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Original poster

Nice place for grandparents <1 hour drive from north London

80 replies

puylentil · 29/08/2023 16:58

My parents (60s) are looking to relocate to the south of England to be closer to us.

Their rough requirements:

  • within 1 hour drive from north London (ideally 30 mins)
  • safe town, nice local walks, good rail links to London
  • budget of £500-550k
  • 3/4 bed with garden
  • ideally semi-detached
  • ideally some East Asian presence/shops (as they are EA)

Schools are not a factor obv.

I have explored the likes of Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Hitchin. They initially suggested Luton but it looks a bit rough to me? (I really apologise if that’s not so.)

Thank you!

OP posts:
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5
neonjumper · 29/08/2023 19:36

I don't understand why people are suggesting places like Aylesbury/ Leighton buzzard/ Royston ... they are more than an hours drive to north Finchley.

One of the issues that Asian families have when they move to places like Hemel/st Albans and above named places there is very little in the way of Asian food shopping places .

Hemel has become a lot better ( the big Tesco has a halal meat section ) and St Albans has a Pakistani community tucked away so a few Asian conveniences . Luton , bury park huge Asian shopping area ... but the areas in Luton suggested earlier are nice places to live .

Some families travel into London and Luton and stock up on shopping / halal meat as a lot of places being suggested do not have a wide range .

I,d think very carefully about some places being suggested as for some people living in areas where they don't feel represented can be very isolating .

2reefsin30knots · 29/08/2023 19:37

If this is their last house move, I really recommend you encourage them to move as near to you as possible. When you reach the point where you have to check on them a couple of times a week, or even more, you will be really glad of a 10 minute drive instead of 30 minutes.

neonjumper · 29/08/2023 19:39

Cross posted ... see you are referring to EA ... same applies really . But I guess if diversity and representation is not an issue then I guess it's a different ball game .

1AnotherOne · 29/08/2023 19:41

Harlow or surrounding areas, especially old Harlow, sheering, sawbridgeworth as the new m11 junction is super fast for getting to north London. Also close to Epping for the underground. Overground trains to central London, stansted airport and Cambridge too.

there’s a good Asian population working and living in Harlow and a GREAT world foods supermarket.

felisha54 · 29/08/2023 19:44

Saffron Walden is lovely. Bishops stortford is also nice.

Original poster
puylentil · 29/08/2023 19:45

That's a good point about this being their last move. I'd expect it to be. Anything less than a 30min drive sounds like an impossibility right now. I feel like they'd value the space over the distance. We do have space for them to stay with us as well.

Thanks for all the helpful info re Asian shops. Just to re-emphasise they are EA rather than SA Smile so we are after Chinese supermarkets. Though there's probably a bit of overlap in EA and SA vegetables.

OP posts:
1AnotherOne · 29/08/2023 19:46

puylentil · 29/08/2023 19:45

That's a good point about this being their last move. I'd expect it to be. Anything less than a 30min drive sounds like an impossibility right now. I feel like they'd value the space over the distance. We do have space for them to stay with us as well.

Thanks for all the helpful info re Asian shops. Just to re-emphasise they are EA rather than SA Smile so we are after Chinese supermarkets. Though there's probably a bit of overlap in EA and SA vegetables.

M18 in Harlow is fantastic for this

Biscuitsneeded · 29/08/2023 19:48

Peterborough? It's not beautiful , but it is cheap and diverse and there are worse places...

Offyoupoplove · 29/08/2023 19:51

Crikeyalmighty · 29/08/2023 17:12

Depending what their tolerance for flight path is then Windsor area might suit- lots of Asians and nice walks and not as pricey as somewhere like St Albans- it's about 40 mins drive to north London - problem is that's quite a low budget for many nicer areas for a 3/4 bed - maybe the areas around Watford too might fit

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134714519

The traffic would be awful doing that journey from Windsor to North London.

rahrahoolala · 29/08/2023 19:54

Definitely Hitchin!

Great diversity, vibrant town, real community spirit. They've launched a new website for the town visithitchin.com which will tell you more about it.

Lots of clubs your parents could join if they wanted to too: visithitchin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/hitchin-handbook.pdf

There is also the Thai Food Store, which stocks East Asian food: instagram.com/thaifoodstore_?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Around 30mins into London, but easy access to country walks too. £600k would get them a small 3-bed. Or a large 2-bed.

PonyPatter44 · 29/08/2023 20:00

Is Milton Keynes too far? Very diverse, lots of nice walks, three substantial East Asian supermarkets, straight down the M1 to Barnet and thence to Finchley...

Original poster
puylentil · 29/08/2023 21:14

MK is maybe a bit far. I'm heeding what a PP said about as they get older that journey will have to made more and more often.

OP posts:
Soma · 29/08/2023 21:23

Agree, Harlow might fit the bill.

anythinginapinch · 29/08/2023 21:28

Letchworth i

anythinginapinch · 29/08/2023 21:28

lastminutewednesday · 29/08/2023 17:22

Letchworth is green. But otherwise dead. Weird place.
Old Stevenage is lovely. The rest not so much.
Knebworth is nice
Welwyn garden city is worth a look.

Dead?? DEAD??

Crikeyalmighty · 29/08/2023 21:36

I think they are going to be a bit stuffed if they want reasonably close in to London and still a big house at around £500k if somewhere like MK is too far- (less than an hour on train and driving (just) there are also few big East Asian communities outside greater London , Manchester and Birmingham.

How about something like this maybe in watford

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130317416

BrokenMantra · 30/08/2023 00:09

Have you looked at Wembly/Barnet/Edgware type areas - I think in some ways they are better value than nice commutable towns outside London.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 30/08/2023 00:55

@neonjumper

"I don't understand why people are suggesting places like Aylesbury/ Leighton buzzard/ Royston ... they are more than an hours drive to north Finchley."

Leighton Buzzard is under an hour to NF.

Check out any route planner.

NutellaNut · 30/08/2023 04:34

Bishops Stortford. Harlow is nearby for Asian shops but it isn’t that nice to live in. Bishops Stortford is close by but nicer. Sawbridgeworth is ok too. Saffron Walden is lovely but your budget won’t go far for houses there and you’d have to go to Harlow or Cambridge for Asian shops.

Crikeyalmighty · 30/08/2023 08:56

@GarlicGrace I agree- reason I found it more awkward was a lot of these are around £600k- OP said £500k to £550k which in reality is probably £500k

If they can creep up to around £580k then yes I would stay within 10 miles if Finchley!! Although we don't know how they feel about suburban semis or ex council etc--

Foxesandsquirrels · 30/08/2023 09:01

Just wanted to throw in that the hospital in Luton and Dunstable is really really bad so I would definitely check that before you make any sudden choices.
May be completely off the mark but I would look at Tottenham Hale. Loads of green spaces and massive redevelopment of the area currently.

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