Broxbourne... what is it like?
Discussion
So I have just been to look at a potential new house. New build in Broxbourne. No plans for it to be my dream house nor the final step in my home buying so happy with the usual new build foibles. It ticks the parking & garaging expectations of a PHer.
It's not my stomping ground at all so I don't know the area.
Any views on the area in general? Comparions to both Welwyn Garden City and High Wycombe would probably help, but just a general idea would be fine.
I guess the rail link into London is fairly good (not an issue for me usually, I normal bike when commuting into the City).
Is there a town centre as such? Decent pubs? Restaurants? Shops? Schools?
It's not my stomping ground at all so I don't know the area.
Any views on the area in general? Comparions to both Welwyn Garden City and High Wycombe would probably help, but just a general idea would be fine.
I guess the rail link into London is fairly good (not an issue for me usually, I normal bike when commuting into the City).
Is there a town centre as such? Decent pubs? Restaurants? Shops? Schools?
It's a clean safe commuter town. It's convenient for the city (plenty of trains to liverpool street), but because of this can be more expensive then other towns in the area, and is full of people who commute into the city rather than locals.
There's not a lot there in terms of shops - Hoddesdon is a mile away with a few, but realistically you need to get in a car for most shopping. There's a few resonable pubs a short walk away.
WGC has more in the way of shops (but not really pubs) and is a bit slower to get into the city from (slow trains to moorgate). It's also a lot cheaper.
There's not a lot there in terms of shops - Hoddesdon is a mile away with a few, but realistically you need to get in a car for most shopping. There's a few resonable pubs a short walk away.
WGC has more in the way of shops (but not really pubs) and is a bit slower to get into the city from (slow trains to moorgate). It's also a lot cheaper.
Broxburne is one of the more desirable locales in the area being bordered by Cheshunt and Hoddesdon which are classed as less desirable.
The local joke is to call people from Broxbourne as coming either from 'North Cheshunt' or 'South Hoddesdon' and the reverse is people from these areas stating they are from the Broxbourne border.
The public train links are good but no shopping really (apart from a mahoosive Tesco and Marks and Spencer in Cheshunt) if shopping is your thing.
Quite a wealthy area really. I would prefer it to WGC but mainly because the transport links suit me better. WGC has good town centre. High Wycombe is probably another step up but I don't know it too well (dad lived in Bray).
The local joke is to call people from Broxbourne as coming either from 'North Cheshunt' or 'South Hoddesdon' and the reverse is people from these areas stating they are from the Broxbourne border.
The public train links are good but no shopping really (apart from a mahoosive Tesco and Marks and Spencer in Cheshunt) if shopping is your thing.
Quite a wealthy area really. I would prefer it to WGC but mainly because the transport links suit me better. WGC has good town centre. High Wycombe is probably another step up but I don't know it too well (dad lived in Bray).
Edited by Kateg28 on Thursday 4th November 16:45
Kateg28 said:
Broxburne is one of the more desirable locales in the area being bordered by Cheshunt and Hoddesdon which are classed as less desirable.
The local joke is to call people from Broxbourne as coming either from 'North Cheshunt' or 'South Hoddesdon' and the reverse is people from these areas stating they are from the Broxbourne border.
The public train links are good but no shopping really (apart from a mahoosive Tesco and Marks and Spencer in Cheshunt) if shopping is your thing.
Quite a wealthy area really. I would prefer it to WGC but mainly because the transport links suit me better. WGC has good town centre. High Wycombe is probably another step up but I don't know it too well (dad lived in Bray).
I lived in Cheshunt for decades and High Wycombe for few years.The local joke is to call people from Broxbourne as coming either from 'North Cheshunt' or 'South Hoddesdon' and the reverse is people from these areas stating they are from the Broxbourne border.
The public train links are good but no shopping really (apart from a mahoosive Tesco and Marks and Spencer in Cheshunt) if shopping is your thing.
Quite a wealthy area really. I would prefer it to WGC but mainly because the transport links suit me better. WGC has good town centre. High Wycombe is probably another step up but I don't know it too well (dad lived in Bray).
Edited by Kateg28 on Thursday 4th November 16:45
Broxbourne is better than High Wycombe which is better than (most of) Cheshunt. Potter Bar is OK and good for commuting. Cuffley is an pleasant if expensive village with a good rail service (think Beaconsfield in miniature). Goffs Oak is the nice bit of Cheshunt. Hertford is a pleasant town, further out for commuting purposes but with two decent rail services (Liverpool street and Moorgate).
The nice thing about Hertford is that when you get there your finally feel you are out of North London. Cheshunt/Broxbourne/Hoddesdon still feel like a continuation of Enfield.
Dr Jekyll said:
Hertford is a pleasant town, further out for commuting purposes but with two decent rail services (Liverpool street and Moorgate).
The nice thing about Hertford is that when you get there your finally feel you are out of North London. Cheshunt/Broxbourne/Hoddesdon still feel like a continuation of Enfield.
I moved to Hertford in the Summer, very happy (from Ware though so not that far) The nice thing about Hertford is that when you get there your finally feel you are out of North London. Cheshunt/Broxbourne/Hoddesdon still feel like a continuation of Enfield.
I think you are looking at the same development (if it is a development) my cousin has just purchased a house on (having lived in Hertford for 10 years). I've looked at it on the internet and it looks good.
If it is not on a new built development most of the houses are of a fairly decent size in Broxbourne as there hasn't been as much new build development there as there has in Hoddy, Ware, Hertford, WGC etc.
Broxbourne is alright. A bit dull. Good links to the smoke. That's about it really.
If it is not on a new built development most of the houses are of a fairly decent size in Broxbourne as there hasn't been as much new build development there as there has in Hoddy, Ware, Hertford, WGC etc.
Broxbourne is alright. A bit dull. Good links to the smoke. That's about it really.
Edited by princeperch on Thursday 4th November 21:12
As above, it depends on what you're after. It certainly feels like a 'burb/continuation of somewhere like Enfield rather than a place with its own character (of which I think it is lacking somewhat). Upside is it's easy to get to/from and is close to amenities, etc.
However if you're coming out this way, I would suggest you come a little further and look at Hertford/Bishops Stortford areas, as both have their own identities and much more 'character'. Hertford is better for pubs/restaurants.
I work in town 2 or 3 days a week and typically travel from BS (live in one of the villages outside BS) - and it's a comfortably bearable commute - and when I get home I know I have left London behind.
I wish you well with your search!
However if you're coming out this way, I would suggest you come a little further and look at Hertford/Bishops Stortford areas, as both have their own identities and much more 'character'. Hertford is better for pubs/restaurants.
I work in town 2 or 3 days a week and typically travel from BS (live in one of the villages outside BS) - and it's a comfortably bearable commute - and when I get home I know I have left London behind.
I wish you well with your search!
Dr Jekyll said:
The nice thing about Hertford is that when you get there your finally feel you are out of North London. Cheshunt/Broxbourne/Hoddesdon still feel like a continuation of Enfield.
Definitely the case with Hertford. If you're out in the sticks (relatively speaking!) I reckon the Borxbourne area can be nice too. The area around Wormley Woods is very nice and you could convince yourself you were in proper countryside most of the time.Further south and closer to the A10 it definitely starts to blend into one though.
It depends what you want really. The comment above about commuter dormatries is very relevant. Maybe somewhere that little bit further out of town like Hertford might be a bit more self contained with more of its own community? I've never really stopped there, but I drive through the centre quite regularly it seems to have mix of contemporary 'life' (pubs/restaurants etc.) and olde worlde charm. Well, as the London satelites go...
I would ech a lot of the advice above but especially re Hertford and Bishops Stortford. I have lived or worked etc in most of the places mentioned and though I wouldn't wish to be rude re Broxbourne or to folk here who live there , I do think it's overpriced for what it is and has melted too much in to Hoddesdon etc.
I also feel that it feels too much like a N/London suberb. It is for me overpriced for what it is and in no way compares to Hertford or Bishops Stortford. In fairness to Broxbourne both Hertford and B.S are far larger busier places so not really directly comparable and I would add I'm not saying its a bad place as it is far from that. Just trying to give an honest answer.
I also feel that it feels too much like a N/London suberb. It is for me overpriced for what it is and in no way compares to Hertford or Bishops Stortford. In fairness to Broxbourne both Hertford and B.S are far larger busier places so not really directly comparable and I would add I'm not saying its a bad place as it is far from that. Just trying to give an honest answer.
I was brought up in Cheshunt and moved from there to Hertford twenty one years ago and spent five years there, wouldn't move back now. I then moved to Bishops Stortford about sixteen years ago and would not move back any closer to London. Of the developements the one to be on in Bishops Stortford is St. Michaels Mead, there are some very nice houses on there and I know a few are for sale at the moment of vaying sizes and budgets with the majority of the houses having double garages. Schools in Bihosps Stortford are very good and there are plenty of pubs and restaurants about.
I have commuted into the City of London for the past twenty four years and although Bishops Stortford is further out than Broxbourne the train journey is only forty five minutes and is easier by motorcycle than from Broxbourne as you have the M11 on your doorstep and then the A12 and A11 into the City. I did commute by motorcycle for twelve years and it only took forty five minutes but gave that up very recently due to a big accident and now commute on the train.
I'd say Broxbourne is ok if not a little dull, but the neighbouring towns of Cheshunt and Hoddesdon are sadly becoming a little run down and you could mistake them almost for Tottenham.
As others have said the villages just put of Broxbourne are lovely and there are plenty of very nice country pubs etc around the villages.
I have commuted into the City of London for the past twenty four years and although Bishops Stortford is further out than Broxbourne the train journey is only forty five minutes and is easier by motorcycle than from Broxbourne as you have the M11 on your doorstep and then the A12 and A11 into the City. I did commute by motorcycle for twelve years and it only took forty five minutes but gave that up very recently due to a big accident and now commute on the train.
I'd say Broxbourne is ok if not a little dull, but the neighbouring towns of Cheshunt and Hoddesdon are sadly becoming a little run down and you could mistake them almost for Tottenham.
As others have said the villages just put of Broxbourne are lovely and there are plenty of very nice country pubs etc around the villages.
Not wanting to be be rude to anyone who lives in Broxbourne but my view and that many other residents of east Herts is that the only attraction of Broxbourne as a place to live, is the fast train service.
Its the 5 min walk to the packed train staion that draws people here, on the w/e they tend to go to Hertford for restaurants and pubs.
Its the 5 min walk to the packed train staion that draws people here, on the w/e they tend to go to Hertford for restaurants and pubs.
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