Compared to Welwyn Garden City and St Albans, properties in Hatfield offer excellent value for money and the town appeals to a multitude of families, professionals and investors. Part of the reason for Hatfield’s increasing popularity is its proximity to London via the A1(M) or Hatfield Train Station, where you could be on your way to Kings Cross within 25 minutes or Moorgate within an hour. Another factor is the attraction of the historical Hatfield House, which offers a glimpse into the past with its stunning gardens, large parks for ramblers and dog-lovers and generally a peaceful get-away for anyone wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. With investment growing in the Town Centre, the booming Business Park and the reputable University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield certainly is somewhere you should consider making your next home in.
Founded in the 1920s through Sir Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City movement, Welwyn Garden City benefits from the perks of living in both the countryside and inner city. There is a vast array of bustling independent shops and restaurants, the busy Howard Centre shopping mall, which still features the original train station with links to London’s Kings Cross, and the renowned John Lewis department store. You are also never too far away from relaxing parks and open spaces and lakes, as the Garden City is surrounded by farmland and greenbelt. The sought after ‘West Side’ features the influence of Georgian architecture and pretty tree-lined roads, making this one of the most desirable places to move to. The Garden City was further expanded under the New Towns Act after the Second World War to create further housing for families, more schools and other amenities such as Gosling Leisure Centre, with its driving range and dry ski slopes, and the Queen Elizabeth II hospital to name but a few.
The Panshanger district of Welwyn Garden City is named after the famous Panshanger House, which dominated the Cole Green Estate that lay just to the East of the Garden City and is surrounded by farmland, the Mimram River and the Panshanger Golf Complex. Many homeowners are attracted to the area as you can get more for your money than on the ‘West Side’ of Welwyn Garden City, but you still get the tree-lined roads and amenities are a short drive away. The area is also complimented by its proximity to the A414, the A10 and the county capital of Hertford.
Essendon is a quaint village overlooking Lea Valley to the North, Hertford to the North East, Hatfield to the West and Brookmans Park to the South West. Steeped in character, from the 17th Century Church to cottages backing onto fields, the village features many historic houses, one of which is Camfield Place, frequented by the English writer, Beatrix Potter, famous for her Tale of Peter Rabbit (amongst others). With many families calling Essendon their home, the village itself is home to Essendon Country Club, an excellent spot for a round of golf on one of its two courses and then a refreshing beverage at the local pub.
Welham Green is a village in the parish of North Mymms just to the West of the Great North Road and in between Hatfield and Brookmans Park. Housing developments over the last 20 years and the construction of Welham Green Train Station in the late 80s has significantly increased the size of this village making it a popular spot for families to settle down. With an array of local pubs and shops, there is plenty to do and the village offers easy access to the A1(M), M1 and the M25.
Regarded by many as one of the most sought-after areas to live in Hertfordshire, Brookmans Park boasts a beautiful village atmosphere yet benefits from its proximity to London via its own train station with routes to London’s Kings Cross and Moorgate. The village green offers an excellent variety of shops such as a family butchers, green-grocers, bakery, dog groomers and the reputable gastro-pub ‘The Brookmans,’ whilst the prestigious Golf Club and Tennis Club are also nearby. Barnet, Potters Bar, Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City are all short drives away, which contribute to the ever-increasing demand for properties in the area; and the ever-increasing price tag.