If you commute to London, where do you live?

[MonstranceClock]

There’s a course I want to do in London when I I finish my degree, but I don’t think I will be affording to live there. If you live in a cheaper are outside of London, where is it and what is your commute like?
The other option is to move to the north of England where they also run the course, but I really can’t hear the accent (i’m Not English native and my brain just can’t process the accent! I feel this may be too much of a challenge.)
Aibu to consider commuting to London from an hour or so away or to try and basically (what feel like) learn a new language!

I'd go for Cambridge and stay in Royston. Plenty of cheap student lets and 15 minute train into Cambridge.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1150&sortType=1&propertyTypes=&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

I live in Northamptonshire - priperty is very cheap here, and it's a lovely county. The train from Wellingborough is about 50 minutes into St Pancras, and Russell Square is a short walk away from the station. However, the season ticket is over £7k a year.

East Northants is also about an hour's drive from Cambridge. The A14 is a nigtmare at the moment, but a new road will be opening in December which will make a huge difference.

@SlightlyMisplacedSingleDad Also from Northants, there is some cheap housing here but generally the only cheap rentals are in awful areas, there are a lot of areas in say Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby that are not nice safe places to live which is why they're cheaper.
We do have friends who commute from here, and bedford to London, but like you say the season probably wipes out any savings on rent.
There are nicer and cheaper places closer to Cambridge, I would pick Cambridge over London, Preston will be your cheapest option!

Do you know how big London is? Hardly anyone lives in the centre. Bournemouth is nowhere near and not that cheap either.

No no I can’t live in a share as I have 2 children. My husband has left me a little money I am saving to use to help me move. It’s sad that trying to do life better is going to be so hard! I work with a lady from Nottingham (this is north?) and I have never understood anything she has said to me.

Nottingham is midlands ans isn't a strong accent at all!

Hertfordshire. You can get a fast train from where I live to kings cross in 20 minutes.

I work with a lady from Nottingham (this is north?) and I have never understood anything she has said to me.

Taking the piss more than a touch there OP!

@raspberryk then I will definitely be screwed if I go further

I’m not trying to be rude. My ear just does not recognise it.

What about Southampton or Basingstoke? What course are you looking to do?

Russell Square is central but north, so north or east London would work. Edmonton Enfield, East Ham, newham, maybe Leytonstone. You are looking at an hours commute.
Don't need a car in London, parking and congestion zone make it expensive and insurance. Buses plentiful and cheap, tube is quick.
College probably has accommodation officer (or try student union). May get houseshare, or halls (student rooms) nearby

It’s a course to become a sex and relationships therapist.

Don't rent a flat. Rent a room during your course. Student rent is not too bad.
Which college is the course at? Check out the accommodation boards to see where other students live and how much they pay.

I have 2 children.

I used to commute from Margate, one of the furthest points in Kent and it cost me £650pm, and that was 3 years ago so it will be more now

Don’t suggest anywhere too far south @Els1e. The OP might not be able to understand the accent either.

@ @MonstranceClock Acadrmics don’t just teach in their home towns!! You can’t tell what accents your lecturers will have just from the university they work for.

You also can’t write off the whole of the UK north of Nottingham on the basis of one person’s accent. Have you ever watched Coronation St on tv? That is not too dissimilar to the Preston accent (now, now Lancastrians, I said “not too similar” )

Milton Keynes might be an idea. It’s quite multicultural and housing is affordable. From MK central station, the train is less than 35 minutes straight into Euston, which is a short walk from Russell Sq.

The OP can’t flatshare, she has children.

What about cheshunt? You can get to Liverpool Street or Cambridge from there and it's nicer than Enfield.

I’m aware my lecturers might not have an accent. But everyone else will! I won’t be in lectures 24 hours a day. I just really struggle with it. I don’t have to explain myself, that’s why I’m looking at london.

I will have a google of some of these suggestions, Thankyou.

OP do you live in the UK currently? You seem so vague about the geography.

If the cost is a factor go to Preston; Edinburgh, Cambridge and London are all expensive. Dismissing somewhere because of the accent is a bit odd as the likelihood is that the other students and teachers may not be local anyway.

I grew up in Preston which is lovely, but now live in Kent and commute to London. Both good but I prefer Kent

I think you'll find a much wider range of accents in London than in Preston - given the proportion of Londoners who are born outside the UK or in other parts of the UK!