Aylesbury help

[hannah86hb]

Hi,

My DP and I are currently living in Milton Keynes. I work in Northampton, a 30min commute away, but he works at Heathrow - which can be an up to 2 and a half hours worth of hell on M25. We are looking to buy our first house together and we want to try and reduce his driving time. We are thinking Aylesbury might be a good choice distance-wise - but we don't know much about the area, so I thought I would try and tap into the collective MN knowledge and wondered if you guys had any advice about Aylesbury (nice areas, facilities etc)?

[TarkaTheOtter]

Don't do it.

[LaurieFairyCake]

The connections are good if you live on the A41 side (a good area anyway) as you just drive to the m25 from there - 20 minutes.

Aston Clinton, Bedmond in Aylesbury, wendover (lovely village) all good.

Not cheap though.

[hannah86hb]

Oh no Tarka! Why do you say that?

[TarkaTheOtter]

I have family who live there desperate to leave but can't sell.

[hannah86hb]

Why are they desperate to leave? What is so bad about it?! Not living there at the moment, it seems ok and now you have got me very scared lol

[mummymellymoo]

We're about to leave Aylesbury (no trouble selling here) and must admit I have very mixed feelings about the town. It's not the most attractive of town centres and shopping is nowhere near as good as MK but MK is still easy to get to. There are signs of improvement - the waterside is lovely, waitrose opened 18 months ago or so, a new university technology college is taking shape and there are plans for more development of the town centre. On the plus side, the surrounding countryside is lovely if you like to get out and about, and both London and the Midlands are easily accessible. South side is where you need to be (Bedgrove, Turnfurlong, Broughton, Aston Clinton, Weston Turville), both homes/schools wise and for commuting (really easy to get on to the A41, then 20 minutes down to the M25). There are some very good local schools, and obviously grammar at senior level if that's a consideration. I think you will probably find Aylesbury more expensive than MK but obviously depends on which areas you're looking. Tring or Wendover are also a lovely, but pricey, option.

[hannah86hb]

Ah that is helpful melly, thank you. We have family in the Midlands and in Cranfield, as well as friends in MK so the transport links are important. Looking around, think we think the same thing as you in terms of sign of improvements (we spotted the waitrose too!)

Lots of things to think about! Thanks for your advice

[inflagrantedelicto]

I quite like Aylesbury, having come from a dying market town. South side is nicer, but north side has waddesdon school, and the associated price hikes!
Town isn't anything much, but there are pretty corners. I still think the selection of shops isn't bad, but that's me. Big advantage is having the Chilterns on your doorstep, Imo.
Transport links- is ok for Wycombe, mk, London and m40 north. Another area that you'd might want to look into is Fairford leys, and Hartwell.

[Onesipmore]

Don't look at Hartwell or fair ford keys as they will be knocked down for the HS2. I would be wary of Aylesbury and some villages. hS2 has started buying properties in Stone And Hartwell.

[Onesipmore]

Sorry for typos!

[hannah86hb]

Yeah guess there are some positives and negatives with HS2 coming through, thanks for the tips guys!

We have been looking at Foxlow Grange, a new build development on the north side of Aylesbury, which could be nice as close to the country side. No DCs to worry about yet so schools not a massive priority...but still worth thinking about. A friend teaches at Waddesdon so have heard a lot about it, but place we are currently looking at is outside the catchment area but is in the catchment area for Aylesbury Vale which I have heard mixed views on...but like I said, far too early to be thinking of that

[inflagrantedelicto]

A lot could happen before then! Dss is at Ava, I have mixed opinions about it.

Had to google foxlow- better known as berryfields! Had good points and bad points from what I've heard. Downside is distance from town, especially if no transport. Good side still not too far from Waddesdon

Had forgotten about hs2. It's right on my doorstep, but as I refuse to move ever again was ignoring it. Whoops

[Onesipmore]

Are you in Aylesbury Inflagrante?
OP have you considered Thame or haddenham ?

[inflagrantedelicto]

Yes, I am... Are you?

[Delphine31]

How about Tring and surrounding villages? It's on the Northampton trainline, closer to the M25 than Aylesbury and it's lovely.

I'm biased though ;) I moved to the area a couple of years ago and am deliriously happy here.

Cheaper than Tring and with quicker train links to Northampton is Leighton Buzzard, some areas of which are unappealing but others are nice.

[mummymellymoo]

If your husband is commuting to Heathrow and wants to cut his commute I would discount Berryfields as getting across town is a nightmare at peak times. Aylesbury Vale is secondary so if you haven't got kids yet I would focus on primary catchments, which are key as like elsewhere, there are a shortage of primary places. Berryfields is very out on a limb in terms of getting to town or elsewhere and is still a bit of a building site in places. I think Delphine is right, Tring is probably a good bet for you in terms of your jobs. No idea about schooling there as it's just over the border in Hertfordshire. By the way, Fairford Leys isn't being knocked down - HS2 will be going along the edge but definitely not through it!!

[hannah86hb]

Oh wow some really helpful tips here! Hadn't realised Foxlow was so close to Berryfields which I have heard mixed opinions on. Though I guess with a new build, it is hard to predict how the community will end up.

The point about him needing to get across town melly is one we definitely need to think about more. We might see if we can get a hotel room or something a couple of nights so we can see what the commute is like.

Tring sounds interesting or Fairford Leys, only issue will be trying to find a new build.

So nervous about the whole thing! I am a first-time buyer in case you couldn't tell(!) and really don't want to make the wrong decision!

[Onesipmore]

Even with HS2 going along the edge of Fairford Leys I wouldn't buy there. Hs2 will have a negative effect on property prices. Am an estate agent in the area! Plus HS2 have started buying up properties in exactly this area. The traffic whilst they are building it will be a mare as well. I strongly reccomend Haddenham which is a fab village, good rail links and plenty of new builds
Inflagrante no, not Aylesbury but a village close by :)

[mummymellymoo]

I would agree, FF Leys is already cheaper anyway and I think the effect of HS2 is going to be felt most keenly in that area. The building disruption will be huge (diverting the Oxford Road, using big portions of land to store building equipment, lorries etc). Onesip, are HS2 really buying properties on Fairford Leys, I thought it was further over, the Willows??

Despite a lot of opposition from the Nimby brigade there is quite of lot of building going on in Aston Clinton at the moment (village south of Aylesbury near A41) but no idea what types of houses, prices etc x

[Beaverfeaver2]

I would be looking outside of Aylesbury too:

Wing
Princes Risborough
Chinnor
Longwick

Should all be cheap places to buy

[misfitt]

I know these routes and about 5 mins in it despite MK being 20 miles further but the route is so much better than Aylesbury.

[misfitt]

Friend of mine bought Berryfields and he loves it there sold up from nr Oxford

[misfitt]

Tring. I drink there sometimes and those A41 queues are definitely one to avoid.

[misfitt]

2 years on and still no impact so not convinced re: HS2. Like Brexit may never happen

[TeamRick]

The traffic is absolutely awful! It's come to a complete stand still a couple of times over the last 12 months!
I can't imagine what it's going to be like once the construction of HS2 starts!
But that aside I quite like it, lots of activities in the town centre, cinema, theatre, Boots, small HoF, Top shop, not bad for a quick walk round the shops & if you're planning a a proper shopping trip, 50 mins in to London or a short drive to MK.