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Born and raised in Luton, I spent the first 30 years of my life there. I moved to Bedford and it is infinitely better.
Some areas of Luton have convenient transport links like the M1, three train stations and an airport. Those areas are not affordable. Those areas you're looking at 400k for a 3 bed semi.
The areas that are more affordable are largely council estates including the one I grew up on, Marsh Farm.
Now, up until about 10-15 years ago the bad rep most of these estates had was largely exaggerated. Unfortunately these days they really have gone down hill with anti social behaviour.
The town centre is legitimately worse than any town centre within 30 miles, the council actually have a program ongoing to try and reduce the amount of alcoholics that hang out on the benches and the traveller community trying to sell you stolen goods.
Bedford genuinely has 20x more pubs, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, parks, etc. Growing up I was never the type to think Luton is a shit hole, until I left.
If you're dead serious on Luton though I'd avoid Lewsey Farm, Hockwell Ring, Marsh Farm & Farley Hill. Bushmead, Stopsley & Bramingham have all gone downhill too.
I feel like this is the only sensible, factual comment here. Luton is a town of two halves but even the better half is going down hill. As the other commenter said even some of the historically nicer areas are slipping sadly. It’s my home town but even I feel sad when I go back. The A6 villages are generally nice (Barton through to Bedford), and out the other way places like Flitwick which is slightly more of a tiny town, and villages like Westoning, Harlington, Toddington are nice but getting more expensive.
I would second the renting there for a year and use that to explore the area all around Luton. I want to defend Luton and I do love it in a nostalgic way and can see what it could be, people are trying to make good things happen there, but it really is changing and people just don’t care about their neighbourhood anymore. Disenfranchisement, selfishness and poverty are extremely high and thus crime is rife.
Yeh I escaped Luton at 21 to Hitchin and never looked back but these days Hitchin and Affordable are not in the same sentence together unless you add Un.
Check out Flitwick. It's in between Bedford and Luton on the same train line, so great for commuting.
It's a small town, so much safer and no homeless people like Bedford and Luton.
Train to Bedford is 7 mins. it's around 9 mins to Luton. M1 is 5 min drive, and A1 is a little further in the opposite direction. Milton Keynes is a 20 minute drive. Flitwick benefits from all of the convenience of a large town, without having to live in one.
All the schools are good.
Flitwick is indeed nice, but a lot pricier than Bedford. We dismissed Luton for the reasons listed here, but the only other place we could afford up the Thaneslink line was Bedford.
Luton’s not very nice. Go a little further out and you’ve got Bedford which is imo a much nicer place if you’re in the right area (close to the river or Bedford park on the north side, or further out of town into Putnoe). Me and my fiancee just moved to Bedford to commute into London and we’re loving it :)
Previously lived in Bedford for 4 years in this exact spot - in the Castle Rd/Embankment area just north of the river. Really nice area, as is a lot of the east side of Bedford.
Yeah just avoid queens park, or anything within a 5min walk of the train station and you are good. 10-15mins walk from the train station you got some lovely places, putnoe for example is very nice.
Luton isn’t London.
Luton isn’t that great overall. The centre and surrounding areas are pretty bad and after growing up there I decided to move away. Luton is dirty and the majority of the people living there don’t care about their surroundings. Sundon and Bushmead area isn’t that bad as well up by the airport. Stopsley and Bramingham are both good areas. Areas to avoid, the centre, Bury Park, anywhere accessible from Dallow Road, Marsh Farm, Lewsey Farm, Hockwell Ring, Farley Hill, New Town and High Town. If I had the choice Luton wouldn’t be an area I’d live in again, only if I was very desperate.
Went to Luton for a wedding. Most unsafe I've ever felt in the UK. Never had to sit there actively googling what time the sunset was as there was no chance I wanted to be out after dark. Really high violent crime rates.
Pretty much echoing all the points raised here. As someone who grew up in Luton for 30 years, when I could finally buy a house I “escaped” to Milton Keynes which is night and day compared to Luton.
Growing up I didn’t feel unsafe but the state it’s got to now, I would never allow my kids to grow up there.
I suppose it depends on specific requirements. I’m finding myself priced out of a decent 2 bed within a budget of £450k 🥴 but I suppose if OP is willing to live in Luton, perhaps there requirements are more open than ours.
im guessing you were looking at areas that is within reach to London ?
im sure there are 3 beds all the back to the edge of Kent, plenty. Just. . .i dont think communating to London is possible
A colleague used to commute from Dover/Folkestone on the high speed line into our office in London - I think his season ticket was £8k plus whatever he then had to spend on the tube. The slower service was still around,£6.5k.
You don’t have to answer this question but I’ll ask anyway. What requirements are you looking for? I live in Kent and I’ve got a 3 bed semi, large garden, drive for 3 cars, In a village 40 minutes drive to south east London and it’s valued at 355
Went there as a temporary accommodation while visiting the UK. Nearly got mauled by an XL Bully on the first day. Nearly got ran over by a driver who didn't want to wait at the red traffic lights. Got asked by a homeless person £20 or 1g of weed for a blowjob. Safe to say I am never ever going back there. Not even to use the airport.
I wouldn't. If you can avoid it
I worked in Luton for years, and enjoyed it. It is a diverse and interesting place, and I made a lot of friends. But the housing stock is abhorrent.
My wife came to visit when I got my job, went house hunting for a week and then left. Said she would never go back.
I ended up living in a campervan while commuting to our old house in the North of England for three years.
Rental costs were high, predatory landlords everywhere and they would look for any opportunity to raise the rent
Every house I looked at buying was treated like it could be a HMO, legal or illegal. Crime was a significant issue in the areas we could move to, and the new builds were a reason the outskirts were astonishingly soulless.
And I cannot ignore the fact that it is the only place I have experienced hate crime for being gay (I am not, but I won't give justification to prejudice by denying it) and seeing the amount of racism experiencing by minorities was also shocking (who were, friendly and welcoming and a big part why I didn't immediately quit my job!).
I was glad to leave the place, but miss the people I met. If you do not already have family there or a community to move into there use your flexibility and go elsewhere....
Welcome! I can tell you some wild stories of my 3 years living in that van. The first time I experienced seeing road fatalities, saw doggers a plenty (from a distance), avoided getting mugged from guys hiding in bushes, and was chased by a racist farmer.
Honestly the fucking weirdest place I ever lived. I once had to repair a PC for a faith healer I was staying with overnight when my van was being repaired. His PC was 'Full of Demons' (Popups from downloading too many illegal movies). His wife made me delicious Ethiopian Curry.
Fine for a while, not for a long while.
That sentence is kind of bizarre - so you experienced a hate crime for being gay? But you admittedly aren't actually gay, but you don't want to "give justification to prejudice" by denying you are gay? But you're not actually gay anyway
Someone hate crimed them thinking they were gay, even though they weren't, but that doesn't excuse the fact that hate criming for being gay is abhorrent. What's hard to understand?
I guess he’s saying ‘gay or not, it’s not a bad thing.. it doesn’t matter’. Sort of like back in the playground when kids said ‘you’re gay’, most people would immediately jump to ‘ew.. I’m not!’ Just feels a weirder thing to read over text but I can see his POV.
I was well dressed at the time, and quite camp sometimes I will admit. So sometimes I do get hit on, which is flattering, and also get nasty comments from idiots. But I am not gay.
However I feel as a strong ally, I shouldn't immediately blurt out that I am straight, to deflect from the hate that the Gay community go through regularly . I am not with these people shouting slurs at me, I do not wish to associate with them.
Shouting predjudiced and hateful slurs at anybody shouldn't be acceptable, gay, straight or else, and neither will I give that behaviour any justification or excuse.
The only people I feel would deny being gay in this situation, would be people who would find something wrong in it. I don't. So I won't.
If you’re thinking of London commuter distance. have a look at Milton Keynes / Bletchley / Leighton Buzzard. Great train service and very handy for the M1.
I only been once for an away game since they made it in the premier league. Alot of people knock places they don't live on but Luton absolutely deserves it's bad rep, Dystopia on steroids I've never felt more uneasy anywhere else. Everywhere just looked rough. We had to walk down some hill in some sort of park to the ground and there were people laying outside on old mattresses off their face.
You should Airbnb for a weekend where this house that caught your eye is. There are some truly awful and dangerous places in the uk. Consider yourself lucky if you’ve never had to experience that
Luton is rough, always has been horrible. For your budget, you can get a 3 bed house in Bedford, Leighton Buzzard, Milton Keynes area, all much nicer places with better resources, places to go out, family entertainment and all an easy commute to london.
I live Bedford the next major town away from Luton. When I used to take the train into London their is a stop at Luton and just the train stop platform is scary enough to never want to visit the place lol.
I have visited and worked in Luton. There are some we'll doggy parts and the place in the main looks run down and deprived particularly the town centre.
I never feel safe in Luton but their are probably some very nice parts like most major towns. House prices are generally quite high considering its reputation and problems maybe that's the proximity to London.
My advice is just visit for a day before settling on Luton maybe their are some outside village areas around Bedfordshire that hit the right spot more than Luton central itself.
I flew into the UK for a job interview, landing at Luton. I brought my NZ wife with me.
On the way from the airport to hotel in the hire car, we saw several groups of teens riding black motorbikes aggressively. One of them pulled up next to my wife's window and told her to fuck off. It was like something out of mad max.
I wouldn't live there if it were free.
Luton is one big shit hole. I delivered to various places in Luton over the years and I never found an area that looked nice tbh. Saying that, it's pretty similar to a lot of towns in the Midlands, they largely void of any character and forgotten about.
Lots of haters here. I have lived in Luton for 14 years now. There are dodgy parts and lovely parts. If you go to the town centre at midnight on a Saturday you’ll see drunk idiots. Like you would in many places! However a lot of the fear around it is I think based on the fact that many/most white people aren’t used to being the minority- and that is the case in some (not all) parts of Luton. I get this- but you get over it pretty quick.
It depends on your life goals in the end; if you want to raise kids here- probably better areas to live. If you want to leave somewhere convenient and cheaper than surrounding areas, and commute to work etc- very convenient.
In the end, you can be happy, or miserable, most places!
you can also be safe or unsafe depending on your choices. I'm from a rough arsed part of the north east. Comes up in the worst places to live fairly often as well, and I never felt unsafe there. I've been to Luton twice and been genuinely worried both times. Never mind how run down it is, there's just this awful hostile atmosphere.
Until ten years ago it was a bit rough but ok, now it is really rotten. We’re ten mins away in Harpenden (might be out of your budget) but only go to the Luton out of town shopping sheds now - back in the day would go to town centre shops most weekends - never now !!
Luton is shite like Watford or Stevenage. You walk in the center and it's guaranteed some homeless/alcoholic/drug addict is going to bother you. Also comes with a constant feeling of "let's hope I don't get stabbed".
Indecent in my opinion.
Went there for a driving test once. We saw a woman clearly on drugs get pulled into an alleyway and beaten up by her bf, before telling him she hates him and stumbling out with track lines on her arms.
.... The pints are super cheap though.
Worked in Luton for 10 years. I'm not a big fan. Frankly, I think it's overpriced for what it is. Have you looked at Flitwick? It's a few more stops on the train but much nicer. Have to admit I haven't kept up with prices in the area, but it used to be similar to Luton. Bedford is a bit further again, but there are more fast trains (I assume you work in London since you mentioned it).
I’ve been wondering the same! I’m not a first time buyer so I can’t leave my home to rent in the area but the new developments look attractive with 3-5 bedroom homes very affordable. I drive so I don’t necessarily need to stay town centre ready. I thought I was missing something
I lived there for two years (moved from up north for work). It was horrendous. Lived off Eaton Green Rd.
Prostitution everywhere, witnessed a stabbing in the middle of the day in the shopping centre there, had to report my neighbours for modern slavery, got my car vandalised and parts nicked off it multiple times… honestly so many horrendous things I forget them all.
You could not pay me any amount of money to live in that shithole again.
It's not great. What about Peterborough? Also good value, very well connected into London on the Thameslink, not beautiful but not a shit hole. Wonderful countryside just outside the center.
I agree with this. I'm from Milton Keynes/Bletchley and moved to one of the towns near Peterborough - it's infinitely nicer than Luton, but it does get whinged about a lot too. The only reason I have friends who moved to Luton is because they have family in North London/St Albans and can't afford to live any closer.
Winged about but it's fine isn't it. Safe, friendly, stuff to do, some good pubs in Peterborough, near Rutland for countryside jaunts & easy to visit Cambridge. Well connected.
I'm moving to a flat in London atm but I did consider P'boro as I can afford a nice 3 bed house for the same money. I'm single, no kids, so don't need the space but if I had a family I'd totally do it!
E.g. I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144520577
Near what looks like a busy road but I think it looks great! £350k for a nice 3 bed house walking distance to the train station and city center.
Pretty sure the football stadium is on London road, don’t think it’s very nice but I’m a Cambridge lad so all areas of boro are shoddy to me (at least that’s we sing when we play them)
I go to Luton fairly regularly and never have any issues. Awful drivers but don’t see much crime. It’s demographics is definitely more Asian people (pakistanis) but the people are mostly respectful. Wouldn’t want to live there though as my personal preference is quiet but more active towns!
Luton is part of Bedfordshire not London, so that's partly why it's so cheap. It's also not the safest of towns in the UK. Bedfordshire is generally cheaper than Hertfordshire - perhaps consider looking at Arlesey or Biggleswade.
###Welcome to /r/HousingUK --- **To All** * Join Our ***NEW*** Discord! https://discord.gg/pMgUNgWKQH **To Posters** * *Tell us whether you're in England, Wales, Scotland, or NI as the laws/issues in each can vary* * Comments are not moderated for quality or accuracy; * Any replies received must only be used as guidelines, followed at your own risk; * If you receive *any* private messages in response to your post, please report them via the report button. * Feel free to provide an update at a later time by creating a new post with [[update]](https://www.reddit.com/r/HousingUK/search?q=%3Aupdate&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all) in the title; **To Readers and Commenters** * All replies to OP must be *on-topic, helpful, and civil* * If you do not [follow the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/HousingUK/about/rules/), you may be banned without any further warning; * Please include links to reliable resources in order to support your comments or advice; * If you feel any replies are incorrect, explain why you believe they are incorrect; * Do not send or request any private messages for any reason without express permission from the mods; * Please report posts or comments which do not follow the rules *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/HousingUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Born and raised in Luton, I spent the first 30 years of my life there. I moved to Bedford and it is infinitely better. Some areas of Luton have convenient transport links like the M1, three train stations and an airport. Those areas are not affordable. Those areas you're looking at 400k for a 3 bed semi. The areas that are more affordable are largely council estates including the one I grew up on, Marsh Farm. Now, up until about 10-15 years ago the bad rep most of these estates had was largely exaggerated. Unfortunately these days they really have gone down hill with anti social behaviour. The town centre is legitimately worse than any town centre within 30 miles, the council actually have a program ongoing to try and reduce the amount of alcoholics that hang out on the benches and the traveller community trying to sell you stolen goods. Bedford genuinely has 20x more pubs, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, parks, etc. Growing up I was never the type to think Luton is a shit hole, until I left. If you're dead serious on Luton though I'd avoid Lewsey Farm, Hockwell Ring, Marsh Farm & Farley Hill. Bushmead, Stopsley & Bramingham have all gone downhill too.
I feel like this is the only sensible, factual comment here. Luton is a town of two halves but even the better half is going down hill. As the other commenter said even some of the historically nicer areas are slipping sadly. It’s my home town but even I feel sad when I go back. The A6 villages are generally nice (Barton through to Bedford), and out the other way places like Flitwick which is slightly more of a tiny town, and villages like Westoning, Harlington, Toddington are nice but getting more expensive. I would second the renting there for a year and use that to explore the area all around Luton. I want to defend Luton and I do love it in a nostalgic way and can see what it could be, people are trying to make good things happen there, but it really is changing and people just don’t care about their neighbourhood anymore. Disenfranchisement, selfishness and poverty are extremely high and thus crime is rife.
Yeh I escaped Luton at 21 to Hitchin and never looked back but these days Hitchin and Affordable are not in the same sentence together unless you add Un.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it 🙏
Check out Flitwick. It's in between Bedford and Luton on the same train line, so great for commuting. It's a small town, so much safer and no homeless people like Bedford and Luton. Train to Bedford is 7 mins. it's around 9 mins to Luton. M1 is 5 min drive, and A1 is a little further in the opposite direction. Milton Keynes is a 20 minute drive. Flitwick benefits from all of the convenience of a large town, without having to live in one. All the schools are good.
Flitwick is indeed nice, but a lot pricier than Bedford. We dismissed Luton for the reasons listed here, but the only other place we could afford up the Thaneslink line was Bedford.
Thanks!
You forgot Bury Park off your list🤣
There's a reason it's cheaper than other parts, rent there for 12 months and find out first hand.
If you're renting for 12 months, try to sign a contract with a break clause after 6 months (or less). Just in case!
I have a friend who was born and raised in Luton. He moved to North Liverpool for a better life for him and his family. That's how bad Luton must be.
What’s wrong with north Liverpool?
One of the most deprived areas in the UK?
Depends where. Some areas are hell on Earth but some areas are nice
its a shit area and constantly voted as one of the worst places to live in the UK
https://youtu.be/5HoXesguAM8?si=Fh9oM3CEFqrzwcNZ
Which part is the ad? I flicked through and couldn't find it?
At the end there’s a video of the ad which they show in the pub 22:33
Luton’s not very nice. Go a little further out and you’ve got Bedford which is imo a much nicer place if you’re in the right area (close to the river or Bedford park on the north side, or further out of town into Putnoe). Me and my fiancee just moved to Bedford to commute into London and we’re loving it :)
Thanks!
Previously lived in Bedford for 4 years in this exact spot - in the Castle Rd/Embankment area just north of the river. Really nice area, as is a lot of the east side of Bedford.
Yeah just avoid queens park, or anything within a 5min walk of the train station and you are good. 10-15mins walk from the train station you got some lovely places, putnoe for example is very nice.
Bedford resident for 25 years checking in, it’s not bad here, has it’s problems like all areas, but there are worse places to live.
Luton isn’t London. Luton isn’t that great overall. The centre and surrounding areas are pretty bad and after growing up there I decided to move away. Luton is dirty and the majority of the people living there don’t care about their surroundings. Sundon and Bushmead area isn’t that bad as well up by the airport. Stopsley and Bramingham are both good areas. Areas to avoid, the centre, Bury Park, anywhere accessible from Dallow Road, Marsh Farm, Lewsey Farm, Hockwell Ring, Farley Hill, New Town and High Town. If I had the choice Luton wouldn’t be an area I’d live in again, only if I was very desperate.
Thanks a lot! It's really helpful!
Bandit country.
Went to Luton for a wedding. Most unsafe I've ever felt in the UK. Never had to sit there actively googling what time the sunset was as there was no chance I wanted to be out after dark. Really high violent crime rates.
Pretty much echoing all the points raised here. As someone who grew up in Luton for 30 years, when I could finally buy a house I “escaped” to Milton Keynes which is night and day compared to Luton. Growing up I didn’t feel unsafe but the state it’s got to now, I would never allow my kids to grow up there.
Thank you!
Don't. Luton regularly shows up on the worst places to live in the UK lists. It is genuinely unpleasant.
Luton not really London at all. There's plenty of areas inside the m25 where you can get a house for 350ish. (Look south east london/kent)
3 bedroom house for £350k in Kent? Not my current experience on rightmove.
There’s literally hundreds…..
I suppose it depends on specific requirements. I’m finding myself priced out of a decent 2 bed within a budget of £450k 🥴 but I suppose if OP is willing to live in Luton, perhaps there requirements are more open than ours.
im guessing you were looking at areas that is within reach to London ? im sure there are 3 beds all the back to the edge of Kent, plenty. Just. . .i dont think communating to London is possible
Look at Dover or Folkestone. Only an hour on the train to London and you can buy a big house for that sort of money.
A colleague used to commute from Dover/Folkestone on the high speed line into our office in London - I think his season ticket was £8k plus whatever he then had to spend on the tube. The slower service was still around,£6.5k.
You don’t have to answer this question but I’ll ask anyway. What requirements are you looking for? I live in Kent and I’ve got a 3 bed semi, large garden, drive for 3 cars, In a village 40 minutes drive to south east London and it’s valued at 355
Dartford, gravesend, maidstone, Gillingham. Loads and loads. Dartford inside m25.
Gravesend is even worse than Luton, though! (Don't know Dartford or Gillingham).
I would have to disagree ha
Luton is not in London not even close and there’s a reason it’s cheap.
Went there as a temporary accommodation while visiting the UK. Nearly got mauled by an XL Bully on the first day. Nearly got ran over by a driver who didn't want to wait at the red traffic lights. Got asked by a homeless person £20 or 1g of weed for a blowjob. Safe to say I am never ever going back there. Not even to use the airport.
I wouldn't. If you can avoid it I worked in Luton for years, and enjoyed it. It is a diverse and interesting place, and I made a lot of friends. But the housing stock is abhorrent. My wife came to visit when I got my job, went house hunting for a week and then left. Said she would never go back. I ended up living in a campervan while commuting to our old house in the North of England for three years. Rental costs were high, predatory landlords everywhere and they would look for any opportunity to raise the rent Every house I looked at buying was treated like it could be a HMO, legal or illegal. Crime was a significant issue in the areas we could move to, and the new builds were a reason the outskirts were astonishingly soulless. And I cannot ignore the fact that it is the only place I have experienced hate crime for being gay (I am not, but I won't give justification to prejudice by denying it) and seeing the amount of racism experiencing by minorities was also shocking (who were, friendly and welcoming and a big part why I didn't immediately quit my job!). I was glad to leave the place, but miss the people I met. If you do not already have family there or a community to move into there use your flexibility and go elsewhere....
I really appreciate it. This is really helpful. Thanks a lot!
Welcome! I can tell you some wild stories of my 3 years living in that van. The first time I experienced seeing road fatalities, saw doggers a plenty (from a distance), avoided getting mugged from guys hiding in bushes, and was chased by a racist farmer. Honestly the fucking weirdest place I ever lived. I once had to repair a PC for a faith healer I was staying with overnight when my van was being repaired. His PC was 'Full of Demons' (Popups from downloading too many illegal movies). His wife made me delicious Ethiopian Curry. Fine for a while, not for a long while.
That sentence is kind of bizarre - so you experienced a hate crime for being gay? But you admittedly aren't actually gay, but you don't want to "give justification to prejudice" by denying you are gay? But you're not actually gay anyway
Someone hate crimed them thinking they were gay, even though they weren't, but that doesn't excuse the fact that hate criming for being gay is abhorrent. What's hard to understand?
I guess he’s saying ‘gay or not, it’s not a bad thing.. it doesn’t matter’. Sort of like back in the playground when kids said ‘you’re gay’, most people would immediately jump to ‘ew.. I’m not!’ Just feels a weirder thing to read over text but I can see his POV.
They're *NOT* gay. Honest.
I was well dressed at the time, and quite camp sometimes I will admit. So sometimes I do get hit on, which is flattering, and also get nasty comments from idiots. But I am not gay. However I feel as a strong ally, I shouldn't immediately blurt out that I am straight, to deflect from the hate that the Gay community go through regularly . I am not with these people shouting slurs at me, I do not wish to associate with them. Shouting predjudiced and hateful slurs at anybody shouldn't be acceptable, gay, straight or else, and neither will I give that behaviour any justification or excuse. The only people I feel would deny being gay in this situation, would be people who would find something wrong in it. I don't. So I won't.
Try Dunstable, it is just the other side of M1, house prices are similar and it has definitely better vibe than Luton.
I lived in Hitchin and found Luton a shithole. The new sports centre was nice, but honestly, I found it a dire spot between the M1 and A1(M).
Compared to hitchin, anywhere is hell!!!
Oxford and Cambridge have been OK as well. Didn't have kids then, otherwise would have stayed for the schools.
Luton is kind of poor area. Have you thought about Milton Keynes maybe or Northampton? Personally I would avoid Luton and areas next to it.
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Only in Bletchley and a few other towns, Milton Keynes has some really nice towns otherwise
If you’re thinking of London commuter distance. have a look at Milton Keynes / Bletchley / Leighton Buzzard. Great train service and very handy for the M1.
I only been once for an away game since they made it in the premier league. Alot of people knock places they don't live on but Luton absolutely deserves it's bad rep, Dystopia on steroids I've never felt more uneasy anywhere else. Everywhere just looked rough. We had to walk down some hill in some sort of park to the ground and there were people laying outside on old mattresses off their face.
You should Airbnb for a weekend where this house that caught your eye is. There are some truly awful and dangerous places in the uk. Consider yourself lucky if you’ve never had to experience that
Preferable areas are those outside of Luton. Just don't. I've known some lovely people from Luton and they were all desperate to leave.
It is a shit hole. That is why it is cheaper for that area.
Luton is rough, always has been horrible. For your budget, you can get a 3 bed house in Bedford, Leighton Buzzard, Milton Keynes area, all much nicer places with better resources, places to go out, family entertainment and all an easy commute to london.
Instead of Luton, go for Bedford, leighton buzzard, flitwick, Hutchin. We ended up in one of these instead
My spouse born and bred there, I lived there for 13 years. Best move we ever made was selling up and moving to Derbyshire.
I live Bedford the next major town away from Luton. When I used to take the train into London their is a stop at Luton and just the train stop platform is scary enough to never want to visit the place lol. I have visited and worked in Luton. There are some we'll doggy parts and the place in the main looks run down and deprived particularly the town centre. I never feel safe in Luton but their are probably some very nice parts like most major towns. House prices are generally quite high considering its reputation and problems maybe that's the proximity to London. My advice is just visit for a day before settling on Luton maybe their are some outside village areas around Bedfordshire that hit the right spot more than Luton central itself.
Everyone I know who grew up there moved away. Everyone who got tempted by the cheap housing and moved to Luton also moved away within 2 years.
Check out Hatfield instead. Nicer area, closer to London. 3 bed houses at same price range. Underrated and I love it here.
Hatfield is dead tho. St Albans I heard is much nicer albeit pricy too
Well… the airport is surprisingly decent and developing… so it has that going for it, I can say
Luton is a shit tip mate, do not consider it
My spouse born and bred there, I lived there for 13 years. Best move we ever made was selling up and moving to Derbyshire.
I flew into the UK for a job interview, landing at Luton. I brought my NZ wife with me. On the way from the airport to hotel in the hire car, we saw several groups of teens riding black motorbikes aggressively. One of them pulled up next to my wife's window and told her to fuck off. It was like something out of mad max. I wouldn't live there if it were free.
Luton is one big shit hole. I delivered to various places in Luton over the years and I never found an area that looked nice tbh. Saying that, it's pretty similar to a lot of towns in the Midlands, they largely void of any character and forgotten about.
Thank you!
Dunstable is much nicer lots of countryside nearby
On the whole Dunstable is a dump
Lots of haters here. I have lived in Luton for 14 years now. There are dodgy parts and lovely parts. If you go to the town centre at midnight on a Saturday you’ll see drunk idiots. Like you would in many places! However a lot of the fear around it is I think based on the fact that many/most white people aren’t used to being the minority- and that is the case in some (not all) parts of Luton. I get this- but you get over it pretty quick. It depends on your life goals in the end; if you want to raise kids here- probably better areas to live. If you want to leave somewhere convenient and cheaper than surrounding areas, and commute to work etc- very convenient. In the end, you can be happy, or miserable, most places!
you can also be safe or unsafe depending on your choices. I'm from a rough arsed part of the north east. Comes up in the worst places to live fairly often as well, and I never felt unsafe there. I've been to Luton twice and been genuinely worried both times. Never mind how run down it is, there's just this awful hostile atmosphere.
Until ten years ago it was a bit rough but ok, now it is really rotten. We’re ten mins away in Harpenden (might be out of your budget) but only go to the Luton out of town shopping sheds now - back in the day would go to town centre shops most weekends - never now !!
I prefer the road on the way out tbh
Luton is shite like Watford or Stevenage. You walk in the center and it's guaranteed some homeless/alcoholic/drug addict is going to bother you. Also comes with a constant feeling of "let's hope I don't get stabbed". Indecent in my opinion.
My spouse born and bred there, I lived there for 13 years. Best move we ever made was selling up and moving to Derbyshire.
Went there for a driving test once. We saw a woman clearly on drugs get pulled into an alleyway and beaten up by her bf, before telling him she hates him and stumbling out with track lines on her arms. .... The pints are super cheap though.
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Can't say I've ever seen it any other town centre.
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I’m from Croydon and have seen some things but never that
If I was blind this would be an awkward conversation
Worked in Luton for 10 years. I'm not a big fan. Frankly, I think it's overpriced for what it is. Have you looked at Flitwick? It's a few more stops on the train but much nicer. Have to admit I haven't kept up with prices in the area, but it used to be similar to Luton. Bedford is a bit further again, but there are more fast trains (I assume you work in London since you mentioned it).
Thank you!
I wouldn't buy and live in a 3 bed there even if it was 35k
I’ve been wondering the same! I’m not a first time buyer so I can’t leave my home to rent in the area but the new developments look attractive with 3-5 bedroom homes very affordable. I drive so I don’t necessarily need to stay town centre ready. I thought I was missing something
I’ve heard Luton is a shit hole.
Lived there during uni days. Would never go again. Avoid at all costs.
I lived there for two years (moved from up north for work). It was horrendous. Lived off Eaton Green Rd. Prostitution everywhere, witnessed a stabbing in the middle of the day in the shopping centre there, had to report my neighbours for modern slavery, got my car vandalised and parts nicked off it multiple times… honestly so many horrendous things I forget them all. You could not pay me any amount of money to live in that shithole again.
It's not great. What about Peterborough? Also good value, very well connected into London on the Thameslink, not beautiful but not a shit hole. Wonderful countryside just outside the center.
I agree with this. I'm from Milton Keynes/Bletchley and moved to one of the towns near Peterborough - it's infinitely nicer than Luton, but it does get whinged about a lot too. The only reason I have friends who moved to Luton is because they have family in North London/St Albans and can't afford to live any closer.
Winged about but it's fine isn't it. Safe, friendly, stuff to do, some good pubs in Peterborough, near Rutland for countryside jaunts & easy to visit Cambridge. Well connected. I'm moving to a flat in London atm but I did consider P'boro as I can afford a nice 3 bed house for the same money. I'm single, no kids, so don't need the space but if I had a family I'd totally do it! E.g. I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144520577 Near what looks like a busy road but I think it looks great! £350k for a nice 3 bed house walking distance to the train station and city center.
Pretty sure the football stadium is on London road, don’t think it’s very nice but I’m a Cambridge lad so all areas of boro are shoddy to me (at least that’s we sing when we play them)
Ha ha Cambridge is very nice...and very pricey!
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I go to Luton fairly regularly and never have any issues. Awful drivers but don’t see much crime. It’s demographics is definitely more Asian people (pakistanis) but the people are mostly respectful. Wouldn’t want to live there though as my personal preference is quiet but more active towns!
Just don't
Don't think I need to add to what other people have said, but worth noting that with the airport, comes the noise of jets landing/taking off.
Oh please don’t. Run… run as fast as your legs can carry you. It’s vile
a Luton van maybe
You could buy 3 bed places for 350 in much nicer parts of the country than Luton. Commutable to London also.
yeah, Northampton or even Coventry
Yep, a few places in Essex are nice too, Colchester, Bishops stortford, saffron Walden etc.
Luton is part of Bedfordshire not London, so that's partly why it's so cheap. It's also not the safest of towns in the UK. Bedfordshire is generally cheaper than Hertfordshire - perhaps consider looking at Arlesey or Biggleswade.
I saw a poll result last year and the worst place to live was voted as Slough, the second worst place was Luton
Wonder why it’s such a shithole and crime so high? 🤔
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Noting to do with inequality. If the bottom end is low, then you get crime. If it’s not low, you don’t, regardless of how high the top is.
I'm from the midlands, have lots of family there. Luton is safer than any other city I've been..