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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Can I buy a house with land 1 hr from London?

75 replies

Countrydreams · 31/07/2017 20:13

AIBU to ask mumsnetters if they can (in light of my shocking lack of geographical knowledge) recommend any affordable countryside areas within an hour train journey of London? Anywhere considered, would like an acre of land and a 1 hr commute, budget 650k. Is there anywhere?! Thanks!

OP posts:
Countrydreams · 31/07/2017 21:00

Thank you, going to look at all those suggestions, feeling motivated now!

Petal - love those properties but no land 😔

OP posts:
StickyProblem · 31/07/2017 21:01

Polly I LOVE that house! I want a vineyard!

user1494426473 · 31/07/2017 21:02

Bedfordshire. Hitchin, Stotfold, Arlesey and Baldock are on the main line into london. You can be at Kings Cross within 35 minutes on a fast train. Baldock and Hitchin are the nicest of the towns - Hitchin is an historic market town and Baldock although smaller has a number of nice pubs and a couple of deli/cafes.

sparkler10 · 31/07/2017 21:04

I work at London Bridge and live in Bedford. Come 2018, there'll be direct trains with a journey time of just over an hour.

Petalflowers · 31/07/2017 21:05

Missy - 🐵Spotted. Hadn't looked at all the photos.

phlebasconsidered · 31/07/2017 21:12

You could buy a mansion with that in Fenland. Think Ely, Chatteris, and surrounding villages.

Petalflowers · 31/07/2017 21:13

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46874487.html

Having fun looking for you!

BarbaraofSeville · 31/07/2017 21:14

This is what came up within 5 miles of Peterborough (on East Coast Main line, prob an hour or less from Kings Cross) for under £700k. There's some lovely villages in that area.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59095111.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40838289.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67618370.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32830122.html

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2017 21:17

Op If you look at all the little villages round horsham you will get a house with an acre of land for that budget.

SerfTerf · 31/07/2017 21:18

You want city, country AND coast?

What kind of acre are you after? Paddock or would large garden do?

Imamiddleclasstwat · 31/07/2017 21:19

Grantham area? Direct trains into kings cross in under an hour.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66979067.html#_full-description

Imamiddleclasstwat · 31/07/2017 21:20

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66979067.html

JustMarriedBecca · 31/07/2017 21:21

Rutland. Stamford commute. Or via Peterborough. Even Grantham is an hour to KGX. You could buy a mansion for £650k!

sleepingdragon · 31/07/2017 21:24

What do you like about Brighton?
Folkestone is a bit far out (1 hour to st Pancras), but has the same size cultural scene (theatre, art events, concerts etc) as Brighton. Ashford isnt far from Folkestone if what you want is access to evenings out rather than day to day living in a placr similar to Brighton.

Topsyloulou · 31/07/2017 21:26

Peterborough is 45-50 minutes by train from Kings Cross with trains every 20 - 30 minutes. Lots of lovely villages, you can get a lot of house for your money, particularly if you head out to Lincolnshire or the fens. In terms of the city itself there is a fab John Lewis over the road from the station, a big Waitrose next to the the station, lots of new restaurants opening in the city centre reinvigorating the nightlife. There is a large number of people that commute from Peterborough & it's very doable, just depends on where you need to get to in London once you get there.

SpecSpenders · 31/07/2017 21:26

Definitely Beds.

MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2017 21:28

How about Berkshire? You can get to London from Reading in 20 mins.

maddiemookins16mum · 31/07/2017 21:32

I commute from Kent - the High Speed from Ashford is great although my budget only stretches to the normal train and it's £500 a month just for that ticket. Houses much cheaper down here than even half an hour closer to London.

isaulte · 31/07/2017 21:36

Deal is definitely not an hour from London - I used to commute from there and felt like I lived on the train.

loveulotslikejellytots · 31/07/2017 21:44

Canterbury is 1hr 15mins, you may find something in the villages surrounding Canterbury? Bridge, Barham, Chilham, Chartham? All of those are in between Ashford and Canterbury. You are only 15-20 mins from Whitstable and 30 mins from Margate for the coast.

MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2017 21:45

There might be places in Hampshire that would be an hour's commute - Alton/Basingstoke/Farnborough areas perhaps. Buckinghamshire might be worth looking at too. I think Oxfordshire might be outside the price range to be within the commute. Buckinghamshire might be worth looking at - Burnham and Taplow will be on Crossrail .

madja · 31/07/2017 21:50

I tried Peterborough, but found it really isolated, didn't like it much. I worked in Cambridge and found it hard to get there within an hour, never mind London.
BIL in Essex, some nice property there. Kent too.

Tinnie88 · 31/07/2017 21:54

Have you thought of newark? Fast train takes an hour and property is V.cheap!

ChasedByBees · 31/07/2017 21:55

Berkshire / Oxfordshire? Good countryside, Near stations to London.

Station Road, Cholsey
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49625148.html

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