Hi, we're thinking of moving to Potters Bar from North London in order to have a bit more space to start a family and a better community feeling- is PB a good place to live?

I have read through some of the threads on this forum and was a bit worried by people saying that it was going downhill a little with lots of local shops closing- this wasn't the impression we got when we visited, but I wondered what people living there thought?

Can anyone recommend a good area of Potters Bar? It's so difficult to know what a street is like if you don't live in the area- are there any to avoid? We need to be within a mile or so of the station and near to local shops.

I was also concerned to see that one of the local primary schools is closing- is there any advice on which the best schools are and how difficult it is to get places?

Anything else we should know?!

All advice gratefully received! Thanks!

Hi and welcome!

I moved here from Enfield 14 years ago. It has a more villagey feel about it than Enfield and is more leafy and green, close to countryside and better connected for me when going to work by train or car. The train is also quicker from here into London but a peak travelcard is £17 with an annual all zones travelcard at £2660.

I don't know about the downhill thing, I think local shops all over are closing because of the penetration of supermarkets. I try and use the local shops ahead of the supermarkets, the butchers (and the veg stall outside) and the smaller shops, newsagents, pubs and restaurants.

You're right it is difficult to get an idea what a particular street is like but usually you're confined by budget anyhow. You can get a handle on crime rates and stuff from http://www.upmystreet.com. I would visit at different times of the day and week. That nice looking green in the middle of all those houses looks great until you find the kids are kicking balls all over and screaming top of their voice every afternoon and weekend!

There are a couple of footpaths that leave the station, one going up towards the Cranborne Road which is about 10 mins walk and another up towards Strafford Gate.

I like it here, no plans to move unless work relocates me!

Thanks for that Slimgym! Very interesting, especially as Enfield is another area we are considering moving to. Sounds like you're happy there!

We really liked the shops of Darkes Lane when we visited, but felt there wasn't really a 'centre' to the town, or if this was it then it was quite small for the size of the town- the High Street seems to be more of a thoroughfare, and not the kind of shops you would use every day- are there any other areas of shops?

We will certainly visit any place we're interested in several times to get a feel of it, but it just helps to know where to start! Doesn't sound like there are any terrible areas in the town though- which certainly isn't the case with Enfield...

Had a look at Upmystreet too- thanks for the tip- it's very complimentary, but not very specific...

Does anybody else have any advice on schools etc?

Thanks!

Enfield is pretty good but much larger and has more centres. I found the trains slow (~35 mins to London against 15 mins from here) and the road network - the A10 - was awful going into London. We've got relatives up north and in Wales so being this side of town it's great to hit the M1 within about 15 mins and an 84 bus will take you up to St. Albans.

Darkes Lane came about because the railway landed there which is why there are two High Streets. I'm ten mins walk to DL so shop there. High St has the co-op and a bakers and some great restaurants plus a late opening or 24 hour general store. Take a look on http://www.pottersbar.org too as there's lot of info there.

Enfield is ten times the population and takes on inner areas like Edmonton and Ponders End, whereas there's nothing like that here - thankfully!

I think in terms of areas my concerns would be kids hanging around apparently up to mischief but you could get that anywhere. I notice quite a lot hanging around the station or the roundabout at Cranborne Road. I always had the impression the Cranborne was a bit rough but some of it looks really nice and seems fairly quiet.

Hi! My wife and I moved here about 4 years ago from Wood Green and absolutely love it. Like any place some areas are better than others - but on the whole it's brilliant (I've read that the west side is slightly better but not sure how true this is).

A good way to check out an area is by reading the local news - go to http://www.whtimes.co.uk/content/whtimes...fault.aspx
as this has all the potters bar news (we were so used to reading about stabbings etc in the Haringey Press that we still laugh at the jovial Potters Bar news stories).

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(16/Jun/2009 10:54 AM)jt87 Wrote:  Hi, we're thinking of moving to Potters Bar from North London in order to have a bit more space to start a family and a better community feeling- is PB a good place to live?

I have read through some of the threads on this forum and was a bit worried by people saying that it was going downhill a little with lots of local shops closing- this wasn't the impression we got when we visited, but I wondered what people living there thought?

Can anyone recommend a good area of Potters Bar? It's so difficult to know what a street is like if you don't live in the area- are there any to avoid? We need to be within a mile or so of the station and near to local shops.

I was also concerned to see that one of the local primary schools is closing- is there any advice on which the best schools are and how difficult it is to get places?

Anything else we should know?!

All advice gratefully received! Thanks!

Hi jt87

This is my first post but I always read this forum as I am impressed by the sense of community and felt I should contribute this time.

I moved to Potters Bar in '07 after 10 years living in North Finchley, and even more years in Hampstead before that. I absolutely love it! We made the decision to move here because the property prices allowed us to buy something larger than we were used to and I went to school in St Albans and grew up in Herts.

I never thought I would end up liking it as much as I do. You do not feel disconnected from Town at all with the fast train into Kings Cross taking about 15 minutes and theere are nearby tubes in Barnet and Cockfosters.

The schools are excellent as are the shopping facilities. I can get anything (within reason) in Potters Bar High Street from a sink plunger to a curtain pole. Oakmere park is delightful and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. There are many restaurants like The Royal Elephant which are comparable to the West End of London without the prices.

We are so pleased we moved here and we hope to live here for years to come. Hope this helps.

CW

I have lived in Potters Bar since 1954.
True,Potters bar has changed but then ,so has everywhere else.
Bus transport into Hertfordshire is pretty pathetic.As are bus routes from the garage.We have an essentially part-time police station with some time taken to reach major incidents.
BUT.....
Three doctors surgeries,a massive Tesco,a moderate sized Sainsbury's,Boots,Reeders the Butchers,a Wetherspoons pub,swimming pool,golf,cricket and bowls clubs.A football team with their own ground,clubhouse etc.Loads of clubs,societies,gyms etc.Plus the Wyllyotts entertainment centre
Two rather nice parks.Admittedly opposite one another but that adds an eccentric character.
Surrounded by numerous villages and acres of countryside.
Good schools in abundance and access to at least four hospitals.
Finally,Furzefield Wood which the borough council know to have been about for over 400 years.
Potters Bar could be even better but it is still a cracking place to live