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if you could live anywhere, we would it be? Village with train station and school

113 replies

bowrow · 05/03/2026 21:28

I need a fresh start - does your village have a train station and a school? That's all I need - tell me where in the uk you are, what you love about it and if I can buy a luxurious private not overlooked house there?! 😃

YABU - this does not exist
YANBU - tell me where!!

OP posts:
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clary · 06/03/2026 00:07

HugoThatway · 05/03/2026 23:44

You wouldn't want to live there @HoppityBun . You'd be roped into the pantomime, the cricket team, the flower and produce show,and you'd never be allowed to go further than Felpersham.

ah love this! Where’s the Grin emoji when you need it?

HugoThatway · 05/03/2026 23:44

You wouldn't want to live there @HoppityBun . You'd be roped into the pantomime, the cricket team, the flower and produce show,and you'd never be allowed to go further than Felpersham.

BrownSharpie · 05/03/2026 23:44

Half of Suffolk meets your criteria.

HoppityBun · 05/03/2026 23:42

HugoThatway · 05/03/2026 22:05

St Mary Mead

Edited

Ambridge

TheCumbrian · 05/03/2026 23:39

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/165140867?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

5 minute walk to the train station which connects to the West Coast Mainline

1 primary school

Quite a few shops / social things

Comes with a spare holiday apartment as part of it

In the Lake District

Generally Lib Dem voting rather than Tory

HoppityBun · 05/03/2026 23:39

bowrow · 05/03/2026 21:36

tell me where these places are? Although maybe not if blighted. I know they exist, that's why I'm asking where they are.
Good thought about the post office @YourWinter , a shop would also be very useful.

You’ll probably find that the PO is in the shop. And both will close next year.

TakeALookAtTheseSwatches · 05/03/2026 23:39

I'd like to join in with recommendations but since you've already turned your nose up at Yorkshire I'm guessing the North East is completely off the table.

Suhbataar · 05/03/2026 23:34

What about Freshford in the Avon Valley? Nice school, lovely village. Bath 10 minutes by train and Bristol on the same line The delightful Bradford on Avon 10 minutes the other way. Some seriously nice houses for sale just outside of the village but this one is in the village and walkable to the train swww.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171240533#/?channel=RES_BUY

Littlepic · 05/03/2026 23:13

Try Botley in Hampshire. Train line to London, good primary school, independent pubs/shops etc

Jaffaisitacakeorbiscuit · 05/03/2026 23:02

Brockenhurst, New Forest

incywince · 05/03/2026 22:56

HelloDaisy · 05/03/2026 22:53

Haslemere in Surrey is lovely. Probably classed more as a town but not that big really and has everything you’d need.

Very posh in places and very hilly everywhere!

HelloDaisy · 05/03/2026 22:53

Haslemere in Surrey is lovely. Probably classed more as a town but not that big really and has everything you’d need.

JustAnotherWhinger · 05/03/2026 22:46

bowrow · 05/03/2026 22:37

absolutely love an overnight train! although possibly not practical for dinner and drinks meet ups in the city 😂

Possibly not 😂

Inverness is a lovely city and the airport is handy, but not practical for regular London jaunts just for dinner (although I have actually gone down on a morning train, went to an evening dinner and then got the sleeper out once 😂)

NeedWineNow · 05/03/2026 22:46

I’m in a village in Kent about 6 miles from Sevenoaks. We’ve got a train station, two schools (primary and secondary), doctors, private dentist, two hairdressers, and a Post Office within one of the high street shops. We’ve even got a Costa!

Train is about 50 mins to London and the same the other way to Ashford for coastal connections. About 25 minutes to Bluewater and 45 minutes to Gatwick. Only negative is the bus service but that’s the norm for the local area. It’s really friendly and we love it.

bowrow · 05/03/2026 22:39

Thank you for all of these! I'm writing them down!!

OP posts:
DancingFerret · 05/03/2026 22:38

Depending on your budget, Bruton, Somerset or Brockenhurst, Hampshire.

user946372 · 05/03/2026 22:37

InflagranteDelicto · 05/03/2026 21:31

Yes, but it's also blighted by HS2 and the local housebuilding. We're at risk of being swallowed by the nearby town.

My DC used bus /train to get to secondary school depending which school they went to.

Luckily we're also near a hospital with an A&E, occasionally used by DC or DHL!

Stoke Mandeville??

firefoxx · 05/03/2026 22:37

I’d love to relocate to Glynde or nearby Alfriston (although the latter doesn't have a station) from Brighton… but can’t until kids are older (they’re mid exams).

BeSparklyMoose · 05/03/2026 22:37

bowrow · 05/03/2026 22:14

Don't need to commute as work remotely, but like somewhere bigger for the culture and for the kids, I'd like to be middle of nowhere, but DH is much happier somewhere busier, so something where I can see the countryside, but he can 100% get a good coffee and a craft beer!
Not rightwing at all and pretty lefty.

Not exactly villages but more towns but have you considered Frome or Bradford Upon Avon? Both have great independent businesses and you’re not overly far from Bath/Bristol. Frome is more quirky whereas Bradford Upon Avon has more of a Cotswolds vibe but isn’t in the AONB. Gorgeous scenery all around them and plenty of great coffee!

bowrow · 05/03/2026 22:37

JustAnotherWhinger · 05/03/2026 22:31

Kingussie in the highlands. Technically on a train line to London, but it’s a long train ride! (though you can do the overnight train).

absolutely love an overnight train! although possibly not practical for dinner and drinks meet ups in the city 😂

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Coffeeisnecessary · 05/03/2026 22:36

Balcombe in west Sussex sounds like it might suit, gorgeous place and a fast train to London/Brighton which is great.

Swissmeringue · 05/03/2026 22:36

Yep, we live in South Cambridgeshire, lovely primary schools and train stations with connections to kings cross in 45 minutes. Villages that fit the bill would be meldreth, shepreth, foxton, Ashwell, Guilden and Steeple Morden. Barrington and Orwell also lovely but you'd have to drive to the station. £1m will get you a nice 4/5 bed family house.

bowrow · 05/03/2026 22:34

HopSpringsEternal · 05/03/2026 22:17

Important stuff! That will rule out loads of places. My friends had a very big shock moving to the countryside. And had to relocate to a more lefty place!

oh really?! Where I live at the moment I basically always meet people like me, perhaps I'm taking that for granted! If only Rightmove had a filter for this!

OP posts:
JustAnotherWhinger · 05/03/2026 22:31

Kingussie in the highlands. Technically on a train line to London, but it’s a long train ride! (though you can do the overnight train).

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