To ask for suggestions of where to live

[inneedofgoodsuggestions]

Hi

we will need to move from our current place in the next year or two and are trying to draw up a short list of places to consider. We currently live in twickenham which we love and would consider staying in but we want to scope out possible alternatives too. Our criteria would be:

• either a villagey part of London or a town with a good sense of community/things to do (e.g. at least a handful of pubs, some independent shops and cafes, some local sports clubs etc). Doesn’t have to be a big town, we are both from small villages.
• commutable to central London - ideally Waterloo but can be another station then tube (max 1hr20 commute)
• ideally somewhere in or near nice countryside or on a river (in twickenham we have the river and good green space for London, but we would love to be somewhere you can walk out from into nice proper countryside)
• particularly interested in suggestions for places north/east/southeast of London as we are more familiar with places out southwest and have no idea about Kent/Essex/counties north of London (however please still comment if you think somewhere is good and it’s southwest!)
• schools don’t need to be considered

thanks in advance

Bump

What's your budget and essential spec for the residence itself?

Budget is a bit up in the air as we wouldn’t be looking to move for a year or maybe two so our salaries and house prices are likely to have changed by then. And in terms of spec for house - again depending on the location this could vary. Absolute minimum a 2 bed flat, ideally a 3 bed terrace

Hampstead/Belsize Park could be worth a look at. There’s The Heath for green space. Plus it’s on the Northern line which goes to Waterloo.

What are you looking to spend roughly?

As mentioned above, hard to say bc it’s in the future but with current prices probably around the 550k mark. Or we might rent to begin with - around £1500 pcm max

Amersham is a lovely old market town and Chenies and Chipperfield are very attractive villages. All are close to the Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire countryside with good road and rail links to Central London.

Presumably with that budget you are looking for a 1 bed?

Winchester. 1hr commute into Waterloo, beautiful chalk rivers to swim and play in and on, excellent schools, very family friendly

Wanstead might suit you. Lovely independent high street, easy access to Wanstead Flats and Epping Forest for walks. You'd get a flat for.that budget.

Or your money would go further in Buckhurst Hill. Similar vibe but not quite as naice. Great forest access.

Both have the Central Line.

Or North Chingford. You can be 5 minute walk from the Overground and five minutes from Epping Forest. Plus Chingford Plains and Connaught Waters are.lovely. There are some lovely low rise flats overlooking the golf course. Your budget would go further there. The Oveground is underrated, at that end you always get a seat, it's never that busy, air con in the summer and comfortably warm in winter.

Harpenden in Herts might meet your criteria. It’s less than 1 hour to Waterloo. Property is expensive, but there are still properties that fit your criteria - for example:

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66012423/?search_identifier=c2c13fe5fc8ff12b45cb527805036a1c76bbba0c5bcbdc15e2b1438df83e6198

Another vote for Wanstead.
Or head further out to Theydon Bois/Epping, it's a really quick commute into the City.

We moved from that end of the central line to Amersham and there are lots of similarities. Transport links are way better from
Epping, though, met line is not the fastest!

Winchester
Overton
Whitchurch

All about 1 hour or under from Winchester rivers , pubs etc
Winchester is a city so although lovely, lots of history, restaurants, theatre, good schools does have the usual city issues (drugs).

Overton & Whitchurch are basically large villages ( although Whitchurch claims it's a town). Both have stations about 1 hour from Waterloo, on river test, pubs shops, libraries and school very nice communities. But quieter than Winchester.

Sorry 1 hour or under from Waterloo!