Moving out of London but close enough to commute?

[citetergeo]

Looking at relocating from a rental in London to have a family and buy a house rather than be stuck in the London rental cycle forever. Partner works in the city and my work has relocated to Sittingbourne so we need to stay in Kent. We need easy access to London with a tolerable commute and I drive to work, so under an hour for me. We have a budget of about £450k.

We have been recommended Sidcup but not sure what it is like yet. Is there anywhere else we would be able to look?

Ashford is more affordable but the commute to London is horrific.

Thanks!

Trains from Ashford to London are fast so the journey is fine.
Sidcup is still within London, not really Kent. You may want to look at somewhere further out.

@woodlandwalker

Trains from Ashford to London are fast so the journey is fine. Sidcup is still within London, not really Kent. You may want to look at somewhere further out.

Everywhere we looked was about an hour and half door to door! So a bit too far for us. Also about £6k a year on train vs £1.5k in Sidcup.

Why should we look further out? Genuinely curious! Sidcup seems within budget and is 30 mins for me, an hour for my partner, so seemed to tick boxes but we do not know the surrounding areas well.

Been in Sidcup for 18 months and love it.

Fast train is 20 minutes to London Bridge, you can also go to Charing X and Cannon Street.

Some great bars and restaurants opening up, good community feel and some lovely houses. Really easy to get to Kent, the coast etc.

Do it!

I suggested further out than Sidcup as you said you wanted to move to Kent and Sidcup is London. Sidcup itself is fine.

The commute from Ashford really isn’t horrific by any stretch - it’s 40 minutes to St Pancras.