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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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Original poster
puylentil · 30/08/2023 10:24

I think they need to write down their (competing) priorities and order them. They are clearly not getting a big house within 30 mins drive with an East Asian supermarket nearby.

Is there a website that pulls together all this info for major towns, and in particular nearby hospitals?

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 30/08/2023 10:47

@puylentil I agree with you - and if semis and ex council or flats are a no, no -then it does likely mean looking further out and as you say you aren't going to get orientalist grocery stores necessarily on your doorstep in the nicer areas. If they want a typical 4 bed detached they are going to have to go a fair way out - although may be good on train.

Gooseysgirl · 30/08/2023 10:48

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.

Royston is 45-50 mins max from East Finchley and a very straightforward easy drive up the A10.

Gooseysgirl · 30/08/2023 10:50

Waltham Abbey and surrounds might be worth a look OP! Easy drive to A406/Tottenham for Asian supermarkets

Original poster
puylentil · 30/08/2023 10:51

Is Royston really that close? I have heard good things but had ruled it out as I thought it was further out.

To clarify - they are happy with a semi, but not keen on flat or ex-council.

OP posts:
SisterAgatha · 30/08/2023 10:58

Waltham Abbey is not massively multi cultural. I find it a weird vibe and I’m from north London myself 🤣

now I know a bit more - i agree that harlow is your best bet, it has great links and all the facilities you could need - houses are so cheap. There are nicer bits for sure. You can get to Finchley easily on the a406. We get the train up there as it’s actually quicker than driving for us.

also along the new road in Enfield there are lots of the cash and carry’s. But you won’t get much in Enfield for that budget. I was going to say Chingford too but it’s dear now.

Royston is in the middle of nowhere really. Takes 30 mins from me; and I’m 30 mins from Finchley.

SisterAgatha · 30/08/2023 11:01

also we go to harlow for the great free events they put on that Enfield just doesn’t do anymore. They have a good park with pets, the primark there is friendlier than Wood Green, they do a firework show that’s really good for free and it’s about 15 mins by train from here. It’s multicultural as well, gets a bad rap for the toy town feel but there are some nice spots.

Crikeyalmighty · 30/08/2023 11:17

These would be my picks OP given the criteria - if they want to be within 40 mins etc

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137197151

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136737728

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137104346

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133991249#/?channel=RES_BUY

Original poster
puylentil · 30/08/2023 11:40

I think Harlow might be a bit 'rough' for them... second most dangerous town in Essex apparently? Or is that characterisation not fair?

I'm really keen that they live somewhere very safe and genteel so I'm not having to worry. I've lived in rougher areas in London before, and I just don't think my parents are equipped to deal with loud neighbours, anti-social behaviour, weed smoking, etc.

OP posts:
Hippopotaperson · 30/08/2023 11:42

Is Gants Hill/Hainault to East Finchley doable? Lovely mixed local community, houses would just work and country parks.

Dibblydoodahdah · 30/08/2023 11:50

Harlow itself is awful and I would definitely not recommend living there, although there are some nice villages in close proximity. Chelmsford is a far better option but it’s probably a bit far from North London.

Crikeyalmighty · 30/08/2023 11:54

@puylentil which is why the ones I've put below are a tad - dull - but not rough and easy to get into north London - I personally got that vibe from your comments - it's also why I've picked modern but tidy homes rather than crammed in older houses that look like they need work

ElleDeeCB · 30/08/2023 11:55

Baldock? It’s next to Letchworth but not as weird! Or Royston? Also very quick train other direction into Cambridge which has a significant Chinese population with loads of East Asian supermarkets, restaurants and lots of cultural events for the Chinese community. Cambridge has one of the highest Chinese populations in the UK (as a percentage of the town’s overall population).

Original poster
puylentil · 30/08/2023 11:55

Thank you Crikey - I'll pass them along for consideration! 😊

OP posts:
notlucreziaborgia · 30/08/2023 11:58

St Neots, Cambridge, or surrounding villages. Slightly further out but there’s some lovely properties in equally lovely areas.

Lillianofthevalley · 30/08/2023 12:01

Watford. Great transport links. Very close to north London. Quite diverse. Nice shopping centre. Great park. Near lovely countryside!!

cordial1 · 30/08/2023 12:40

Do they drive OP? If so, I think somewhere between Luton and Bedford would work brilliantly - Dunstable perhaps? Straight on the M1 to come down to see you, stopping off at Wing Yip on the way up or back for food or shopping!
My parents are not Chinese, but East Asian obsessed as they lived in Singapore for a long time. They live north Herts and we live in North London. Wing Yip features heavily in our arrangements, I pick up food on the way to visit them, or them on the way to us... I've even been known to facilitate grandchildren handovers in the car park!

cordiality · 30/08/2023 12:43

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/65194329/

Crikeyalmighty · 30/08/2023 12:50

@Lillianofthevalley yes I mentioned watford /Bushey area earlier. That's a good option. Not much suitable in budget though that I think they would like.

lastminutewednesday · 30/08/2023 13:07

Royston is doable by train but the drive from there to Finchley is n
Quite long and tricky.

Original poster
puylentil · 30/08/2023 13:09

Maybe Milton Keynes could work on reflection... is the drive easy enough, even though it's 1 hour?

OP posts:
notlucreziaborgia · 30/08/2023 13:16

Oh! Look at some of the Northamptonshire villages too, within easy driving distance of MK:
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/lifestyle/outdoors/ten-villages-in-northamptonshire-that-are-breathtakingly-beautiful-3005045?page=3

SisterAgatha · 30/08/2023 13:30

Hunsden is just next to harlow, within a mile I’d say, and has a restaurant in the Michelin guide. Sawbridgeworth also next door and nice. High Wych etc.

Harlow town… rough as dogs but the villages within even half a mile of it are lovely.

MollieMoo1212 · 30/08/2023 13:55

I see a few people have mentioned Dunstable. I don’t venture into the town much but I’m pretty sure there’s at least one international food store which sells Chinese foods
Housing is reasonably cheap compared to some surrounding areas although we don’t have a train line

neonjumper · 30/08/2023 13:59

puylentil · 30/08/2023 10:51

Is Royston really that close? I have heard good things but had ruled it out as I thought it was further out.

To clarify - they are happy with a semi, but not keen on flat or ex-council.

My BIL lives in Royston , 5 times out of ten you will be caught up in traffic coming in/ out of London .