-council 3-bed terraces go for £230k upwards, with a nicer one costing at least £280k. 

It's good to hear from a local with actual experience, I respect that, though I guess everyone has different perceptions of fear, it may not be relevant to the OP (who hasn't replied to our suggestions!) if they only need to commute during normal 9-5 hours then it will most likely be safe anyway during those times when a lot of other people are around!

You are right about condemning whole areas, it is not right based on just a few unscrupulous individuals or opinions, I guess I agree with what another poster said above about being fussy about areas to live, for me that would be a deal breaker if an area didn't feel safe, like Luton and Stevenage, but again compared to East London they are probably safer! 

ratechaser

Stevenage is definitely viable (and let's face it, why would you want Bedfordshire if you could afford Hertfordshire  ). As others have said, you do need to pick and choose - my OH had her first place in Chells and said it was a good new build estate (this was 30 years ago though!), but wouldn't touch Bedwell with a barge pole. Having driven through parts of it I'd have to concur. Bear in mind that Stevenage is also a very large sprawling town, so if walking distance to the station is important, you need to pick carefully.

Not surprised that St Albans was outside your range, it's got a nice town centre but along with Harpenden is probably about as expensive as it gets in the county. Welwyn Garden City is worth a look, it's the sort of town with lots of open space that I suspect will be increasingly popular in a post-COVID world - £320k is going to be a stretch for anything other than a 2 bed, but you do get a few fixer upper 3 beds pop up from time to time at just sub £350k.

Good luck and let us know how you get on...

pianowoman

We have just moved to Leighton Buzzard from London. Weird time to move to a new place under lockdown, but so far we really like it. Nice town centre, plenty of amenities, under 30 minutes direct to Euston, and from our 1970s detached house on an estate we have at least four or five walks where within 10 minutes you're out in countryside.

Oliviab21

pianowoman said:

We have just moved to Leighton Buzzard from London. Weird time to move to a new place under lockdown, but so far we really like it. Nice town centre, plenty of amenities, under 30 minutes direct to Euston, and from our 1970s detached house on an estate we have at least four or five walks where within 10 minutes you're out in countryside.

Thanks for the recommendation, good to hear! 
And thanks everyone else for the different town mentions, all very helpful! 

We are getting drawn to Leighton Buzzard due to being able to live near a main station that goes into London and it sounding like a relatively nice town. It is also location wise on the map quite good for us as we are looking at getting a car - and will be driving up to the north west from time to time.

 Any other advice around Leighton Buzzard would be much appreciated! 

pianowoman

Oliviab21 said:

pianowoman said:

We have just moved to Leighton Buzzard from London. Weird time to move to a new place under lockdown, but so far we really like it. Nice town centre, plenty of amenities, under 30 minutes direct to Euston, and from our 1970s detached house on an estate we have at least four or five walks where within 10 minutes you're out in countryside.

Thanks for the recommendation, good to hear! 
And thanks everyone else for the different town mentions, all very helpful! 

We are getting drawn to Leighton Buzzard due to being able to live near a main station that goes into London and it sounding like a relatively nice town. It is also location wise on the map quite good for us as we are looking at getting a car - and will be driving up to the north west from time to time.

 Any other advice around Leighton Buzzard would be much appreciated! 

The new build estates on the opposite side of town to the station are really, really far away, so would recommend Linslade side if the station is important. I'm sure you could get a 2bed for sure and possibly a 3 bed for your budget.

Oliviab21

Hi, does anyone have any advice about these towns below?
Especially living within walking distance of the station -
 High Wycombe, Beaconsfield, maidenhead

Same situation, looking within walking distance to a station to get to London, nice town center, a few independents, nice walks nearby etc. 

Thanks  

getmore4less

HW town is dead,  also very hilly,
Beaconsfield is V.expensive
don't know maidenhead