Pictured Above: The Digswell Viaduct
Our second edition of best commuter towns; this time we’re looking in Hertfordshire to see what the county has to offer.
Brookmans Park
Rightmove: The Cuttings, Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire
Average House Value: £1,023,506
Travel Time to London: 30 minutes
A small village and one of the most enviable locations in Hertfordshire, Brookmans Park is an excellent choice for commuters with its close proximity to the M25 and A1. Quick trains to London and access to both Luton and Heathrow.
With a 204 acre golf course, a Lawn Tennis Club and nature reserve, there is plenty of green space for outdoor pursuits. A good selection of traditional independent local shops adds to its charm as does its good schools and local clubs.
Digswell
Rightmove: Tewin Water House, Tewin Water, Welwyn, Hertfordshire
Average House Value: £850,774
Travel Time to London: 30 minutes
Another location with super-fast connections to the city, Digswell is defined by its characteristic viaduct. With a population of just over 1,000 people it has a small village feel and residents have to travel to nearby Hatfield or Welwyn Garden City if they are tired of local shops or the one local pub.
Pre School and Primary schools are nearby although secondary schools are slightly farther afield.
Bayford
Rightmove: Brickendon Green, Brickendon, Hertfordshire
Average House Value: £1,006,542
Travel Time to London: 45 minutes
A remote rural location with a pub and handful of shops, Bayford would suit anyone looking for peace and quiet in the countryside. The village has a local primary school and the local station means that London is not far away at all.
Welwyn
Rightmove: Digswell House, Monks Rise, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
Average House Value: £746,303
Travel Time to London: 30 minutes
Often confused with Welwyn Garden City to the South, a much younger town built up after WWII, Welwyn is a significantly smaller village on the river Maran. The village has a wealth of character and history with Roman baths (no longer in use, unfortunately) and a long archaeological record. Good schools are available from 5 to 18 years.
Potters Bar
Rightmove: Little Heath, Potters Bar
Average House Value: £570,565
Travel Time to London: 18 minutes
An important part of the London commuter belt, Potters Bar offers one of the fastest train times to London, clocking in around 18 minutes. Unlike many of the other listings, this is a more urban location but it still has much of the rural charm as other country villages. The infrastructure is good with high quality schools and services to use.
Cuffley
Rightmove: Kingsmead, Cuffley
Average House Value: £797,440
Travel Time to London: 44 minutes
Located to the east of Potters Bar, Cuffley is a very affluent area in Hertfordshire with many of the most expensive properties located along the Ridgway Road. Shops, services and other amenities are in good supply; there’s also several golf courses and country parks to enjoy. The close proximity to London and expensive housing stock make Cuffley popular with Premier League footballers and Sir Terry Leahy, previously a Tesco CEO.
Knebworth
Rightmove: Stevenage Road, Knebworth
Average House Value: £521,259
Travel Time to London: 34 minutes
Many commuters are attracted to the historical town of Knebworth due to its plethora of traditional shops, businesses and rural charm. Many more are drawn to the iconic Knebworth mansion, including Hollywood producers (it appears in films such as Batman and The King’s Speech) and musicians such as Oasis and Robbie Williams who played there to large crowds.
Welham Green
Rightmove: Station Road, Hertfordshire
Average House Value: £666,711
Travel Time to London: 32 minutes
Welham Green is a small town with a close community feel and country atmosphere. Perfect for anyone on the lookout for lots of green space and good connections to London. It’s also a short drive away from St Albans and Hatfield although the village is built up enough so that these journeys aren’t vital.