Good areas to house-hunt south of the M25 for a budget of 450k?

[SminkiPinki]

DH has just accepted a job in Horsham. Ds is at college in Reigate. I commute into London Bridge every day. We currently live on the Surrey/S London borders and will need to move sometime in the next 6-9 months.

Where can we move to that will give us 3 good-sized bedrooms in a nice area with shops and amenities, easy for a station to get me into London and ds to college (dh can drive)?

I like Reigate but the town itself is really too expensive and the trains are so unreliable, but I don't know the rest of the surrounding towns - Redhill, Crawley, Horley, Horsham? Where is worth investigating and where should we avoid?

I would look at Redhill ad I think it will work for all of you. Easy to get to Reigate by bus (7 mins) or he could cycle? Good rail links to London Bridge and Horsham. Town centre area undergoing regeneration etc etc. So I'd get in quick

*as not ad

Thanks StCharlotte - any parts of Redhill you would focus on or avoid?

I live in pease pottage between Horsham and Crawley and you'll find a nice 3 bed for £450k
I would say.
Redhill is a dive! Reigate nice but expensive !

I will consult with the local oracle (once he's finished watching Vikings!) and get back to you later.

Redhill certainly was a dive but it's genuinely on the up now.

Why not Horsham itself? I live 10 miles south but its lovely and would get you a nice house