Where shall we live?

[Chipsahoy]

So Dh and I live in the east midlands, with our three children. Dh works from home full time in a stable job and a career that should always be a work from home job. Therefore, before the children hit teens, we have decided to relocate. We want coast in short driving distance (say 30 mins) and same for countryside. The only catch is that Dh needs to be within around 2hrs train ride of a major city to be able to meet clients which happens every few months.
So right now he gets to london in two hrs no probs.

So far, we have been looking at East riding of yorkshire and South Wales.. For commute to Cardiff for clients.

Which? Anywhere we haven't considered?
Budget is around 300k up to 350k at a push. I've seen plenty of properties in both areas so hopeful we can get that.
But which one? We have visited both areas lots and enjoy them. Can't decide!

Oh forgot to say, village or small town, definitely not a city.

Presumably there are potential clients everywhere (small business accountancy or suchlike)?

County Durham's nice. Train to Newcastle is 15 minutes but it would take twice as long as that to get to the station from most places - depending on where you are the bus might be ultimately quicker. Sunderland and Middlesbrough bit further.

Schools are possibly less high-performing at the top end than in other places though Oxbridge is perfectly achievable. There doesn't seem to be the Pressure so much of Mumsnet apparently experiences (no grammar schools for a start, and most people get into their first choice, at least till the recent growth in numbers). Music provision is smaller (cosy) but one of the cheaper services and plenty of people get Grade 8. Lots of sports clubs - running, top-level gymnastics (Deerness), hockey, football (All The Football), cricket (Riverside), martial arts and so forth.

Newcastle and Sunderland have lots of shops. Durham itself has rather fewer, but still retains a few quirky ones.

Durham Heritage Coast (cleaned up from all the coal) is 30 minutes drive from my house (Seaham beach, not the world's greatest but sand sea and rock pools). Ryhope in Sunderland and Cullercoats in Newcastle are lovely beaches.

Countryside is - well, it's just kind of there; but proper going-for-long-walks countryside is within an hour (Middleton in Teesdale one way, Great Ayton on the edge of the NYMoors the other).

Kent fits your bill and has both coast and countryside on your doorstep, plus London is close. Lots of beautiful villages around, and good schools.

Bristol.

What about Scotland? You’d find all of that within an hour of Glasgow or edinburgh.

I would choose somewhere close to Bristol too. It's a really lovely, vibrant small city and has lots of proper countryside and beaches close by. Warmer weather too. Budget wouldn't stretch in the city, but a drive/train trip away it would.

I live near Cardiff and was thinking that the Vale of Glamorgan fits your bill and then I saw it was already on your list. Close to local beaches, stunning countryside and an hour from Gower, slightly further for Pembrokeshire. Still close enough for a day trip though. Look at Penarth, Dinas Powys, Cowbridge and surrounding areas.

And I agree with PP, Bristol is a fab city also. Personal preference but the beaches aren't as nice in the north Somerset area IMO.

Wow thank you so much for all the responses. I will check them out. I hadn't considered Scotland, I probably should because my brother lives there!

Easy Suffolk! (I’m biased as relocated here from London!). Coast and rivers, beautiful countryside, less than 2 hours from london by car or train.

So far, we have been looking at East riding of yorkshire

It takes a long time to get to a city from the east Yorkshire coast so I'd say South Wales.

North Wales
West Coast of the Wirral

East Lancashire- not that I am biased 😀 lots of lovely villages / small towns here (Clitheroe, Whalley, Barrowford, Blacko to name a few) Close to the Yorkshire dales, an hours from the Lake District, Pendle and the surrounding countryside is amazing. 45 mins away from Manchester, an hour away from the coast.

Morpeth and the surrounding area would fit the bill. £300k+ would buy you pretty much your heart's desire. There's a decent airport as well, once flights restart.

Bristol doesn't have lots of beaches close by. Not nice ones anyway. But it is a fantastic city.

The East Riding is lovely op. How about Beverley?

Less than 30 mins to the coast and surrounded by countryside.

North Essex or Suffolk? Commutable to London, beautiful countryside and all coastal. I've lived here 11 years and would never move

So far, we have been looking at East riding of yorkshire

It takes a long time to get to a city from the east Yorkshire coast so I'd say South Wales.

York, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield, Lincoln ....

East Yorkshire coast to Hull is less than an hour.

East and North Yorkshire gives you lots of options. The York area may be too expensive, but further south or east so closer to the coast may be good.

Somewhere around Pickering, or North Cave just outside Hull (for the unitiated, Hull is a lovely city, far removed from any unattractive reputation perpetuated only by people who must have not been any time recently.

Pickering is a lovely small market town on the edge of the North York Moors, 30 mins from the coast and easily accessible to York, Leeds, Hull, even Newcastle is within your two hour criteria, plus easy access to east coast main line for train travel.

Examples of 3+ bed properties under £350k.

Excuse me. Why is education likely to be less good in Durham than anywhere else in the uk. 'Oxbridge is achievable' how patronising.
North Yorkshire has beautiful coast and is close to some big cities. Sheffield, York or Leeds for example

East Devon / Exeter - still only just over an hours drive to Bristol or just over 2hrs on the Paddington line if he needs to get to London.
Exeter’s a lovely city, East Devon has plenty of beaches and only 30minutes to Dartmoor ( 40ish to Exmouth). Lots of nice towns and villages, good schools and plenty of properties within your budget if you come inland slightly ie Ottery St Mary, Honiton, Feniton, Whimple . ( So 15 mins to the beach, 15 minutes to Exeter)

Should say 40 mins to Exmoor not Exmouth

Agree with previous poster: east Devon ticks all your boxes.

Lovely! Thank you all so much, I've spent a very fun afternoon on rightmove.