To think there must be somewhere lovely and unpretentious within commuting distance of London?

[Willthisdoo]

Is it possible to find somewhere to the southwest or west of London that’s still within commuting distance (and has a station) but is also very close to the countryside, not too full of over privileged people, somewhat diverse, has reasonable(ish) rents and house prices, and is also appealing and attractive as a town/village? Does such a place actually exist?? Or is this just a pipe dream?

I am at £1750/mth rent (bumpkin).

And the smaller the station usually the fewer the trains that stop there. You need to fully investigate distances, times etc OP.

Oh, and the time it takes in rush hour traffic to actually get to the station. I’m thinking of Reading here.

Since when were the likes of Claygate unpretentious! In fact most of the home counties especially Surrey. Try Essex or parts of Herts.

Twyford if you have to drive to the station, you need to get there 7am-ish to ensure you get a space. Twyford if you live in the village it's easily walkable.
Reading has very good buses and bus lanes, and is far cheaper to bus than car park at the station, it's so expensive to park for the day, and if you are driving in the traffic can be a pain some days.
Twyford has plenty of trains in to Paddington, and you never have to wait long if you miss one.

I wouldn't consider MK. The commute was hellish. Euston is horrendous. It's crowded and vast. It used to take me and DH 20 mins to get from the platform down to the tube station, then we'd have to let 3 or 4 packed trains go before we were at the front and could squash on. I started walking 45 mins from the station as i found it quicker and preferable.

Also the countryside isn't great round there and it's not a nice villagey feel. Unless you live somewhere like Stony Stratford which is then a drive to the station.

Wokingham borough is best for schools if that's what you're looking for. Apart from that Reading and Bracknell areas are nice places to live.

North Cambridgeshire....But I'm biased..

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-54656862.html

This is the posh village...so gives you an idea on prices.

Caversham/Reading. Caversham is right on the border of Berkshire and south Oxfordshire so you could live in a little village or from Caversham you have easy accessible countryside. Fast trains to London, 10 min cycle from most of Caversham to reading station. Reading is quite diverse, but there are pockets of privilege (probably everywhere, not just Home Counties).

Salisbury is fab with great train link

High Wycombe or Bicester could be good picks. Rugby in Warwickshire also has a fast train in to London which takes under an hour.

Hersham, Walton on Thames or Chessington?