St Albans continues to appear at the top of a growing number of surveys researching the best places to live in the southeast. To give you a clearer insight into the reasons why, we’ve listed 5 reasons why St Albans is the perfect commuter town for homeowners and renters.
1. Great travel links
Travel plays a big part in any decision made about buying or renting a new home and St Albans excels in this area. St Albans City train station offers fast routes into St Pancras (20 minutes), Farringdon (25 minutes) and London Blackfriars (30 minutes). Those working more locally can travel from St Albans Abbey train station to Watford Junction in only 15 minutes. Bus routes connect to Welwyn Garden City, Luton and Watford, while on the road the M1, A1(M) and M25 are all close to hand.
2. Affordable housing
St Albans is becoming ever more popular with house hunters and renters priced out of living in major cities like London. Average prices for a one or two bedroom property in St Albans average between £260,000 and just under £400,000 respectively, with four bedroom homes coming in at almost £750,000 and beyond.
One bedroom flats to rent in St Albans average around £900pcm (compared to £1500pcm in London), while a two bedroom flat or house costs somewhere between £1,300pcm and £1,350pcm on average.
3. Variety of property types
There is no shortage of history in St Albans and that can be seen in the architecture across the town. That extends into the types of property available on the market, which includes everything from Georgian and Victorian, to Edwardian and post-WWII builds.
Contemporary flats and apartment developments continue to crop up in order to meet growing demand from newcomers looking to buy or rent. An increasing number of larger existing properties are also being converted into flats and studios, offering a wider variety of accommodation for those searching for a new home.
4. Great schools
The standard of education in St Albans is very high with a number of reputable schools that parents are eager to get their children accepted into.
Schools such as Maple, Beaumont and Sandringham are three of the most highly sought after, closely followed by Verulam and STAGS. A large number of primaries and secondary schools in St Albans have also received either a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted during their last inspection.
5. Things to do
While St Albans is renowned for its famous cathedral, beautiful architecture and historic market, there is much more to be discovered and enjoyed right throughout the City.
There are two shopping centres in the main retail hub featuring all the main high street brands along with a number of local, boutique outlets. Nightlife in St Albans offers an abundance of pubs, bars and restaurants, while there is a local art deco cinema and two theatre groups putting on regular performances.
England’s largest new native forest, Heartwood Forest, is only a short distance from St Albans, as is Bricket Wood Common, while the 25-acre Clarence Park is another great place to enjoy some of the local countryside.
Looking to buy or rent property in St Albans? Get in touch with our friendly and experienced estate agent team who will be happy to help.