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Original poster

How far from London do I need to go to buy a flat for £160k

135 replies

Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 14:46

Forgive me, just posting here for traffic.

Have a flat in London that's being currently rented. Tenant stopped paying, has wrecked it in the process too and I'm taking him to court next week. However I'm fed up with the stress of it all, whilst I'm paying my mortgage on the flat and bills.

So, after the tenant is evicted, I'm thinking of selling it and buying a property somewhere mortgage free, if I can. The equity would be about £160, possibly 5-10k more. How far do I need to go away from London to buy something for this price? I think I'd have to go further North rather than South? Somewhere that is well connected to London, would that be too much to ask?

OP posts:
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Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:56

Another2Cats · 07/05/2025 15:54

I was just about to mention Peterborough as well.

"A small holiday home, 1 - 2 beds in a nice location."

A holiday home is very different. If you aren't reliant on commuting into London then there are lots of places to look at.

Maybe somewhere like this in Hunstanton looking out over the beach

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156395135#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or Sheringham? A 10 min walk to the beach

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148870859#/?channel=RES_BUY

Maybe somewhere like Clacton on Sea? Both of these near the beach

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146571452#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87112035#/?channel=RES_BUY

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Thank you. Will look into all of them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:55

Historyofwolves · 07/05/2025 15:53

Why didn't you stipulate you were looking for a holiday property. There's a reason that homes in holiday destinations cost more than £160k and there's also a reason why something does only cost £160k.... Are you familiar with capitalism? I think you should probably think this through a little more.. if you already have a home in London, why do you need to buy another in an undesirable location? Just do something else with the money!

What should I do with £160? I'm not looking to create any issues, I just think keeping £160k in a bank account doesn't make much financial sense.

OP posts:
Another2Cats · 07/05/2025 15:54

MiddleAgedDread · 07/05/2025 15:11

your budget would get a 2 bed flat in Peterborough within walking distance of the station which puts you on the main east coast line into Kings Cross.
oh, just seen you want a holiday house, that's a different spec.....

Edited

I was just about to mention Peterborough as well.

"A small holiday home, 1 - 2 beds in a nice location."

A holiday home is very different. If you aren't reliant on commuting into London then there are lots of places to look at.

Maybe somewhere like this in Hunstanton looking out over the beach

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156395135#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or Sheringham? A 10 min walk to the beach

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148870859#/?channel=RES_BUY

Maybe somewhere like Clacton on Sea? Both of these near the beach

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146571452#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87112035#/?channel=RES_BUY

Check out this 2 bedroom flat for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom flat for sale in Le Strange Terrace, Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 for £150,000. Marketed by Abbotts, Hunstanton

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156395135#/?channel=RES_BUY

Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:53

butterfly0404 · 07/05/2025 15:48

Try Hampshire....BTW Weymouth isn't close to Winchester, I'm 15 mins from Winch, I work there.
Weymouth would be an hour 45 mins, more in Summer traffic through the New Forest.

We love Hampshire but it isn't cheap. I didn't realise Weymouth is that far from Winchester. It's usually the end of the trainline from London when we go to Winchester? Never went there to be honest, just assumed it's a little bit further away.

OP posts:
Historyofwolves · 07/05/2025 15:53

Why didn't you stipulate you were looking for a holiday property. There's a reason that homes in holiday destinations cost more than £160k and there's also a reason why something does only cost £160k.... Are you familiar with capitalism? I think you should probably think this through a little more.. if you already have a home in London, why do you need to buy another in an undesirable location? Just do something else with the money!

cornishatheart · 07/05/2025 15:51

Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:06

I'll check Weymouth, it's close to Winchester which we love. Winchester is quite expensive.

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Salisbury? There are one bed flats for 160K on the property sites and it's a 90 minute train journey if you need to get to London.

Original poster
Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 15:50

eatreadsleeprepeat · 07/05/2025 15:41

What is your priority? A holiday rental or commutable to London, quite different search parameters?

A holiday property that's not too far from London as we still live in London. Basically easily accessible by car or train.

OP posts:
butterfly0404 · 07/05/2025 15:48

Try Hampshire....BTW Weymouth isn't close to Winchester, I'm 15 mins from Winch, I work there.
Weymouth would be an hour 45 mins, more in Summer traffic through the New Forest.

Matilda1981 · 07/05/2025 15:47

Try looking around Banbury, Milton Keynes, Northampton, long Bucky, should be able to find something in your budget and they are all commutable distances into London

NoBiscuitsLeftInMyTin · 07/05/2025 15:42

Neededa · 07/05/2025 15:38

I’m hoping this is a joke. You do not want to buy a holiday home in Jaywick

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I 'MAY' have just watched a programme on TV about this area. Maybe I was being a bit mischievous....

eatreadsleeprepeat · 07/05/2025 15:41

What is your priority? A holiday rental or commutable to London, quite different search parameters?

SpidersAreShitheads · 07/05/2025 15:41

@girljulian haha, cross-posted - great minds!

CalleOcho · 07/05/2025 15:40

Lillibetthecat · 07/05/2025 14:57

I'm thinking a holiday house/flat initially. Potentially renting in the future.

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No no no no no. Please don’t do this.

Holiday houses stop local people being able to live in their home towns and cities.

Please don’t fuel this issue.

SpidersAreShitheads · 07/05/2025 15:40

I'm an ex-Londoner who moved out to Gloucestershire about 25 years ago.

There's plenty around Gloucester/Tewkesbury that you could get for your budget, including houses. London is an easy trip - two hour direct train into Paddington, or you can drive down either the A40/M40 or the M4.

We are on the edge of the Cotswolds so it's a popular tourist area. You could even move closer into the Cotswolds and still pick up a flat for your budget.

It's lovely out here and lots of places for tourists to visit. If they want to go shopping, Birmingham is a short train ride (less than an hour by car) in one direction, and there's Bristol in the opposite direction.

When I first moved, I used to commute into my work in London for 2 days a week (stayed overnight). It's a pretty simple journey, by train or by car but once you're here, it feels like worlds away from the city!

Neededa · 07/05/2025 15:38

NoBiscuitsLeftInMyTin · 07/05/2025 15:28

Plenty of choice here - and in Essex

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchLocation=Jaywick%2C+Clacton-On-Sea%2C+Essex&useLocationIdentifier=true&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E13647&radius=0.0&_includeSSTC=on&maxPrice=160000&index=0&sortType=2&channel=BUY&transactionType=BUY&displayLocationIdentifier=Jaywick.html

I’m hoping this is a joke. You do not want to buy a holiday home in Jaywick

Loveiscalled · 07/05/2025 15:32

I think I'd have to go further North rather than South?

@Lillibetthecat - I think that is too simplistic. There are many areas in the North where your budget isn't enough and clearly areas in the south where it is.

WomenInSTEM · 07/05/2025 15:30

There are lots of houses in Lincolnshire for £170k and under.

Some parts are nicer than others, obviously.

There are direct trains from Grantham to King's Cross in a little over an hour.

HairsprayBabe · 07/05/2025 15:29

@Lavenderfarmcottage its not especially attractive and it is a lot of ex mining communities.

It isn't far from Stratford which is good for tourism, Warwick and Leamington Spa are niace parts that are close too but the nearer you get to them the more expensive you get - North Warwickshire is particularly affordable.

Possiblyfamous · 07/05/2025 15:27

Chersfrozenface · 07/05/2025 15:12

Isn't Stansted Mountfichet basically the high street on the other side of Stansted airport's boundary fence?

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Due to the position of the village in relation to the runways it gets very little noise and isn’t overflown - it’s a lovely village 40 mins from Liverpool Street.

Jenkibubble · 07/05/2025 15:26

EnchantedEvidence · 07/05/2025 15:09

You could look at Peterborough or around there because the train into London is very quick. Ok to live but not a holiday destination lol

I live in
PB
Dedfo not a holiday destination 🤣

TMMC1 · 07/05/2025 15:25

If you want an investment property then an area like Hull will see and is seeing property prices rising, this is an area on the up.
Or look at holiday locations and let it as an AirB&B or similar for a greater return

Lavenderfarmcottage · 07/05/2025 15:24

HairsprayBabe · 07/05/2025 14:53

I live in Warwickshire and we bought a whole 3 bed house for £140k
Houses round here regularly still go for similar amounts
Train to London Euston is about an hour from mainline in Coventry.

That sounds very inexpensive. I am in Australia & have a similar amount of money to invest. Why is this area so inexpensive, I hope you don’t mind me asking ?

CompleteGinasaur · 07/05/2025 15:23

I'm in Nottingham and there are definitely 2 and probably 3 bed houses available for that. Nowhere near as picturesque as rural East Anglia but directly on the M1..