Where can we buy a £500k 3 bed house north of London?

[WanderingStars]

We have one DC not school age yet. Need a 3 bed house with a garden within an hour's commute of London (work in Soho). Maximum budget £500k could probably stretch to £550k if we absolutely had to but would rather not.

We are looking for a nice area, some green spaces, decent schools, amenities etc and a house walking distance from a station.

We don't want to be south of London. We have family in the north and want to be accessible for them. Please MNers help us find a home!

Cambridge is a hub for train links north and to Scotland.

Cambridge - 55 mins to London and is a lovely city. My DH commutes to London every day

Milton Keynes, Tring (might be pushing it budget-wise), Leighton Buzzard. Nice area, plenty of green countryside, schools are decent enough. Also dead easy access to the M1 to head further north.

Knebworth might suit you, just out side of Stevenage, small so you would be near the station, lots of commuters so frequent trains to Kings Cross. Not sure about the school though.

I'd look at Hemel Hempstead, Hitchin, Kings Langley, Abbots Langley, Watford. What you need to do is pull up a map of the train lines north of London and then see what's available within your ideal commuting distance. There are loads of nice towns in Herts, but just look at the journey times, because some lines are slower than others.

Here you go: Train lines South East England

Luton

Check out Bishops Stortford. Fast trains to Liverpool Street. Excellent schools.

Have lived in Rickmansworth kings Langley and know all surrounding areas. Great place to live if working in London

Hertford, Ware and Welwyn would be worth a look.

Liverpool (runs away)

You need to investigate how good/regular/reliable the various train lines are.
I live in watford and you have a choice of a very good commute by rail 20 mins to Euston and the metropolitan line(underground) into the city.
The London Midland Line that goes through Watford, Hemel Hempstesd, Milton Keynes is very good , whereas my neice who lives in St Albans and works in London complains about the line she travels on.

I would look at Hertfordshire and Bucks, but be aware that there are many new developments of places (previously villages) that have many lovely houses but not many facilities eg Aston Clinton.
Good Luck it would be worth taking a day trip drive round to check out the various towns and their transport links.

I looked at Watford, but found a 3 bed was more money but got less, than were I live now in the SE. So I think the nicer edges Watford might be pushing your budget.

Berkhamstead is nice.
Leighton Buzzard is hideous.
Milton Keynes, Tring, anywhere along that line really.

Chelmsford or Colchester would be fine on that budget.

Another vote for Milton Keynes. I know it’s known as a bit of a joke, (concrete cows and roundabouts), but it’s actually a really well planned out town, with no traffic congestion, loads of parks and green spaces, lakes etc. all joined up by cycle paths so you can get easily and safely from one side of the city to the other on foot, bike or by car. It’s got some excellent schools, loads to do and trains to Euston from 35 mins to an hour depending on how many stops.

Like anywhere there are areas that are nicer than others, but any local estate agent could advise you on which areas to consider (and plenty of locals on here can help you out too!)

£500k here would get you a great 3/4 bed house in one of the better areas.

Market harborough and villages-
Kenilworth
Leamington - although budget won’t stretch too far
Rugby and surrounding villages- loads of gorgeous ones, avoid rugbybitself

St. Neots

Uxbridge for the tube, Denham for Chiltern railways - lovely green spaces and country parks yes very commutable

Place marking, in same boat as you OP!