Where can we move to that is family friendly, an hours commute to London?

[stropicana]

Thats it really kind M'Netters.

We are moving somewhere near London. Needs to be no more than an hour to central London, family friendly, reasonable priced housing, good schools, would like village location - not asking for much.

Ideally would like a new build so we can try and part exchange.

I live in Brighton and would recommend it though not at all villagey, of course. If you didn't mind a compromise then Lewes? I was brought up near Colchester and can recommend Wivenhoe where I lived as a child for 12 years. Dirt cheap housing compared to the above. Still on direct line to London (Liverpool St), about an hour. Old village has pubs, waterfront, a few shops, nice old buildings, sailing club, arts centre and a church, as well as a good park, woodland area stretching towards Essex University and a choice of schools. Popular with arty types and University people but actually a pretty mixed community.

Newbury?

Wivenhoe is lovely, but it has very little in the way of useful shops anymore. We go there quite a bit in summer as there are a couple of lovely pubs by the water, but except for the old part of town, its pretty unattractive. There is a fair bit of over-priced relatively new houses and as mentioned its on a direct train line to London.

im another one Bishop Stortford/sawbridgeworth good trains and very good schools

I would not bother with Wiven hoe really nothing to do there especially as dc get older other than hang around the park and vandalise it and not talking just graffiti some bits wer eburn few years back other stuff been covered in dog much etc .Used to live not far from there

Any where on The liverpool street line that's north of Shenfield.