Letchworth Garden City

[Ravi944]

Long shot but wondering if anyone here is from the famed old garden city that is Letchworth?

[Mark2008]

Famed and old? tbh it's a bit new and rubbish, no?

[Ravi944]

Well it's home to the first roundabout in the UK and was developed during the early 1900's so not that old but certainly famed for its architectural significance and contribution to urban planning. However, its not so good for eating, shopping and general mooching. Having moved out of London for the suburban Im still trying to get used to the commute and the village mentality. Just curious to see whether there were any PH'ers there...

[tenohfive]

I don't like the place. Was working there for about 4 months and it was a soulless place, which is full of idiots who argue over boundary markers and how a McDonalds might, 'lower the tone.' And mixed into that there seems to be occasional violence on the council estates. Odd place.

(I'm sure not everyones like that by the way - I'm sure most Letchonians are lovely... )

[Speed_Demon]

I'm from Hitchin, and have family that live in Letchworth. It's ok place 12/13 years ago it was a much nicer place than it is now.

[David Smith]

but unkind really !!

Ive lived in Letchworth since 1981.
Has a nice history first garden city and all that some really nice buildings
A nice large common to walkround most facilities you could want ...
Dont think there is any more trouble than any other town
Schools seem Ok but not brill
Leisure centre is Ok
Cinema is quite nice
Some nice pubs and restaurants (some not so nice) ...

Shame they allowed some 60s and 70s architecture(not) to spoil the place
Shame a lot of shops are closing
Shame the development works of the town seem to be on hold
Has its own Heritage department that do a good job of policing policy but a little too late I suppose!

but to be fair tis the same of most places !

TTFN DAS

[silverian535]

I lived in Letchworth for 15 years odd, before moving to Arlesey.

I liked the tree lined streets amongst other things. There is the Greenway walk/cycle path around the city which is good in the summer, and great dog walks out the Willian side of town.

All in all I liked it and thought it a good place for bring kids up.

[gtr-gaz]

There are a lot worse places to live!

I've been in and around Letchworth since my parents moved here from Hammersmith in 1957. I was dragged up on the Grange council estate where nobody, in those days, owned their own house.

There are quite a few empty shops now but, no different from any other town. Now that Marks and Sparks has moved out and Woolworths having already gone, it's even worse than normal.

It wasn't until quite recently ( 15-20 years) that pubs were allowed in the town. We used to go to The Three Horse Shoes in Norton when I was a lad. Food in ther now is very good btw.

FYI, we have the largest cinema screen outside London. In fact the premier of the film "Air Con" was held here as the director lived in Letchworth.

[jon-]

I live the Letchworth side of Hitchin. Don't much care for Letchworth, pretty but boring.

[Jinx]

Live in Baldock myself but sometimes head down to the Arena Tavern in Letchworth for a fairly decent pint and live music.

[Ravi944]

Good to hear that I'm not the only PH'er in the area. I've just picked up the new old car so will be putting some of the decent local roads to the test. Better to hoon around in North Herts than East London!

Cheers

[Chris Type R]

Another Letchworth resident here - been living here since about 2001. It's certainly a lot quieter than Hitchin

EDIT: Here's a thread about local eateries = http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Chris Type R on Monday 6th April 20:36

[Diseisel]

jon- said:

I live the Letchworth side of Hitchin. Don't much care for Letchworth, pretty but boring.

Me too, Cambridge Road

[jimbooo]

i live down the road in stotfold. been here 3 years and more than happy.

[Ravi944]

Chris Type R said:

Another Letchworth resident here - been living here since about 2001. It's certainly a lot quieter than Hitchin

EDIT: Here's a thread about local eateries = http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Chris Type R on Monday 6th April 20:36

Thanks for this. I've actually been to the Black Horse which was quite good. Strangely enough I didn'r mind the Thai place in the Wynd (if only for the entertainment value) but shame they shut shop. I understand that they were offered other premises on Station Road but didn't fancy it.

[Poledriver]

Used to live in Stotfold, moved out and left it to my ex now!
Letchworth was quite nice for a "contrived" town, slipped downhill for a while but seems to be coming back again now! Lots of nice houses around there!

[Blib]

Letchworth is 'famed' for its colony of black squirrels. A couple of years ago, I went there with a friend. As we got out of the car a black squirrel jumped down to the ground in front of us.

"Oh look!" said my friend, "A chipmunk!".

[rusal]

my office is there. its ok. all places have good and bad and letchworths good isnt great and its bad isnt toxteth so yes that makes for a bit boring. they didnt have a pub in the town till a short time ago i gather. like the other garden city its run by the old fathers of whatever so planning rules bit strict.
cant run my goat herd through the high street on a sunday which is a bummer

[Chris Type R]

Ravi944 said:

Thanks for this. I've actually been to the Black Horse which was quite good. Strangely enough I didn'r mind the Thai place in the Wynd (if only for the entertainment value) but shame they shut shop. I understand that they were offered other premises on Station Road but didn't fancy it.

We used to enjoy the Thai when it first opened, but the food quality dropped off and we stopped going. I think that the local Chinese eat-all-you-can couldn't have helped.

I quite enjoy L'artista as well - worth a try if you haven't been.

Here's some Letchworth TV trivia - one of the first Gordon Ramsay "Kitchen Nightmares" episodes was filmed in a restaurant in Station Road. Didn't last long after the revamp. One of the Top Gear episode segments was filmed in and around Letchworth. Hamster attempts to parallel park a Lambo near the Blockbuster.

[rusal]

yup, think that about sums up letchworth nicely