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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder if there are ANY houses for sale within commuting distance of London for a reasonable price?!

129 replies

MrsMcgee · 14/08/2011 20:05

Someone come and help us find somewhere to live!
We are currently in Oxford which is 2 hours each way, my poor DH certainly cant do it long term and we want to move closer in.

The trouble is, everywhere within what is a reasonable commuting time and a nice area is about half a million for your average family home!

We are currently looking at Chelmsford, Ashford (kent) and are starting to think about Reading. We would love other suggestions of places we have missed!

We have a budget of about 325,000 and want a 4 bed ideally. Somewhere with fairly good schools and a few ducks to feed :o the closer the better. Am I a bit pie in the sky?!

Wine given for best suggestion! :o

OP posts:
edam · 14/08/2011 20:08

Essex, possibly? (There are nice parts...)

edam · 14/08/2011 20:09

Also depends where in London your dh works - look at his nearest mainline station and check the route.

JacksonPollocks · 14/08/2011 20:10

You could buy IN east London for about that. For even 100k less...

Bet not the type you're looking for though.

gateacre1 · 14/08/2011 20:10

what about bromley ?
good schools and nice houses

LisaD1 · 14/08/2011 20:10

We're just outside of Woking, DH commutes to London daily and the train from Woking takes around 25mins.

We live in a 3 bed house with small garden and think it's valued at around £250k, we're looking to move into a 4 bed early next year with a slightly higher budget of £350-£375k. I think £325k is do-able but you may not get the dream house.

We have ducks to feed around a 10min walk away, there are lots of country walks to be had and not far to drive to get to them. We have good schools and not so good, same as everywhere. We live in a very quiet cul-de-sac and love it here.

EggyAllenPoe · 14/08/2011 20:11

Doncaster is in commuting distance.:)

why not get a mainline map and look at close stations?

off the top of my head -

Sevenoak, Maidstone...Horsham, Reading (ony 20mins and i believe still has Grammar schools).. depends where in London you commute to as so much time can be taken at the London end doing an extra tube/bus/walk

TrillianAstra · 14/08/2011 20:13

Reading just the title I think it rather depends on what you think is a reasonable price.

325k for 4 bedrooms somewhere commutable from London and nice? You're looking for cheap rather than reasonable I think.

shakey1500 · 14/08/2011 20:13

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30822388.html

Nice kitchen :)

TrillianAstra · 14/08/2011 20:13

EggyAllenPoe has a very good point - you can save or lose up to about 45 minutes each way by commuting into the right or wrong side of London.

MadameCastafiore · 14/08/2011 20:15

what about this - Coggeshall is really lovely.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30698939.html

EggyAllenPoe · 14/08/2011 20:16

well, my Dad commuted for 15 years from here, and £325k will buy you a very nice house indeed. But our catchment is rubbish, though only 1hr20 on the train to Victoria....

Gastonladybird · 14/08/2011 20:16

I would think sevenoaks would be a stretch on that budget but Bromley and area a good idea - am pretty sure you can do either Victoria or London bridge depending on where you are which makes for easy commute and does have parks/ schools etc

AKMD · 14/08/2011 20:17

Try Luton ;)

Dozer · 14/08/2011 20:18

Critical thing is where in london you are or may be working, can then look at mainline stations and work out where's commutable, ideally without the tube.

supadupapupascupa · 14/08/2011 20:18

you can be in KX in about 1.5hrs from Lincoln. Very cheap compared to further south, and fab city.

etyksm · 14/08/2011 20:20

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29466811.html

Springfield, Chelmsford, round the corner from my Grandparents, not sure what schools are like tho!

Vicky2011 · 14/08/2011 20:24

Fleet & Church Crookham in Hants - comfortably less than an hour into Waterloo, £325K will get 4 beds in a decent area. Good schools too! Lots of lovely walks around.

EggyAllenPoe · 14/08/2011 20:24

so, which train station is the aim?

Pfriend · 14/08/2011 20:26

Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire. Very good schools and fast trains (approx 30 mins) to London Liverpool Street.

EggyAllenPoe · 14/08/2011 20:27

Reading

plenty of ducks to feed, and near the train.

MsGee · 14/08/2011 20:31

North Herts - letchworth, hitchin, baldock

EggyAllenPoe · 14/08/2011 20:31

even more ducks in Sevenoaks

EggyAllenPoe · 14/08/2011 20:33

can you hear those ducks?
Maidstone

nbee84 · 14/08/2011 20:35

St Albans has excellent schools but is on the pricey side - however your budget would get you a 4 bed in London Colney which is edge of St Albans.

London Colney

I moved from St Albans to Hatfield as you get more house for your money. The primary schools are good, secondary not so good though they have Bishops Hatfield for girls and boys are catchment for Verulam School in St Albans. The train line from Hatfield is good - I think better than St Albans if you need to get the tube. Both lines go into Kings Cross and it is a good walk to the tubes from there, with Hatfield you can get off at Finsbury Park and you are straight down the stairs to both the Piccadily Line and the Victoria Line.

Hatfield Hatfield Garden Village is particularly nice Wink