Nice towns/villages commutable to London

[Rhubarbgarden]

Looking for the perfect place to live that is commutable to London - ie within about an hour's journey. We want to be in a nice village or town that has period houses, appealing shops and eateries, an attractive high street and not in a schools dead zone. I know Sussex pretty well, so Brighton, Lewes and Ditchling are on the list as possibilities. We've recently started considering Kent after discovering you get a lot more for your money than Sussex, plus grammar schools are a big attraction. Rochester and Canterbury look nice and have high speed rail links, but I don't really know them.

Any other suggestions?

North Essex.

We live (not fo much longer mind) in a pretty little village in between Colchester and Chelmsofrd - commute is 45 minutes and you have grammar scools in both Chelmsford and Colchester for both sexes.

st albans or harpenden

We went through the exact same thought processes - I grew up in Sussex but ended up discounting it because I saw you got more for your money in Kent. We're mid way through buying a period property in Matfield (Kent Village of the Year 2010 no less ) - nearest station 2 miles away gives us access to the City or Charing X in 45-50 mins. Lovely shopping in Tunbridge Wells, good schools, nice village atmosphere and from what I can tell good community. Having said all this we're yet to move in and I'm hoping it lives up to my expectations! :)

Thanks. Lottie I just walked around Matfield on streetview. Dh wants the big Georgian pile that overlooks the pond. Could you ask them to put it on the market for us?

Some useful ideas here, thanks. Will get Rightmoving. It does make a difference which London station the train gets into, but viability depends on how long the rest of the commute is so keeping an open mind on that.

Berkhamsted

Train to Euston - 30 minutes, all the nice period properties are walking distance easily to trains - 10 minute walk max.