Where would you live outside of London for £550k?

[Pestoandsun]

Hi all

DP and I are looking at buying a house outside of London, commuting in to work a few days a week. I work SW London on Waterloo train line (about 15 mins from Waterloo), he works in the City. I would commute in about 1/2 days a week but probably could wfh longer term, he currently is in office 3 days a week.

We have probably around £550k to spend, ideally 3 bedrooms so we’d have room to have proper home office setup, we’d like to be somewhere with a bit going on, some pubs/shops. I’d like to have a small garden. Ideally walking distance (which could be 20 mins) to train station. It would be nice to be somewhere with quite a bit of green space around, good hiking. I don’t want to be right in the middle of a really busy big town.

We both much prefer period properties to new build.

Does anyone have any ideas or live anywhere like this?

Ideally towards Bristol or south direction if pushed. We’d be having children in next few days so probably good schools but don’t know much about that yet!

Thank you!!

Bump, not sure if I’ve posted at a bad time!

Reading? On the main line into Paddington and the Waterloo line too?

Thank you 😊 though I think Reading is probably a bit big for us

anyone else have any ideas please or live somewhere like this?

MIL lives in Woking and a neighbouring house, 3 bed though third bed is small with garage and a nice garden went for 550k ish. That’s 30 mins to Waterloo.

What about Haslemere?

Newbury, - I commuted from here to Charing X with no problem - but that price wouldn't buy anything spectacular.

Tonbridge?

Thank you I was looking at Woking actually ! I don’t know anything about it really, do you know what it’s like to live in?

The centre of the town is pretty grim and the countryside round and about isn't very interesting.

But the train service to and from London is fantastic, and you go into Waterloo with many trains stopping at Clapham Junction.

Oh dear! Maybe not then

South East Kent by the sea. Westgate Broadstairs Cliffsend or surrounding areas. Lovely place to live and you will get something lovely within your price range.

I have started looking at this too! Do you know what it’s like to live - is there much to do?

I'd look at houses in Sevenoaks personally

I haven’t been there but prices look reasonable! I’ve been to Tunbridge Wells for the day nearby, very posh there.. assume Tonbridge not the same!

What about outer London/Surrey borders? eg Worcester Park, Ewell, North Cheam, Modern?

I would personally go for Guildford. Nice attractive town centre, good retail and leisure, good place with kids , has an A&E , easy commute and ice countryside very close by. It's not cheap but still in budget - kind of place people move to and stay - here's a few examples at around that budget

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140006948#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140282648

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136659239

Warning about Tonbridge, the traffic is horrendous! We regularly visit friends who live there - and despite admiring the town, we thank God we aren’t putting up with those traffic jams every day!

Anything on the london ramsgate line. Trains go into Cannon Street at peak times and also Charing Cross. Easy to hop off at London Bridge.

I get on at Paddock Wood and most of the villages round here are nice. 45 - 50 mins to town.

I was going to suggest Reading or anywhere along that line - GWR and / or Lizzie line.

We live near Maidenhead - fast trains to Paddington and also excellent schools. Depending on where you live you also have access to Bucks grammar schools but this might be a bit too far in the future for you.

Try Chertsey, up and coming and a great investment, 50min to Waterloo station. Lots of bodies of water and beautiful Weybridge just a stone’s throw.

I live in Tunbridge Wells, and commuted to London for lots of years before WFH. PP is correct, the traffic is horrendous in both T Wells and Tonbridge. Lovely places to live, but you'd want to be able to walk to a train station and when you want to go anywhere at the weekend in a car it takes forever. Schools are good though.

I'd look at the fares first - I live near Bristol at £550k will get a decent house but the train fares are horrific, dp takes the direct train to Paddington which he doesn't have to pay for (he's Bristol based) but it very expensive, he winces

I’d look at Wokingham, you can get a three bed for that price.