Hi Mumsnetters, I'm new here! My husband (28) and I (27) have been married for 6 months now and we want to buy a house and start a family. However, we live in London and we've always said that we would move out when we got married and wanted to buy. Trouble is, we have no idea where to go and we are struggling to agree.
Hubby will commute to Liverpool Street 2-3 times a week and ideally it would take around an hour or less. I run my own business, so can work anywhere, and if we're lucky enough to conceive, then I will be a SAHM after baby arrives. I grew up in Bath and loved it there - pretty, good shops, things to do, relaxed, but not TOO busy or crowded like London (I'm really beginning to hate it here). Unfortunately it's too far from London to move back there, so I've been searching for months to find something with a similar vibe?
In fear of sounding like a snob, I don't want to live somewhere extremely chavy.. I was looking at a lot of coastal towns (would love to be relatively close to a beach, but not a priority), but worried they'd be full of chavs?? That sounds awful I know, but having lived in London, I want somewhere friendly, safe and pretty. Somewhere I can meet other mums at baby classes and make friends when I'm at home with baby/running my business.
Obviously would like somewhere with good schools too - definitely state for primary years, but ideally would like some 'outstanding' schools in the area!
We're thinking of a 3 bed house with a budget of 550k (650 max).. do interior design as part of my business, so would happily do a bit of work on a house!
What's Colchester like? Or Chelmsford?? Nice for young families and stay at home mums? Chavy? Boring?? Not sure about Essex though..I've heard negative things. Maybe Surrey or Kent would be better? Or even Sussex?? Was looking at Cambridge - think I'd love but hubby went to uni there and said it's expensive.
Honestly any suggestions of safe, pretty, busy enough towns/small cities would be appreciated. I guess hubby and I are both pretty middle class, so we don't want somewhere 'posh' and expensive, but somewhere that's friendly and middle class enough? Good for young families, nice community, good dog walks?
Let me know if you have any ideas! Thanks so much xx