Town with less than a 40 minute London commute

[Pupsiecola]

Hi all,

DH is about to accept a new job and it's highly likely we will move next Summer.

We'd like to be within a 20 minute walk of a small to medium sized town, and able to get into London in 30 to 40 minutes. A decent 6th form within a reasonable distance is important too.

I realise the world is on it's arse at the moment, but this research is a good distraction!

Any suggestions please?

TIA

Which London station will you commute to and whats your budget and choice of property.

Final destination is Canary Wharf.

4 bed detached house. Decent budget and would also consider a fixer upper.

Coulsdon/Purley, Bromley. Have a look at train lines into London Bridge.

Do you mean 30 mins to a London terminus or 30-40 mins door to door?

What's "decent" re budget?

South/south-east London has train lines into London Bridge (to change for the Wharf). Bexley, Bromley and the outer reaches of Croydon boroughs would all work. Or you could look along the new cross rail line, but obviously that is untested as a commute.

30-40 minutes to a London terminus.

Budget would be around £1.2m total (so up to £800k for something that needs work).

We are currently in Hampshire and DH works from home a lot (pre-COVID too!). But the commute 3-4 days a week at 2 hours each way isn't acceptable and this job is too good to turn down. We are also not emotionally attached to where we currently live, so very up for a move.

The DCs are L6th and Y10 so we have a window to move next year.

We are both from Surrey and are considering Guildford and Godalming. We know them extremely well and like them, but are aware there must be so many other town we're not familiar with so haven't yet considered.

We have ruled out Farnham, and Petersfield (Hampshire, I know) because the journeys are too long, which is a shame as we like them size and character wise.

Looking for this to be the last (of many!) moves so somewhere we can happily retire to with a sense of community and stuff to do.

TIA.

Forgot to say, countryside/walks/green space not too far afield also important.

SW London into Waterloo is between 25-40 minutes depending on your base and there are generally good schools too.

Surbiton offers the quickest trains from the suburbs but anywhere around Kingston, Teddington, Twickenham, Esher, Thames Ditton would be doable to Waterloo in that timeframe (if it's door to door that will be different).

Like a PP - what are you calling decent for your budget as it's pretty expensive and a 4 bed house will generally set you back in the region of 950-1100k (10 min walk to station with a small garden but probably no OSP).

Sevenoaks. Greener than Bromley. Great schools.

Sevenoaks is a nice town, and would fit your travelling times.

Anything up to a mile from the station would be good I think: 20 minute walk.

I will look at Sevenoaks.

Just seen your update - I think Thames Ditton would suit - 35 mins to Waterloo or 28 if you go from Esher station but you need to move into the Hinchley Wood (secondary school with a small 6th form) catchment area. Esher College is actually in Thames Ditton too. Loads of green space nearby and it has a villager feel whilst having Kingston in the doorstep.

Really nice place to live!

Have you considered Hertfordshire - Harpenden, St Albans, - nice towns with very good schools. Not sure what town travel to Carnary wharf is like, though.

Have a look at the 'Where can I live' function on Rightmove

Sevenoaks into London bridge and then straight on the Jubilee to canary wharf

I was going to say Guildford or Woking. Colleges are good but likelihood of finding a place in a great state school in year ten wont be great. Private also want take kids after year 10 first term is over so I'd start thinking about schools first

Anywhere on the Southend Victoria Line out of Liverpool Street, Shenfield, Billericay (have a look at Stock) etc. or up towards Chelmsford and Ingatestone.

Lego sorry if I wasn't clear. DS2 is currently in Y10. DS1 is currently lower sixth. So we would be looking to move Summer 2021. So DS1 is likely to take a gap year and/or look at apprenticeships/uni. DS2 will be starting college.

Woking - we've lived there before. Fantastic service to Waterloo. But not the nicest of town to live near.

We had friends in St Albans and are quite familiar with it. We've not really looked at that part of the country yet so these are great suggestions. Thank you!

Saffron Waldron, Bishops Stortford, Cambridge

Blackheath is lovely. Lots of open spaces. Good schools and direct train links to CW.

Sevenoaks, definitely. That would be my first choice.

Upminster Essex is in good commuting distance the C2C line is reliable and you also have the District line. Plenty of good schools girls,boys and mixed and a 6th form college. Plenty of green spaces and a good range of houses.

Cambridge would be my choice!

St Albans is nice with good schools- 37 mins direct train into London Bridge.

Weybridge is awesome