Living in Stevenage – Hertfordshire Commuter Town Guide

Surrounded by the leafy countryside of Hertfordshire, Stevenage is a town steeped in rich heritage and culture, with a long history spanning back to Saxon times.

Its old town has quaint streets and historic coaching inns.

It is easy to see why Stevenage has become so popular and among one of the best commuter towns in Hertfordshire.

Since the onset of the pandemic record numbers of people have decided to leave the UK’s busy cities with London having experienced a near exodus as working from home is now so convenient.

However, the vast majority don’t want to have to face hours of commuting time when they need to go to the office from time to time.

Many of London’s commuter towns just like Stevenage, offer the best of both worlds bringing plenty of new people to the area.

Most importantly Stevenage is blessed with an under 30-minute rail journey to St Pancras station.

A larger home for way less than you would pay in London, more space to expand and grow a family, plenty of open green space, security, and the all-important short trip to work when necessary.

If you are also thinking of leaving London and living in Stevenage it is an appealing proposition and could be the best decision you ever make and here’s why.

Stevenage Property

The first thing you will need to organise is a suitable new home.

This box is easily ticked as Stevenage has so many fantastic choices.

Being a so-called “new Town” Stevenage first developed during the mid-1940s. Today it is roughly split into two distinct areas: ‘Old Town’ and ‘New Town’.

The Old Town area is very attractive boasting prestigious period homes, an attractive high street lined with small shops and historic pubs and is prettier than its counterpart.

The New Town area is more urbanised. Though it is not as built up as London.

New Town is distinctly busier and has a large high street of its own but offers affordable housing options for those with less to spend.

Here you will find a good selection of terraced properties with large gardens ripe for renovation.

What’s more homes in Stevenage are not just cheaper than in London, it also beats its neighbours St Albans and Harpenden.

Education Options

For those moving with children finding a good school is equally as important as finding a suitable home.

Parents need not worry too much on the education front.

Stevenage has plenty of schools from nursery to secondary level, providing a high level of education creating high demand for properties within the surrounding catchment areas.

Bar one or two, all schools in the town are rated by Ofsted as either “good” or “outstanding”.

Five primaries have reached the highest attainment level of “outstanding”. The Barnwell School is a popular choice for secondary students. Barnwell also has a sixth-form provision.

There are a number of learning options for post-16 children offering a range of subjects and job-related skills courses.

Hertfordshire has 4 Further Education colleges – Oaklands College, Hertford Regional College, North Hertfordshire College and West Herts College.

All are within easy reach with North Hertfordshire College being the closest.

Travel Links in Stevenage

As one of the most prominent appeals to Stevenage is its commutability aspect, it comes as no surprise that getting around the region is incredibly easy.

A trip to the office in London takes just a half hour by train perfect!

A quicker commute time than some people who drive to work.

There are quite a few roundabouts, notably few traffic lights.

If you do need to travel by car, the traffic flows easily.

Local main roads include the A1(M) motorway which bypasses the town to the west.

Other main roads are the B197 and A602.

Plus, if you are feeling energetic, there is a network of completely segregated cycleways, to ensure residents are safe whilst on the road.

The main bus operator is Arriva, providing plenty of bus routes ferrying people around the town and further out.

Local Contacts for Stevenage

When you first arrive at a new location it takes a while to find your feet and register with the local authorities, dentists, and doctors etc.

This is no different for those of you thinking of living in Stevenage!

When you are ready, you will find services for the area are very good.

There are two tiers of local government covering Stevenage, at district and county levels. Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council – www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

The local Borough Council is a good source of relevant information.

You can find out about bin collections, Council Tax and how to apply and submit planning applications.

Signing with the closest doctor’s surgery is important and needs to be sorted out as soon as possible after your arrival.

To find your nearest surgery, simply visit Find-my-doctor.co.uk 

Whilst the dentist may not be quite as urgent as having quick access to medical help, it still pays to investigate what is available as soon as you have the time.

Registering with dentists and doctors is a simple process, it will entail completing a registration form.

The new surgery will request the transfer of your health records from your previous doctor, and it all takes just a few days to complete.

Health and Leisure

These days increasing numbers of people are using exercise as a form of stress relief.

Physical activity helps to bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins.

It is good to know that in Stevenage there are multiple ways you can incorporate more movement into your day.

Stevenage has some great choices from swimming, golf, an aqua park, gyms, and even outdoor community athletics facilities.

Visit the everyone active website for more details.

There is no better way to make new friends than joining a local sports club.

Stevenage Cricket Club, Hockey Club and the Towns Bols Club are just three of the many options available to you in Stevenage, check out Yelp for more great ideas.

Getting active on two feet is also very easy.

The town is surrounded by the Stevenage Outer Orbital Path (STOOP), a 27-mile circuit walk.

The STOOP provides an informal, active recreational leisure amenity readily available to the residents of Stevenage and the surrounding villages.

Attractions in Stevenage

If you really just want to relax and do something a little less strenuous in your spare time, there are lots of attractions both in the town and the wider regions.

Here are some you may want to try:

• Knebworth House
• Knebworth Park 
• Fairlands Valley Park
• Stevenage Museum
• Gordon Craig Theatre 
• Cromer Windmill 
• Partyman World of Play
• Church Farm Ardeley 

Making Stevenage your Home?

Are you thinking of living in Stevenage now?

As you can see, it certainly has a lot to offer aside from its excellent commuter connections.

No matter what stage of life you are in, just starting out and buying your first home, accommodating an expanding family, or looking to retire, Stevenage ticks many boxes.

When the time comes, you will want to make sure that your move goes well and that the transition is as hassle-free as possible.

This is where GoodMove can help you. We have been trading for many years and offer a service that is difficult to equal.

Not only have we moved many people to and from Hertfordshire over the years we also cover all areas across the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex.

With our latest video survey technology, we can even carry out a home survey without visiting your property.

If you have a busy life juggling work and children, it is a very convenient way to get a quotation.

If you prefer, we can arrange for our friendly surveyor to visit you in person.

Alternatively, just fill out a quick quote form or click on our live bot at the bottom right of our home page and a member of our customer services team will contact you shortly.

Don’t delay, get in touch with us today and receive your free, no-obligation quotation as soon as possible.