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Original poster

Where to move to in England which has these features

132 replies

Chocguzel · 18/05/2025 07:56

Help me narrow down places DH and I should house hunt. We have lived in London most of our adult lives but we’re both raised rurally. We will keep a flat in London.

it needs to be within two to three hours of London as kids will likely live here and I want to see them easily.

it needs to feel rural and be an area you can walk for miles without seeing lots of buildings

it needs to have a bit of cultural life relatively nearby: a theatre, some nice restaurants

a friendly community which doesn’t mind new comers and is open minded and OK that we are not both English by birth. Somewhere we could get involved with the community.

a place we can buy a really beautiful detached period rural four bed with garden for under £1.2 million. Preferably Victorian or Georgian as we are tall so low ceilings are difficult.

OP posts:
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Bluevelvetsofa · 18/05/2025 09:05

The South Downs area. You can certainly walk for miles there. Coastal areas too. Theatre and restaurants in Chichester, Brighton and Southampton not far and 90 minutes from London. So many villages with the sort of property you want.

Nannyfannybanny · 18/05/2025 09:06

No uninterrupted walks in southern England, what twaddle! I live on the edge of a village 12 miles from Lewes, 5 minutes walk from the south downs.. you can literally walk for miles,farms and fields 2 roads away. Access to Brighton, London, Eastbourne,cafes, restaurants, galleries. One ds lives on the outskirts of Horsham..

user1492757084 · 18/05/2025 09:08

Malmesbury
Crewkerne
Portsmouth
Peter Tavy

Sheggsie · 18/05/2025 09:09

York
Great rural villages outside of the centre.
Theatres.
Plenty of great restaurants.
History/culture.
2 hours to Kings Cross non-stop train service.

WonderingWanda · 18/05/2025 09:09

Chocguzel · 18/05/2025 08:57

I adore the Dartmoor area but by the time I’d driven from a house on Dartmoor to a mainline train station and then got the train to London and travelled from Paddington to my kids I think it would be more like 4-5 hours which feels a bit too much to do really regularly.

Show quote history

I agree with being on the Moor. Many edge of the moor towns and villages have good transport links with the A38 / A30 corridors. Some even have stations (Ivybridge, Okehampton) Small villages on the western edge of Exeter would be 10/15 min drive from St Davids station close to the moor. Alternatively villages on the Barnstaple to Exeter trainline.

Tiverton Parkway station has some lovely villages and beautiful countryside (Exe Valley or Blackdown hills) but also on the mainline. Think Culmstock, Hemyock.

IleftmybaginNewportPagnell · 18/05/2025 09:10

WillimNot · 18/05/2025 08:40

What about somewhere on the outskirts of Wokingham, like Finchampsted, Barkham or Emmbrook? Both still full of green space but a drive takes you to Wokingham which has Everyman Theatre, Cantley Park, restaurants, pubs and at Elms Field there's always something on. We love it here.

I was thinking of that area, South Hill Park Arts Centre is also great. Or Godalming area? I know Compton area quite well (Watts Gallery) and it’s beautiful. I thought the train out was quite fast but since heard can be unreliable.

Gundogday · 18/05/2025 09:11

Onelifeonly · 18/05/2025 08:34

Most of southern England and the Midlands will fit into that category! Have you not visited anywhere that attracts you? Hampshire, Sussex, parts of Kent, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset all have beautiful rural areas. Also the Chilterns is pretty.

I was thinking the same! Basically describes any village outside a largish town.

Maybe the trick is to find a town or area you like, and then choose a village just outside it. The budget is healthy so houses shouldn’t be too difficult to find.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 18/05/2025 09:12

Lymington, it’s a Georgian market town on the south coast on the edge of the New Forest with a rail link to London and short ferry service to the Isle of Wight, Bournemouth & Southampton less than an hour away each way.

Janefx40 · 18/05/2025 09:12

There was an Escape to the Country recently about Somerset for a couple with the same budget also wanting good transport links to London so have a look through resent episodes!

Kirs7y · 18/05/2025 09:13

Ringwood, Hampshire or Wimborne, Dorset. I live between both and both have a great community.

Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit · 18/05/2025 09:18

Norfolk and Suffolk and bits of Cambridgeshire. There hasn't been a crowd there since the black death.
I'm not sure about welcoming and nice I'm from those parts so I couldn't say. Moved to London when I was 18 to escape the peace and quiet and lack of bright lights big city.
A lot of very rich people out there and some gorgeous coastal and estuary bits. Because its in my dna I love the watery flatness devoid of people. But it's not for everyone.

Rickeeeeeeeeee · 18/05/2025 09:21

Marchintospring · 18/05/2025 08:17

Here we go again.

What? Another jealous mumsnetter making comments like this?

OhHellolittleone · 18/05/2025 09:22

Is the idea for just one of you to move to the countryside? Kids and husband in London?

minnienono · 18/05/2025 09:22

Somerset more generally is a good option. Look potentially in the greater Backwell area for countryside, backwell has a station with a few direct trains to London even (or you change at Bristol meads). Lots of open countryside in the area, and it’s a case of finding the right spot.

i live in a small coastal town with lots of restaurants, pubs etc but can reach open countryside on foot in 5 minutes. Train line is due in 2027 (apparently) for speedy access to Bristol temple meads. And m5 is 10 minutes away, far enough you can’t hear it but very convenient.

Bath is easily accessible from here as well as Bristol, 45 mins by car into Bath from my house for example, 30 mins to central Bristol, 1 hour 45 mins to Heathrow by car, 3 hours by local bus and national express.

user1471548941 · 18/05/2025 09:22

I would consider the New Forest. £1.2 mil would get you something gorgeous in Brockenhurst which has a fast train service to Waterloo but also you can walk straight out onto the forest itself and walk for miles. Few restaurants and cafes in Brock but then there are some other lovely restaurants if you’re willing to drive in Lymington/New Milton or Lyndhurst way. Chewton Glen and Limewood hotels both have lovely food and spas. Southampton is within a 30 min drive for shopping and the Mayflower theatre is really good- lots of stuff straight from the West End. If you don’t mind a connection, there are some beautiful villages between Brock and Lymington- Sway, Pilley and Boldre. You’d also be close to the coast- lovely seaside walks but also sandy beaches if you headed more towards Highcliffe/Christchurch.

ByWiseAquaFinch · 18/05/2025 09:29

Chocguzel · 18/05/2025 07:56

Help me narrow down places DH and I should house hunt. We have lived in London most of our adult lives but we’re both raised rurally. We will keep a flat in London.

it needs to be within two to three hours of London as kids will likely live here and I want to see them easily.

it needs to feel rural and be an area you can walk for miles without seeing lots of buildings

it needs to have a bit of cultural life relatively nearby: a theatre, some nice restaurants

a friendly community which doesn’t mind new comers and is open minded and OK that we are not both English by birth. Somewhere we could get involved with the community.

a place we can buy a really beautiful detached period rural four bed with garden for under £1.2 million. Preferably Victorian or Georgian as we are tall so low ceilings are difficult.

3hrs on a train would get you to the North East. You can access rural areas, coastlines and cities. Housing is more reasonably priced. It's not an option if the 3hrs needs to be by car though.