Livery near London

[Mat05]

Hi all,
I plan to move to London for work, and therefore to bring my mare with me! I don’t know yet where I will be living in London -I think it will be either close to Hyde Park, or close to London Bridge
I am looking for a livery where my mare will be able to go in the field during the day with other horses, and brought back in the stables during the night -this is the type of living she has at the moment and she is very happy with it!
Also having an indoor arena would be a plus, but I will be happy with outdoor arena as well if I have no choice
I would like to be able to hack as well!
I have found Little munden equestrian center that seems to meet my criteria, but it is a bit far away, if I could find a place like 45min by car max it could be better!
Have you any ideas/advices? Thanks a lot and sorry for my English I am not native

 

[Uliy]

All closer to North London, but have a look at:

Woodhurst Farm
Trent Park Equestrian Centre
Gillians Riding School
Guy Lodge Farm
Frith Manor Equestrian Centre
London Equestrian Centre

Not sure how far they are for you, but a few on there are accessible by public transport

You might also want to consider yards in south London, but I’ve no experience of those!

 

[PeterNatt]

Tragically all the Livery Yards that were in Central London have closed down many years ago and even the small parcels of land that had horses on them have been developed so you are restricted to the suburbs of London. If you are looking for somewhere to hack then again you will need to find a yard that has direct access to good safe hacking as many do not. There are areas of Hertfordshire where there is excellent hacking such as around South Mimms/Ridge, Little Berkhampsted and Benington in Hertfordshire but if you require an indoor arena then the choice of yards with good hacking become very much smaller. I wish you good luck.

 

[criso]

Further in you may struggle with turnout in the winter and hacking will be limited.

The area around Little Munden has very good hacking. Although it's quite far out, a fair proportion is via the M1 so can be quicker than somewhere nearer. Also near there with an indoor school is Netherwylde and I heard Hill Farm was building one. I think Crossoaks in Shenley has an indoor school.

Further East, Bayford Hall Farm have an indoor school, the area isn't as good for hacking but the have rides around their fields. Lots of turnout however they tend to have individual paddocks unless someone has 2 horses or pairs up with another livery.
Kings Oak in Crews hill has an indoor school but not very good hacking. Not sure about their turnout.

However if you are based near London Bridge you may be better looking South of London. I am in North London so know Hertfordshire but depending on where you end up living, Essex, Surrey or Kent could be options.

 

[Spot_On03]

All closer to North London, but have a look at:

Woodhurst Farm
Trent Park Equestrian Centre
Gillians Riding School
Guy Lodge Farm
Frith Manor Equestrian Centre
London Equestrian Centre

Not sure how far they are for you, but a few on there are accessible by public transport

You might also want to consider yards in south London, but I’ve no experience of those!

I used to be stabled At TPEC, if you want daily turnout I wouldn't recommend. However, their facilities for the area are great; off road hacking, XC field, 2 indoor schools, outdoor.... but they are a Riding school.

I would also recommend Woodhurst, near M25 and train station. All year turnout, 2 outdoor schools, lorry parking, Full/part/DIY livery and hacking (although down a country lane to get to)

 

[Spot_On03]

Depending on where you are there's some nice livery yards on the South London/Kent border too.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Little Munden is lovely but really hard to get to without a car. It’s in Bricketwood so really not easy to get to from the London Bridge area.

Frith Manor might be the closest re distance. It’s near Junction 2 of the M1. From October, the congestion charge (ULEZ) is extending upto the A406 (North circular road) and the south circular so it will be very expensive to use a petrol or diesel car daily.

You might want to live outside of the ULEZ and commute into work. It will probably be cheaper!

 

[criso]

I dont think the OP said they didn't have a car, just that they would prefer not more than 45 minutes journey by car.

However as i said it depends where in London they end up, from London Bridge i would look South East.

 

[MinKo]

I'm in the area, Gillian's, Guy Lodge, Woodhurst and Trent park all awful and I wouldn't keep a duck there let alone a horse. Frith and LEC are worth looking at

 

[MinKo]

(although down a country lane to get to)

That road is NOT a country lane at all, it's a national speed limit road with M25 fly over over it. No pavement to walk on and no public transport.
I live 5 minutes away from the place and it's not easy to get to if you don't drive. It's also poorly run and not friendly.

 

[criso]

Distance wise Woodhurst is perfectly walkable from the station, done it a few times. However the road is horrible to walk down and drivers homicidal.

 

[Spot_On03]

That road is NOT a country lane at all, it's a national speed limit road with M25 fly over over it. No pavement to walk on and no public transport.
I live 5 minutes away from the place and it's not easy to get to if you don't drive. It's also poorly run and not friendly.

I used to take train from Enfield Town over a few stops, then walk up to Woodhurst a lot (as I was under 17). Also hacked over to Whitewebbs a lot, actually didn't find it too bad, a bbit busy when you get to the bottom by the pub/garden centre but safer than the one I currently have to hack down. Then there is the farm track you can ride round the outside of the fields alongside the M25 at Woodhurst. Although granted I have been out the area for a few years so thing could well have changed along that road.

 

[MinKo]

It hasn't changed at all and I have lived here 25 years. It's not a country lane by any description, as I said it has no pavement and is tricky to walk along as the traffic is so fast. Guy Lodge and Woodhurst both have undesirable types on them,. More than any where else in the area.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

That road is NOT a country lane at all, it's a national speed limit road with M25 fly over over it. No pavement to walk on and no public transport.
I live 5 minutes away from the place and it's not easy to get to if you don't drive. It's also poorly run and not friendly.

the hacking out the back is a country lane. Very friendly. Well run.

 

[MinKo]

Kings Oak in Crews hill has an indoor school but not very good hacking. Not sure about their turnout.

Turnout is very limited at Kings Oak.

There is apparently a new yard almost nextdoor to Guy Lodge but I don't know much about it.

Etteridge farm is in Broxbourne but I don't think there is any public transport links.

Livery around this area is limited and over priced. Plus 90% of places have limited turnout and are not well run. Vicarage Farm might be an option. It's the opposite side of the forest to Trent Park

 

[MinKo]

the hacking out the back is a country lane. Very friendly. Well run.

I couldn't disagree more.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

Where are you based out of interest?

 

[MinKo]

In that area.

 

[Bernster]

It would be better to try and work out whereabouts you’d want to be (housing, rent, commute etc) and go from there. There should be a decent choice if you have a car, but in very different areas depending where you live/work.

Like a lot of the above posters, I know a fair number of yards around the Herts area - it’s amazing how many there are when you get to know the horsey area! Try local Facebook groups to get a sense of what’s around. Hacking, turnout and facilities (and cost!) can be tricky and there’s generally a compromise.

 

[Spot_On03]

It hasn't changed at all and I have lived here 25 years. It's not a country lane by any description, as I said it has no pavement and is tricky to walk along as the traffic is so fast. Guy Lodge and Woodhurst both have undesirable types on them,. More than any where else in the area.

Every big yard has types....A lot of the horsey world is small and cliquey.

I can't comment on the whole of Woodhurst but I was there for a while, as well as TPEC for years. Didn't find it that bad, but I'm the type to get on with it. Still have a lot of friends in the area. Many still at Woodhurst now.

 

[mariew]

There are some nice ones from Banstead and going south, but I don't think it would be very pleasant to commute to. It might be an idea to live slightly further out in something like Croydon or a Kent town (I don't know Kent) with fast and direct links to the main stations, then you will have a better choice of yards. And you wouldn't have to battle horrible London traffic on a weekend.

In all honesty, having left London a couple of years ago,.I don't know how I did it. A very tolerant and independent oh, some early mornings and late nights, often riding around 9pm. Sleeping were for wimps.

 

[Mat05]

Thank you all for your replies!!
Actually I plan to have a car there -I would use it to go see my horse but not to go to work
I will be working at Canary Wharf, that’s why I plan to live somewhere close to the Jubilee line (London Bridge, Baker Street works)
I cannot live too far away from work as I will start at 7am so I don’t want to wake up too early and waste time in public transports!
I am also interested to know places south east like you mentioned
Thanks a lot to you all for your help

 

[ecb89]

If you are working in Canary Wharf would it be easier to live somewhere near the central line, can then get into Essex for yards. Lots of yards near Epping, Loughton etc

 

[Uliy]

You might also want to consider Stanmore, which is on the jubilee line. There you have Grove Farm but would also be a bit closer to yards in Edgware

 

[SO1]

I hope you are on a good salary as Baker St and London Bridge are expensive places to live.

Thank you all for your replies!!
Actually I plan to have a car there -I would use it to go see my horse but not to go to work
I will be working at Canary Wharf, that’s why I plan to live somewhere close to the Jubilee line (London Bridge, Baker Street works)
I cannot live too far away from work as I will start at 7am so I don’t want to wake up too early and waste time in public transports!
I am also interested to know places south east like you mentioned
Thanks a lot to you all for your help

 

[Northern Hare]

If you're going to be living around Baker Street, then you could look over to the North West of London for yards. I know you said you'd want to travel by car, but Baker Street station is on the Metropolitan Underground Line, and it's near to Marylebone Station on the Chiltern Line. Both these lines head out towards the Herts/Bucks border, and Rickmansworth, Chorleywood are on the M25, and both have lots of livery yards with excellent hacking. They're also not difficult to get to by car from the Baker Street area as you just head out on the A40.

 

[criso]

I hope you are on a good salary as Baker St and London Bridge are expensive places to live.

And not really that much of a residential area. I would think car parking could be a challenge too. Getting out of London to get to the stables could take a lomg time in rush hour traffic.

With commuting distance isn't always the main factor, another 5 stops makes little difference but a long walk or bus to the tube or an awkward change does.

Greenwich might be a good option to live with a reasonable salary, it's a lovely area, well placed for Canary Wharf and you could then find stables south east of London.

 

[Spot_On03]

Mottingham/Eltham/Bromley is easily commutable to central London. a fair few yard in and around Bromley/Swanley/Dartford.

 

[Karran]

Thank you all for your replies!!
Actually I plan to have a car there -I would use it to go see my horse but not to go to work
I will be working at Canary Wharf, that’s why I plan to live somewhere close to the Jubilee line (London Bridge, Baker Street works)
I cannot live too far away from work as I will start at 7am so I don’t want to wake up too early and waste time in public transports!
I am also interested to know places south east like you mentioned
Thanks a lot to you all for your help

Look further out to Greenwich. You have the option then of jubilee line, the DLR or even a boat if you are feeling fancy to take you to canary wharf.
You have mudchute farm very close to canary wharf, just a two, three stops on the dlr and they offer working livery.
You can also go into Kent easily (I do it!) To ride there. Eynsford, Downe, bexley, Swanley, Meopham all have plenty of yards within 45 mins drive

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Thank you all for your replies!!
Actually I plan to have a car there -I would use it to go see my horse but not to go to work
I will be working at Canary Wharf, that’s why I plan to live somewhere close to the Jubilee line (London Bridge, Baker Street works)
I cannot live too far away from work as I will start at 7am so I don’t want to wake up too early and waste time in public transports!
I am also interested to know places south east like you mentioned
Thanks a lot to you all for your help

You mention extremely expensive areas to live. Obviously we don’t know (and don’t want to know!) your salary, but London Bridge and Baker Street are prohibitively expensive for rent. Starting at 7 will make commuting tricky, I agree. Please look at the area the ULEZ will cover from October. It will be between £15-£17 per day to use the car in this area if it isn’t electric. https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ulez-expansion

You might also want to consider Stanmore, which is on the jubilee line. There you have Grove Farm but would also be a bit closer to yards in Edgware

Grove is pretty full currently (but they’d definitely make room and would like more mares for ease of turnout) and Bury in Edgware always has a big waiting list. I could bat my eyelashes at Clive for you, although he would just ask if I had something in my eye. Sigh. There’s also Brockley Hill between the two.