A guide to living in East of England

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

I like living on this estate as it’s not overcrowded with properties. Everyone has plenty of room and we’re not on top of each other. The only thing I don’t like is that we don’t have street lighting and it’s very dark at night, especially if you are walking alone. There are shops within walking distance and also one public house. The bus route is a walk away but we do have quite a few choices of which bus to take. Everything else in my option is very good.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Probably not to get one of the houses that hack onto the main road as I believe there is a lot of traffic noise.

What is the best feature of your home:

I think the best features are the size of the garden and also we are not too close to anyone. There is ample space between our property and next door.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living in AL10 0FR has its pros and cons. There’s good access to local shops, supermarkets like Asda and Galleria retail outlets, and some nice cafes and restaurants around town and in the nearby university area. For bigger shopping trips, St Albans and Welwyn Garden City are close by. There are plenty of open green spaces nearby, like Hatfield Park and Ellenbrook Fields, which are great for walks and family time. Transport links are convenient – Hatfield train station offers direct trains to London in under 30 minutes, and local buses run regularly. However, traffic on the A1(M) during rush hour can be heavy. Our street is generally quiet, but parking can be limited, especially in the evenings. Bin collections are reliable, and anti-social behaviour is rare, though student noise can be an issue at certain times of the year. Overall, it’s a convenient place to live with a decent balance between town and green space.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

We knew most things but we always felt the service charge was way too high

What is the best feature of your home:

The best feature of our home is the spacious open-plan living area, which gets plenty of natural light and feels very welcoming.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Bowlers Green is a really lovely area with a short walk to the beach, a few local shops, a nice restaurant and a pub. The neighbourhood is quiet and far enough away from the tourist heavy part of Hopton that you forget it’s there. We hear little noise from the motorway, only motorbikes in the night. Bin collection is always reliable. No complaints really other than some barking from dogs at early hours.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

We wouldn’t change anything but wish we knew the types of houses that would be built in later phases as we may have waited for an alternative style of build.

What is the best feature of your home:

The size of the rooms and the overall floor plan layout.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Shops, fuel stations and a couple of pubs/restaurants nearby. The location is great, only downside is how close to the A47 it and the road noise you hear all day long.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I do wish we had known just how busy and loud the A47 was from the house.

What is the best feature of your home:

The best feature for us is the driveway and front garden.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Good local amenities, petrol station, bus stop, postbox, two local shops including post office, by the beach but also feel in the countryside. Some traffic noise as by the A47 but that’s only the ‘racer cars’ which don’t happen often. Bins collected on Fridays. No anti-social behaviour.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Add more plug sockets in before the final finishing touches set in stone.

What is the best feature of your home:

Internal layout, plenty of bathrooms, nice garden and private driveway. Exterior bricks always commented on.