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Original poster

Market towns north and west of London

39 replies

DadAndy · 27/09/2010 21:47

This seems to have been asked before, but I'll ask again to see if anyone has anything to add! :)

We're looking to move out of London to somewhere north and/or west, but still within an hour (more or less) of the City

Family are north west and east midlands so we need to be that side to encourage babysitting visitors :)

We have 1 DS and DW has another DS on the way, so we're looking 4 beds, with a budget of around £400k

We've seen stuff around Bedford -
Biddenham?
Villages to the south like Flitwick or Westoning?,
And Leighton Buzzard, and south as far as Berkhamsted, Northchurch?

Somewhere we can put down roots, and DSs can have plenty of playmates

Thanks in advance
Andy

OP posts:
ArcticRoll · 27/09/2010 22:01

Hitchin?

rantyknickers · 27/09/2010 22:03

Rugby is 50 minutes into Euston.

Further out than where you mention but a fast train line so quicker commute.

Katisha · 27/09/2010 22:10

So you've looked at Leighton Buzzard? And surrounding villages?
Fast train line to Euston. (usually)
4 beds just went in our road for 400k.

GypsyMoth · 27/09/2010 22:11

did you not like those places round Bedford?

Original poster
DadAndy · 27/09/2010 22:42

we've not been to these places yet, we're just at the stage of trying to find a suitable area

the places i'd suggested (near bedford, leighton buzzard etc) were just areas that we'd seen houses that looked nice, but we don't know anything about the areas themselves!

or if there are any other areas to consider, any suggestions gratefully received

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 27/09/2010 22:48

3 tier system here...Bedford area,so is that something you want?

personally,i love it,but if you need to consider schooling,then thats what Bedford area have in place just now

Original poster
DadAndy · 27/09/2010 23:21

is the 3 tier school system an issue? i'd never even considered that it might be a negative?

OP posts:
fortyplus · 27/09/2010 23:24

Olney
Harpenden
Tring
St Albans
Wendover (not too sure about market there though)
Amersham
Beaconsfield

Katisha · 27/09/2010 23:27

Well it's only an issue if they decide to change it right in the middle of your child's education I suppose.
They tried to change it a couple of years ago but it was resisted. I don't know what the likelihood is of them trying again in the near future.

Katisha · 27/09/2010 23:28

I would say that LB is likely to be less expensive than the ones in fortyplus's list, although they are all v nice places.

GypsyMoth · 27/09/2010 23:29

they were goiing to Katisha....but then the new government arrived ( we had parent groups campaigning to keep it and we had lost) they took away the school building budget so,HOORAY!!! we keep out middle schools!!!!

fortyplus · 27/09/2010 23:30

Gosh yes - LB very cheap by comparison Smile

My brother just sold his 4 bed house in Harpenden for an outrageous sum!

Original poster
DadAndy · 27/09/2010 23:39

from what i've seen st albans and harpenden are out of our price range, so cheap is good! :) what areas in LB?

OP posts:
catinthehat2 · 27/09/2010 23:45

LB & villages are excellent.Ordinary, sensible, straightforward, non pretentious.

Euston not the greatest London station, but Katisha is one who seems to stick with it year by year, she will tell you why(!)

Bedfordshire villages are architecturally odd, and often strung out for miles along the side of a main road. Once you accept this, it's fine.

Bedfordshire people are different and "Somewhere we can put down roots" makes me think you should have a very hard look at this area.

fortyplus · 27/09/2010 23:45

Ummmm... don't know it well tough friends lived in Linslade which seemed ok.

Take a look at Tring

Katisha · 27/09/2010 23:47

Well there aren't "areas" as such. There are lots of newbuilds on the edges if that's what you want, and a variety of other styles and prices.
I live in one of the villages about 3 or 4 miles out. I drop the DSs off at school and carry on to the station, but there are also school buses.
The town itself has a reasonable variety of shops but most people go to Milton Keynes for major shopping. I find I can do pretty well without going there much though!
Schools are all pretty OK as far as I can tell, and not a vast amount to choose between them.

Katisha · 27/09/2010 23:50

Why do I stick with Euston? Because I work in London and live near LB! It's fine. London Midland and I have an interesting relationship but that's life when you are a commuter... (I also have a parking arrangement which suits...)

catinthehat2 · 27/09/2010 23:53

eg?

Katisha · 27/09/2010 23:58

Lovely views in Totternhoe.
You would probably find yourself being in the Dunstable schools catchment area there.

Original poster
DadAndy · 28/09/2010 07:46

i was hoping to find something within a walk of the station, say a mile or so

is this area any good?

we'd rather get something with a bit of character, and do it up, if needs be, rather than a new build if possible

OP posts:
Katisha · 28/09/2010 07:54

The parallel road, Plantation Rd, is considered to be the "posh" road in LB. As is Heath Rd the further away from town it gets. So yes, fine. Go and have a look I'd say.
Close to the station itself there are lots of period properties with a lot of character.

Original poster
DadAndy · 28/09/2010 08:03

is that the side of town to go for then (budget allowing!)?

thanks for the advice, there's too much choice!!

OP posts:
fortyplus · 28/09/2010 08:29

oops - I meant to post though friends lived in Linslade... I don't have tough friends!! Grin

Katisha · 28/09/2010 09:08

Yes Linslade is the station side. When we moved here I was looking at Linslade but accidentally seemed to end up 4 miles out with a house we'd only booked to look at to make up the numbers on a house viewing trip!

Why not come to LB on a Saturday say and have a look round? See the town centre, which you don't see from the bypass road that goes through town, and round the station and so on?

Original poster
DadAndy · 28/09/2010 10:16

katisha, that's exactly our plan!

i'm just trying to get an idea of what areas to look at, and try to get some viewings booked

linslade to the south and west, and the plantation area to the north are the nicer areas?

we'd love a big period house in a nice area with great schools, but i don't think the budget is 'quite' that big :(

thanks again

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