Commute from Chalfonts to UCS?

[munchymoo]

DS is at UCS, very happy and we have no plans to move him. However we have been thinking a lot about moving further out of London - I am feeling increasingly overlooked, overcrowded, wanting more space, more breathing room, more greenery. In my ideal world I'd buy a cottage out in Devon but this doesn't fit with school, family, elderly parents etc so ruling this out for now! But considering a move out to the Chalfonts which would give us more space and more greenery and be closer to family.

DS could commute to UCS (Senior school) on the Met line, one train straight into Finchley Road. Would probably mean us needing to move somewhere close to a station (Chalfont & Latimer?). Does anyone do this journey to UCS? I don't want to saddle him with a long commute but equally from where we are now in Muswell Hill, when he starts travelling to school on his own from year 7, it will be at least a 45-50 min journey as public transport Muswell to Hampstead is so rubbish!

Any thoughts?

What about being too far from his school friends when he is older? It's a long way for a social life...

That's very very far.... How long does it take you now from Muswell Hill?

@getsetdad the irony is that it takes 50 mins on public transport from Muswell Hill (20-25 min drive but when he's in senior he'll get there on his own), and it takes about the same ie 50 minutes from Chalfont and Latimer to Finchley Road and then 5 min walk to school!

Too far for socialising and extracurriculars, and risk of a much longer journey if there are delays or closures. He'll be bored and isolated at weekends, and frustrated with the journey in late teens when his mates can get a cheap Uber home and have easy journeys to the top London unis.

The Met line often has problems and I wouldn’t rely on it. What’s the backup plan if it’s not running? Amersham is probably a better bet as at least the Chiltern Line also runs on that line (into Marylebone).

We are in Herts on the Euston line. DD got a place in the UCS sixth form but we all decided the hour and 10 minute commute, even in the short term whilst we moved back into London, was too much. Once they hit exam years it is just a total waste of time.

There are Merchant Taylor’s and Habs Boys in that sort of area. I know you say you don’t want to move him, but both are exceptional schools and you should have a look if the house move is more critical than the school.

Or be like us and wait it out a few more years until the kids have left home and then have no ties.

We are in radlett and considering ucs for senior and am worried we are too far! Maybe look at the villages around St Albans as on the thameslink and not as far for socialising!