Henley, Chalfonts, Amersham, West Oxfordshire???

[designscout]

Hello Mums!
We will be moving back to the UK in the Spring (hopefully) and are seriously looking now for a house. Having only lived in London previously, I am slightly overwhelmed!
We have 2 girls, 4 1/2 & 1 yr. We would like to live in a vibrant town near to London. I will commute 2 days per week.
So far, i have narrowed the search down to Henley (which seems pretty near perfect), the Chalfonts & Amersham. We are going to look at a house in Freeland to the west of Oxford, because it is just too gorgeous to not look at.
Are there any similiar towns that you might suggest we look at? There doesn't seem to be much on the market at all. We also found out about the high speed rail link cutting right through Chalfont St. Giles - there went 2 of the houses off the list!
Our budget is around £750,000 for a 4 bedrm.
I would greatly appreciate any insight! Thank you!

I know Thame quite well and its a lovely town, I would live there...not sure it would be vibrant enough though but it does have a few nice restaurants and shops...nice countryside round there too :-)

Princes Risborough, Haddenham & Thame are not on the HS2 route.

Beaconsfield - you may be worth a look but would be a small 4 bed for your budget.

Marlow has no train links to London but is nice for little people.

Personally I'd take Henley over any of the other towns! I live near Beaconsfield and I think you'd be pushed to find something for that budget. Schools (if private isn't your option) are a real scramble too. Plus - Bucks has the grammar system and it puts a lot of people off. IMO Beaconsfield and the other Bucks towns - such as Gerrards Cross aren't as relaxed as Henley. Oooo Henley !!