cheapish commutable place to live 1.5/2 hours from London ...

[devonshireduckling]

Some (young) friends of ours are moving over from France later this year, they are planning to start a family in a few years but for now just want to get a foot on the housing ladder over here. They can do some tele-working still but will need to get in to meetings in London once or twice a week. As their finances are tight they are not picky and would be happy with a one bed flat/studio to just get a base and then start to save. My first thought was somewhere in East Midlands like Kettering? I am Devon-based so not the best person to advise them. Would be good to find somewhere they could get value for money, in particular as they are not bothered by thoughts of schools/picturesque surroundings. Any thoughts?

Northampton? My brother lives there, it's really cheap. Not too exciting, but you can be in London within an hour and a half.

great, that's on the list (I'm fantasy shopping on their behalf). It doesn't have to be too exciting: I think their plan will be to do cultural stuff in London at weekends if they're desperate and I expect summer holidays will be down here with us or over in France.

Newark or Grantham? On the east coast mainline with fast services into Kings Cross. About an hour from Grantham, bit longer from Newark.

It's a long distance so the fares are high but it is relatively quick for the distance. Last time I checked the annual season from Newark was £6000ish but that was a while ago so it is sure to be more. I was dabbling with the commute-to-London idea for a while. Many do from these places as housing is relatively cheap and standard of living is good.

For instance, this is one bed flat in Newark within walking distance of Northgate station here and this one has a bit more wow factor but more expensive. And there are more that are cheaper but not so nice or else a mile or two out of the town.

St Neots / Huntingdon / Peterborough

Not worth going closer to London on that train line as the commute is actually harder (less trains and slower) from sandy, biggleswade etc.

Again, train tickets are £5k plus, but fairly cheap housing and less than an hour in to Kings Cross.

False economy moving too far away if they want to be in London once a week and on weekends, fast train lines which get you to London quickly from far away can be very expensive.

Nottingham? Maybe somewhere like Bingham , thats not too pricey.

Ely in Cambridgeshre, again thats not too bad in terms of price.

Derbyshire? Lots of reasonably priced housing too

Come to BANBURY! 1hr out from london, direct train taked 55 mins to marylebone. houses are very reasonable - rents average £700 for a 3 bed family house, and can buy a 3 bed family house for £125,000.

Nice market town, lots of parks and shopping. etc

Slightlytinsellyexpat thanks for those links: surprised at what you can get in Newark!
HappyAsASandboy St Neots/Huntingdon look good.
fapl - I don't think they've factored in the extortionate UK train fares ... I'm going to send them information (and cautionary tales)
Hollyfoot Nottingham and Ely look good, I never thought Derbyshire was that close and looks v. reasonably priced.
MotherPanda, I like the idea of Banbury (is that of "Banbury Cross" nursery rhyme fame?!) ! Can't believe those prices. I may have to orchestrate them moving there so I can visit.
I'm settling down for an afternoon of fantasy house hunting.

They should definitely check how much train fares are, might mean it's basically pointless moving too far out of London.

They could try Cambridge? Very cheap fares especially on the bus, due to all the students, my friend and I regularly visit each other (she's in Cambridge, I'm in London) for about £5 a time, and it only take about 1 and a half hours (into Victoria).

Also, Cambridge is lovely - lots going on, beautiful town...

I had a quick look at Cambridge but the prices seem slightly higher than some of the other options, though with cheaper transport options that might balance out. Beautiful though!

Leighton Buzzard. 35 mins on fast train to Euston.

Yes, of the Banbury cross nursery ryhme - I live 5 mins away from 'the cross' (that is, the last remaining - there used to be 7!)

Season tickets from Banbury to London will set you back

7 Days £118.60
1 Month £455.50
3 Months £1,366.30
6 Months £2,732.60
12 Months £4,744.00

so quite a bit of money for 5 days a week etc - although once or twice a week would be more like £30 - especially with advance booking/railcards etc. if they were leaving at 6am etc the tickets are £60 on the day though. worth having a play with the national rail website.

Bedford? Basingstoke? Reading? Woking? Southampton?

Thanks Katisha!
MotherPanda, thanks for all your research - if they can be canny with timing trips to London this could be a good idea.
SmileItsSunny good ideas (once again, my pitiful knowledge of geography is revealed: had no idea Southampton was commutable).

Eastleigh and Winchester also have direct rail lines into Winchester.

I meant London obviously

I think Winchester is meant to be expensive, but worth a look... Even Bournemouth is commutable at a stretch.

thanks Gonzo33.
SmileItsSunny had never thought of Bournemouth (they may be keen on seaside towns as they're moving from the coast in France).

Second Bedford area. We live in a lovely village just outside but only 5 mins drive to Bedford station which is actually on the west side of town. Rural yet Bedford has a reasonable shopping centre, cinema, theatre etc and close to Milton Keynes for better shopping and entertainment. Fast trains to St Pancras about 40 mins. Prices OK.
Also consider where in London they want to get to for work as choosing an area with a link to a London mainline station near their work place will save on tube travel etc. No point going to northern stations if you want to be in south London!

Has no one mentioned sunny Suffolk?
Ipswich to Liverpool Street is approx 1 hour and 10 minutes.

East Kent? Whitstable... or going further out, and cheaper, Margate?

bedford area.... Goldington has some lovely reasonable houses with 1930s character and family proportions...
A bit more expensive, but quicker on the train (c. 22mins on a fast train to Kings X!) is the lovely Hitchin!

thanks for great suggestions, Bedfordshire, Kent and Suffolk now on the list. I'm going to skype them on Sunday with lots to show and tell.

DH now worried that I am going to want to move as was cooing over houses.

Margate and ramsgate are cheap. And on the fast link to London St P. If you travel after 9.30 and if they get the rail card or young persons card it'll be 1/3 off!

Folkstone isn't bad either. And that way they can get back to France really easy! Ashford is 30 min from London and is eutostar's connection to Paris.

What part of London? The Liverpool Street line is good for the city; Paddington is good for Bayswater and West End, Euston is a bit of a hole. Waterloo adds on time if you want to go to the City on the drain, but probably OK for Westminster.

Half an hour extra on the bus or tube after a long journey is no fun.