Harlow

[crapmemory]

We are thinking of moving out of London. Does anyone on here live in Harlow? If so, is it a nice place to live?TIA

[Buenchico]

I don't live in Harlow but I've visited it plenty of times and it's never impressed me. Admittedly there are a few worse places to live in Essex (e.g. Grays) but there lots of better places in the county too.

Harlow was built as one of the post-war 'new towns' but, in my opinion, it wasn't as successful as some other new towns. (e.g. Welwyn Garden City or Letchworth Garden City). The town centre is fairly austere and the wind seems to get funneled along the main shopping area. It seems to be heading downhill, rather than uphill, in its fortunes at the moment too.

Some relevant links:
https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/inside-essex-town-seen-hundreds-3213962

https://www.essexlive.news/whats-on/shopping/ghost-town-harlow-entire-shopping-2406039

https://www.ilivehere.co.uk/harlow-essex.html

The nicest places to live in Essex are generally those upmarket villages where house prices (and rents) are extremely expensive, so I won't mention any such villages here. If you're looking for somewhere in a fair-sized town where prices/rents are rather cheaper, consider Chelmsford, Colchester or even the nicer parts of Southend.

[rockyracoon]

I live down the road from Harlow. It's affectionately, or not, called Chavtown by a lot of people round here. The shopping centre's not too bad and the hospital is on the doorstep of that. I wouldn't thank you for Harlow proper, it looks like a gigantic council estate, but I might be convinced by Old Harlow.

[rockyracoon]

Though it's rail link into London Liverpool St is quite good.

[rockyracoon]

Sawbridgeworth and Ware are quite nice, crapmemory, a bit further up than Harlow, but I wouldn't think enough to put you off.